As a result of the Georgia-Florida Conference voting to become two separate conferences, the Florida Conference of the Free Methodist Church of North America was born in 1951. The Florida Conference campground was located at Kissimmee from 1938 until the property was sold in 1958. After the sale, various sites were used for summer camps and annual conference. These included Bible Town USA, at Boca Raton (1959-1962), a Baptist camp in Tampa (1963), and Fenway Academy in Dunedin (1964). The annual conference sessions were hosted by several churches including Lakeland First, St. Petersburg First, and Sunshine Gardens, Orlando.

At the annual conference in 1964, it was decided to search for a new campground site. Pastor Gordon Smith of Lakeland First and Florida Conference Superintendent Elmer Hood located a forty-acre site at the western end of Deeson Road in Hillsborough County. In February of 1965, the “Camp Meeting Committee” of the conference met at Lakeland First Church and considered a proposal for purchase of the property. The decision was made to recommend to the annual conference to purchase the property at a cost of $30,000. During the next annual conference in June 1965, the delegates drove to the site and walked through the wooded land, seeing much brush, fences for the grazing cattle, a barn, and an old farm house to the west of the ‘Motels’.

A Camp Development Committee was formed and the work began: Fences were taken down, brush was removed, and the dining hall, the first building (now known as Elmer J. Hood Hall) was constructed. A restroom and shower building followed just southwest of the dining hall along with a water well.

Youth camp, family camp, and annual conference sittings were first held at the campground in summer of 1966. The services and annual conferences were held in the new dining hall. Campers and delegates stayed in tents, travel trailers, a few newly constructed cottages as well as homes of members of Lakeland First Church. Bishop Edward C. John built the first house, followed by Reverend Asa Hockaday and Mr. Ora Knappins. Cottages by Mr. Byford Bush, Conference Superintendent Elmer Hood, and Mr. Floyd Pierce were added.

The year after the first camp meeting (1966-67), a twelve-unit efficiency apartment building (called the ‘Motel’) was constructed to the north of the dining hall. It has served well in providing housing during camps, for winter residents, and summer vacationers.

Summer family camp services and annual conference in 1967 and 1968 were conducted in a large tent, set up west of the old farm house. The summer camps were well attended by families from across the Florida conference. In January of 1967, a winter camp program was added, using the large tent for services as well. A roaring gas-fired heater helped with the January chill. The following year (1968), the winter camp meeting was moved to the new Woman’s Missionary Society (WMS) chapel. This chapel served as a place for housing missionary families and missionary meetings.

The first few years after the purchase of the property, the Camp Meeting Committee voiced their interest in leasing subdivided property to Floridians and residents of other, Northern states. At that point, the campground was separated into two areas: the trailer section and the cottage section. Later on, larger trailers (so called mobile homes) were moved in which started the development of another area for travel trailers. This section was built under the supervision of resident Mr. Clarence Chambers and others who volunteered their services. A shower restroom facility was added through the services of a contractor.

In 1978, the trailer park expanded, still under the direction of Mr. Chambers, to a total of seventy-two spaces. In addition to the early lease owners already named were Reverend Willard Schiele, Mr. Gerald Burgess, and Mrs. Emma Jones. The number of residents started to grow.

Reverend Howard C. Duncan was the first pastor to be appointed to Light and Life Free Methodist Church at the campsite. The church structure was built beginning in 1971 and first used in 1972. Howard Duncan pastored the church for seven years during which air conditioning was added, new pews installed, and carpeting laid among other improvements. During this time, the church was used for services September through June. The summer camp program used the church from July to September. The following pastor, Reverend James C. Hecocks, kept this schedule as well.

In 1981, a parsonage was constructed under the supervision of Mr. Bill Gilroy, a resident and retired contractor as plans had been made to have a year-round pastor. As a result, Reverend Glenn E. Hughes was appointed by the Florida Conference with James Hecocks serving as assistant pastor during the winter months.

In 1985, an addition was built on the east side of Light and Life Church called “the annex”. It includes a secretary’s office, two restrooms, and additional seating for approximately one 150 people. Additionally, at this time a steeple was added to the south peak of the church (given by Mrs. Marian O’Brien in memory of her late husband, Mr. John O’Brien.)

After Glenn Hughes retired in 1987, Bishop Emeritus Paul N. Ellis was appointed as interim pastor and James Hecocks continued as part-time assistant. Pastor Ellis agreed to continue for one more year, after a full-time pastor had not yet been found, and Don Cleveland served as full-time assistant.

In 1988, through gifts given by members and friends, the church was able to purchase a new organ. In addition, a new grand piano was given to the congregation by Paul and Naomi Ellis. At the 1989 Florida Annual Conference, Reverend C. Wesley King was appointed senior pastor and Don Cleveland was appointed Minister of Visitation and Music. Both of these pastors continued in their respective positions until May of 1994 . At that time, Pastor King retired and Reverend John E. Hendricks was appointed by the Florida Conference.

Sensing the need for an office for the pastor, a larger office for the church secretary, and an enlarged space for the choir, plans were made for an addition to the church structure in 1994. Construction began, following several months of negotiations with contractors and with Hillsborough County, on January 4, 1995.

The Easter crosses were first put up in 2002, initiated by Dennis and Diane Crawford. At that time, the park-like setting just across the “Jordan River” was sometimes referred to as “The Park on Cannan.” The beautiful setting with the towering oaks bending in an arch-like cathedral served as a wonderful place for an Easter display. So the first Sunrise Service was held on Easter Sunday in 2022. Starting out with six people in attendance, the service has quickly grown in the following years to almost 200. In the meantime, many have stopped at the display to pray and have their devotions or meditation.