40 Years of City of Life: A Homecoming Celebration

There are moments in the life of a church that feel bigger than a single Sunday. Moments that carry decades of prayers, sacrifice, growth, and God’s faithfulness. This May, we step into one of those moments together.

For three weeks, May 10, 17, and 24, we’re celebrating 40 years of ministry at City of Life, and you’re invited to be part of every second of it!

This is more than just an anniversary... it's a homecoming. 

From 30 People to a Movement

City of Life began in 1986 with just 30 people, founded by Drs. Gary and Janis Smith. Over the next 25 years, it grew into a vibrant, multicultural church impacting thousands.

In 2009, leadership transitioned to Pastors Jeffrey and Amy Smith, who continue to lead with a passion for building the Church and reaching the lost.

Forty years later, we’re still growing and continuing the legacy!

Our Story is Your Story

If you’ve ever walked through the doors of City of Life, served on a team, encountered God in a service, or found community here, this celebration belongs to you.

This is your story too.

Legacy isn’t just about what God has done. It’s about what He’s doing right now and what He’s still going to do. Every testimony, every life changed, every moment of breakthrough over the past four decades has been built by people just like you saying “yes” to what God is doing in this house.

And that legacy is still being written today, so we’re not just looking back, we’re stepping forward together into what’s ahead.

Three Sundays You Don’t Want to Miss

Each Sunday morning across both our Kissimmee and Nona campuses will be filled with powerful moments you won’t experience anywhere else.

We’re honored to welcome special guest speakers Denny & DeAnza Duron and Dr. Joel Tudman, who will bring timely, faith-filled messages as we celebrate all God has done and look ahead to what’s next.

You’ll experience:

• Stories and testimonies from the past 40 years
• Moments honoring the legacy of Drs. Gary & Janis Smith
• Vision and encouragement for the next 40 years
• Exclusive 40th anniversary merch
• A powerful sense of unity as one church across two campuses

If City of Life has impacted you in any way, these are Sundays you don’t want to miss.

One Final Night to Remember

We’ll close out the celebration on May 24 at 6 PM with a special evening event, a showing of Pastor Jeffrey’s feature-length film, Southern Gospel.

The film shares the powerful story of our founding pastor, Gary Smith, his journey from a rock-and-roll lifestyle to answering God’s call and becoming a preacher.

Click here to learn more about the event.

Come Be Part of It

Forty years represents an entire generation impacted. It reflects God’s faithfulness through every season and reminds us that what He has started, He is still continuing.

So whether you’ve been here since the early days or you just walked through our doors for the first time, there’s a place for you in this celebration.

Join us for all three Sundays. Bring your family. Invite a friend.

Let’s honor the legacy. Let’s celebrate the present. And let’s step into the next 40 years together.

We’ll see you at Homecoming.