First Friends Church sits at 5455 Market Avenue North in Canton, Ohio, a forty-acre campus that has been home to an Evangelical Friends congregation since 2001. The church has served Stark County since 1946, when ten members first gathered at the local YMCA, and today is known for Equip small groups, Greenhouse242 for middle schoolers, The Warehouse for high schoolers, The Well for college students and young adults, a children's ministry from nursery through fifth grade, and a sports ministry that draws families from across the region. The church's motto, "Where You Can Be Real, Experience Jesus, and Find Direction," captures what members describe as a steady, multigenerational community where newcomers are welcomed into authentic relationships and practical Bible teaching.
Sundays at 9:00 and 10:30 AM
First Friends holds two identical Sunday morning services at 9:00 and 10:30 AM, both in person at the Market Avenue campus and live online. The services blend contemporary worship with some traditional hymns and follow a rhythm that includes a time of musical worship, listening to a sermon, a time of response, and prayer ministers available to pray with anyone who comes forward. Teaching moves book by book through series that members say uncover practical ways to apply the lessons of the Bible to everyday life.
Visitors can park in the large lot next to the Main Entrance near the large overhang. Dress is varied, and the church teaches that no one should have to dress a certain way to be welcomed and loved. Children are welcome in the main service, and a nursing room is available just past the showers in the ladies restroom of the worship center for mothers who need a quiet place to care for their baby. Newcomers can fill out a Connection Card or text WELCOME to 330-846-5878 to be contacted and welcomed personally.
A Friends Church with a Clear Statement of Faith
First Friends is one of ninety churches in the Evangelical Friends Churches - Eastern Region, a North American branch of the Friends tradition that traces its roots to the preaching of George Fox in seventeenth-century England. The congregation's statement of faith centers on belief in one eternal, triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, equal and inseparable. Members believe that Jesus Christ is God revealed in human form, born of the virgin Mary through the Holy Spirit, who lived a sinless life, died on the cross for the sins of all people, rose again on the third day, ascended to heaven, and will return to reign as Lord and King.
The Holy Spirit is confessed as living in every believer from the moment of salvation, providing power, understanding of spiritual truth, and the fruit and gifts needed for Christian growth and mission. The Bible is taught as the only infallible rule of faith and living, given by inspiration of God, without error in all that it affirms. Salvation is described as a free gift received through faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and the church is understood not as a building but as the people of God united on mission.
The congregation's six core values are Worship, Word, Mission, Generosity, Family, and Authenticity. Each value is rooted in Scripture and shapes the way the church pursues its mission to glorify God together by loving Him, making disciples, and proclaiming the gospel.
From the YMCA to a Forty-Acre Campus
First Friends began in 1946, when ten members started meeting at the YMCA in Canton. The same year, the congregation purchased a location on 31st Street, where a sanctuary, education wing, and gymnasium were added in 1959. A larger sanctuary and Family Center followed in the 1980s, and the original mortgage was paid off in 1994. Five years later, in 1995, the church purchased a forty-acre site on 55th Street (now 5455 Market Avenue North), launching a two-million-dollar capital campaign in 1999 to build the new facility, which opened in 2001.
The church celebrated being completely debt free in 2016, freeing resources to begin a new phase of expansion through a long-range Master Building Plan first established in 1997. Current projects include a pavilion roof and ceiling, resurfacing the parking lot, a new HVAC control system, and updated indoor enhancements, with a future vision that includes a chapel, banquet hall, kitchen, and permanent staff offices.
Building a Love for Jesus in the Next Generation
The Children's Ministry exists to support busy parents and caregivers by providing engaging experiences designed to help kids come to know Jesus and grow in their faith. Programming is offered from nursery through fifth grade, with age-based learning, fun, and care designed to walk alongside families as they develop lifelong relationships with God.
On Sunday mornings, families check in at the Children's Welcome Desk before either service. Children in nursery through kindergarten remain in their own classroom during both services, and children in first through fifth grade begin the 10:30 worship service with their parents before being released before the sermon to Children's Church, a mini church service experience designed exclusively for children. Those who would rather stay with their parents in the service are always welcome to do so.
On Wednesdays, Jeremiah's Club offers an activity-based program for kids ages four through fifth grade from 7:00 to 8:15 PM in the Children's Wing. Lessons aim to help kids see Jesus through small group interaction, with built-in time for fellowship and friendships.
Safety is a priority. All staff and volunteers working with children undergo background checks. The church uses a check-in and check-out procedure that captures family contact information and provides a matching security tag to ensure each child is released only to the right adult, and safety doors are locked shortly after each service begins. Lessons are drawn from The Gospel Project curriculum, and the songs sung in chapel are posted to a children's Spotify playlist so kids can keep learning at home throughout the week.
Greenhouse242 and The Warehouse
Middle schoolers find a home in Greenhouse242, named for Acts 2:42, where the early church "devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer." Greenhouse242 partners with families to help middle school students grow into disciples of Jesus who help others grow in Jesus. The group meets Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM, exploring Scripture, forming meaningful friendships, and receiving guidance from adult mentors. Middle School Ministry Director Lucas Shroades leads the ministry.
High school students gather at The Warehouse, where the focus is on helping teens answer three of life's biggest questions: Who am I? Where do I fit? What difference can I make? Small groups, Christ-centered teaching, and meaningful ministry opportunities give teens space to find clarity and community. The Warehouse meets Sunday mornings at 9:00 AM and Wednesday evenings at 7:00 PM, led by High School Ministry Director Tim Zornes.
The Well for College and Young Adults
The Well is First Friends' ministry for college students and young adults, an open community where every story and voice matters. The group meets every Tuesday at 7:00 PM in rooms L-41 and L-42 on the church campus, gathering from September through the school year to ask hard questions, seek guidance, and apply God's Word to everyday life. The Well is led by College and Young Adult Director Zeke Yost and a leadership team and is open to all college-aged young adults whether they are currently in school or not.
Equip Groups for Every Season
Equip Groups are the church's main pathway for adults to be seen, known, and grow in their faith. Most groups are small gatherings of eight to twelve people that meet weekly, usually on weekday evenings or Sunday mornings and evenings, in homes, on the church campus, or at other locations. Groups focus on fellowship, Bible study, prayer, and mutual support, and many also focus on community service, evangelism, or cultural transformation.
Groups are available for every adult life stage, from college and young adult groups to retiree groups, with many open to all adults and others tailored for men, women, or couples. Joining a group requires no long-term commitment, and newcomers are encouraged to visit three or four times before deciding whether a group is a good fit. Childcare availability varies by group and is included in each group description. A free LEAD App is available for group leaders and participants.
First Friends Sports
First Friends Sports exists so that Stark County can be transformed by the redemptive power of Jesus Christ through sports, recreation, and fitness. The ministry offers leagues and programs for both youth and adults, designed to bring people together and create opportunities for gospel conversations. Youth offerings include baseball, basketball, pickleball, soccer, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, and dance or flag. Adult offerings include basketball, pickleball, disc golf, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, and dance or flag.
Summer Sports Camps invite children to encounter new sports and activities in a fun competitive environment while learning more about God. Volunteer opportunities include coaching, leading devotions, event hospitality, and serving as a prayer partner. Sports Ministry Pastor Ryan Barnett leads the ministry, with Landon Thorn serving as Assistant Director.
Ministries for Men, Women, and Families
Men's Ministry provides early morning Bible studies, Equip Groups, service projects, weekend retreats focused on leadership and faith, and fellowship events such as men's breakfast and Guys' Night Out. The ministry aims to give single men, working dads, and retirees accountability, strength, and confidence as fathers, husbands, and men of faith. Next Steps and Men's Ministry Pastor Shawn Yost leads the ministry.
Women's Ministry offers weekly Bible studies, Equip small groups, and fun monthly events for fellowship and learning. Women's Ministry Director Laura Foote oversees a ministry that aims to help busy women find balance, grow spiritually, and foster strong relationships with other women who understand the demands of family, work, and ministry.
Family Ministry nurtures marriage and parenting through shared meals, video teaching, and small group discussions. Family Nights meet on the first Wednesday of each month from 6:15 to 8:15 PM in rooms L-1 and L-2. Pizza, salad, and water are provided, and families are invited to bring a dessert to share. Children's Ministry staff escort younger children to Jeremiah's Club and youth are dismissed to their own rooms while parents remain for a time of teaching and small group discussion. Family Camp, Marriage Date Night, marriage mentoring for engaged and newlywed couples, and pre-marriage mentoring round out the ministry. Worship and Family Pastor Gabriel Hancock and his wife Sarah lead Family Nights.
Local Outreach and Global Mission
First Friends supports a roster of missionaries serving around the globe, including Jacob and Jaya Beera, Brian and Alyssa Holaday (serving with Cru at Ohio State), Steve Robinson, Greg Linville, Cindy Mandrel, Delton Hochstedler, Josh and Abigail Jellel, Bill and Karen Rumple, Ryan and Kelly Saurers, and Brian and Bri Hayes. Outreach and Missions Pastor Scott Calhoun leads the missions team, and a portion of every tithe supports mission work. Members can volunteer on a trips team, sponsor a missionary family financially, provide care packages for the field, or join the church's missions team.
Each year the church dedicates a Missions Month to focus on local and global outreach, with a special offering supporting a chosen local ministry partner and a global partner. Past offerings have supported Refuge of Hope in Canton, Safe Harbor, Christian Sports and Recreational Ministries, and Evangelical Friends Missions.
Pastors, Elders, and Staff
The pastoral team is led by Lead Pastor Nathanael Fawcett and Executive Pastor Roger Foote, with additional pastors and directors overseeing specific ministry areas. Scott Calhoun serves as Outreach and Missions Pastor, Shawn Yost as Next Steps and Men's Ministry Pastor, Gabriel Hancock as Worship and Family Pastor, Ryan Barnett as Sports Ministry Pastor, Laura Foote as Women's Ministry Director, and Tammy Forsythe as Children's Ministry Director. Zeke Yost leads the College and Young Adult ministry (The Well), Tim Zornes leads the High School ministry (The Warehouse), Lucas Shroades leads the Middle School ministry (Greenhouse242), Megan Christiansen serves as Elementary Ministry Coordinator, and Ron Heasley serves as Volunteer Visitation Pastor.
An Elder Team provides spiritual authority, mission, and stewardship of resources, following a model of leadership that traces back to the early Christian Church. Randy Morgan serves as Clerk of the Elders, with Kris Biss, Chuck Goldy, Lyndon Thomas, Brandon Marzley, Kari Willoughby, Jan Heasley, and Molly Yost also serving on the team.
The church office is open Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM, and can be reached at 330-966-2800 or info@firstfriends.org.
A Community for Every Generation
From nursery classrooms and Greenhouse242 small groups, from Equip Groups and First Friends Sports leagues to the global missionaries supported by a portion of every gift, First Friends Church lives out its calling to glorify God together by loving Him, making disciples, and proclaiming the gospel. On Sundays, two identical services at 9:00 and 10:30 AM welcome anyone looking for a place to be real, experience Jesus, and find direction in Canton, Ohio.