A Center for Peace and Justice on Franklin Avenue
On the north end of downtown Naperville, just a block off the riverwalk, Wesley United Methodist Church has spent decades reimagining what a small downtown congregation can be. The 21 E. Franklin Avenue building still hosts a Sunday congregation, but the church has officially moved from what it calls the "traditional" model to a Center for Peace and Justice, pouring its energy into partnerships that reach people well beyond the sanctuary walls.
Wesley belongs to the United Methodist Church and is a member of the Reconciling Ministries Network, a United Methodist group working for full LGBTQ inclusion in church and society. That identity shapes almost everything the congregation does, from its welcome statement to the nonprofits it adopts as long-term mission partners.
Worship on Sunday Morning
Sunday is the weekly anchor. Worship happens at 10:00 a.m., in person and via livestream on YouTube, with a bulletin posted beforehand so visitors can follow along. The chancel choir rehearses on Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m., and the Sunday bulletin lists names, Scripture readings, and a take-home message for the week.
Wesley makes a point of telling first-time guests not to worry about whether they are dressed right, whether they will know anyone, or whether they will sit in someone's favorite seat. Greeters meet visitors at the door, offer a morning beverage, and help them find their way around. Coffee hour follows in the atrium, and anyone is welcome to bring a treat or help set up by contacting the church office.
Worship is in English and is led by the Rev. Eun Bae Doh, the church's Lead Pastor, with musical accompaniment from accompanist Svetlana Mars. The chancel choir brings a traditional voice, and the service is offered in a blended style that mixes liturgy with a contemporary, conversational sermon. Prayer and hymn requests can be submitted online, and prayer requests are held privately unless the person asking gives permission to share them more broadly.
A Reconciling Congregation
Wesley's welcome statement is explicit: "God, as known to us in Jesus Christ, welcomes all. So do we." The congregation has named itself open to people of every race, ethnic identity, gender, sexual orientation, age, ability, economic status, or life situation. Membership in the Reconciling Ministries Network is a public part of that witness, alongside a commitment to the United Methodist Social Principles.
The mission statement ties it together: to proclaim God's grace through Jesus Christ, to nurture spiritual growth throughout life, and to serve God by caring for all people. Wesley anchors that call in a long John Wesley quote urging members to do all the good they can, by all the means they can, in all the ways and places they can, for as long as ever they can.
Missions Beyond the Sunday Walls
Wesley pairs with five long-standing community partners, each one featured with its own description.
DuPage Pads, founded in 1985, is the largest provider of interim and permanent housing in DuPage County, paired with case management, life coaching, and employment support to break the cycle of homelessness. Wesley members volunteer, donate, and walk alongside this work throughout the year.
Loaves and Fishes is the area's community food pantry network, built on a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Wesley members stock shelves, deliver groceries, and help families in crisis put food on the table.
Feed My Starving Children is a national hunger-relief nonprofit, and Wesley sends teams to its packing site to assemble rice and soy meals for malnourished children around the world.
Fox Valley Habitat for Humanity offers the chance to swing a hammer alongside future homeowners, building and renovating affordable houses in the region. Riverwalk Adult Day Services, originally founded in 1983 as Ecumenical Adult Care by 15 religious institutions, provides daytime care and respite for older adults and adults with disabilities, now serving anyone 18 and over.
These are not one-off volunteer days. They are the named ministry of a congregation that says, "as much as we love our time together on Sunday morning, we believe that our highest ministry is out in the world."
Worship Through Mission
Mission work also shows up during worship itself. On a recent Sunday, the congregation assembled feminine hygiene kits for Midwest Mission, packing cloth sanitary pads, cloth bags, and toiletries for global distribution. Projects like these tie a Sunday morning to a tangible act of mercy.
Helping One Another, Right on Site
Wesley also cares for neighbors who walk through its doors. Donation bins on the Lower Level (B) collect the basics: menstrual hygiene products, travel-size shampoo and conditioner, soap, socks, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and wash cloths. Anyone who needs those items can take what they need.
The lower level is also home to a styrofoam recycling station, open to the community. Items need to be rinsed and unstained, and there is no charge for dropping off packing material that is otherwise hard to recycle curbside.
For quieter needs, Wesley operates a lending library near the church office, stocked with books, movies, and puzzles. A volunteer named Faith E. oversees it, and anyone is welcome to borrow or browse.
Accessibility and Hospitality
Wesley lists accessibility as a core value rather than an afterthought. Designated parking for people with plates or hang tags sits in the Atrium (North) lot and connects directly to the elevator. The sanctuary holds a sensory box with headphones and fidgets for guests who need a quieter experience. The building's lower level, atrium, and main floor are all reachable without stairs.
Staff and Leadership
Lead Pastor Rev. Eun Bae Doh is the primary preacher and shepherd of the congregation. Rev. Duane Mevis serves as Pastor Emeritus and continues to provide pastoral care and mission leadership by appointment. Rev. Alexander Dungan, the Minister of Family and Justice, works with families and oversees the justice-centered side of Wesley's ministry. Ministry candidate Chelsea Guanzon is in pastoral formation and is available by appointment. Accompanist Svetlana Mars leads the music program alongside the chancel choir. A building and events manager handles facility rentals and church-wide events, and an administrative assistant keeps the office running during posted hours.
The Building and Its Spaces
Wesley opens its doors for more than Sunday worship. The Fellowship Hall, the Kids play room, and two meeting rooms are available for community events, weddings, and family milestones. Couples planning a wedding can request a tour, and the church walks them through the spaces and the day.
Staying Connected
A weekly newsletter called Keeping In Touch carries church reminders, alerts, and upcoming events; anyone can subscribe online. Giving is offered online, by text at 630-528-0155, by pledge form, and through the Wesley Endowment Fund, which invests donations to support outreach and supplement the church budget. Contributors can also dedicate a leaf on the Wesley Family Tree or remember Wesley in their will by contacting Barbara Burke.
Office hours run Sundays from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday mornings through early afternoon. The church is reachable at 630-355-1834, with extensions for each staff member, and at wesleynaperville@gmail.com for general inquiries.