First Friends Sports

Create an enriching community where sports, recreation, and fitness serve as powerful tools to share the gospel, build meaningful relationships, and develop committed disciples.

First Friends Sports was established in 1958 when First Friends Church decided to build a gymnasium onto the original First Friends property, then located off 31st Street. The construction of the gymnasium initiated a sports and recreation ministry that was to provide a unique outreach to the congregation and the immediate community. In 1995, First Friends Church purchased 40 acres of land in North Canton with a vision to grow for the future. Over the next 10 years, First Friends built a new building on-site, complete with a double gym that doubled as a sanctuary. Since then, we have also added 2 softball fields, a soccer complex, and soon-to-be sand volleyball courts.

We currently serve around 3000 adults and youth from our community through sports and activities like basketball, soccer, volleyball, dance, art, and pickleball.