Below is the story of the Landis Family Heritage and its roots as chronicled in Church History. The story originates with the dedicated ministers of the Landis family that answered God's call as far back as the early Reformation Era! These men, some of whom where martyred for the cause of Christ, have passed this great heritage to Brother Raymond & Sister Wendy Landis. They are truly humbled by the honor to carry the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of this city and beyond!

In 1517, Martin Luther nailed his famous 95 theses to the doors of the All Saints Church in Wittenberg, Germany. These theses challenged the teachings of the Roman Catholic Church on the nature of penance, the authority of the pope and the usefulness of indulgences. In turn, they sparked a theological debate that would result in the Reformation. We at City of Light Ministries like to refer to this as the beginning of “ the Apostolic Restoration.”

The four most significant groups to emerge directly from the reformation were the Anabaptists, the Anglicans, the Lutherans, and the Presbyterians. Subsequent “reformist” groups generally trace their roots back to one of these initial four schools of the reformation.

The Landises first appear as Anabaptists in the History of the Reformation in Zurich, Switzerland. In 1525, Hans Landös, who lived in Zurich, Switzerland, hosted a gathering that was to be the scene of one of Zurich's first adult baptisms.

The term “Anabaptist” comes from the practice of baptizing individuals who had been baptized previously, often as infants. Anabaptists believe infant baptism is not valid. The term is from the Greek word "anabaptizein," which means “one who baptizes again.”

Anabaptists are described to be any of the 16th century “radical” dissenters, and the denominations descending from the followers of Menno Simons. These Christians regarded the Bible as their only rule for faith and life. Today, the descendants of these 16th century European movements, particularly the Amish, Hutterites, Mennonites, Quakers, and Brethren in Christ, are the most common groups referred to as Anabaptist. However, in the 16th century, many of the Anabaptists were also known to be anti-Trinitarian and they were modalistic monarchians. In other words, they were “Oneness Pentecostals.” They believed that Jesus Christ was God manifest in the flesh (1 Tim 3:16). They baptized converts in water in the name of Jesus Christ according to Acts 2:38, received the Holy Ghost with the supernatural evidence of “speaking in other tongues (Acts 1:4),” and holiness was a very important doctrine to them (Hebrews 12:14).

In 1538, the Landis name appeared again when a Landis was one of the names joining when Menno Simon founded the Mennonite Church. The Reformation was taking definite shape by this time and it was moving forward! And the Landis Family found themselves right in the midst of it.

Most historic Christian literature represents the Anabaptists as a group who preached false doctrine and led people into apostasy. This negative historical presentation remained popular for centuries and still taints popular belief today. Additionally, most Mainstream Trinitarian Christian groups categorize Oneness Apostolic Pentecostals as “heretics” or members of an “off-brand cult.”

In the 16th and 17th centuries, Catholics and Protestants alike persecuted the Anabaptists. They resorted to torture and other types of physical abuse, in attempts both to curb the growth of the movement and bring about the salvation of these “so-called heretics” through recantation. But, to the glory of God Almighty, none of their persecution tactics were successful. Even in great tribulation, the Anabaptist efforts flourished and they forged ahead to proclaim True Biblical Salvation in the Name of Jesus Christ!

In 1525, the council of the canton of Zurich issued an official decree condemning re-baptism and declared that anyone practicing it would be subject to fine. This was followed five years later by another decree increasing the penalty to death.

In the last decades of the 16th century, a man named Johannes (Hans) Landis and his brother Rudolf Landis became known followers of this Anabaptist Faith. Hans Landis appears as a prominent Anabaptist minister, the first to be mentioned in the record. He evangelized communities up and down the Rhine River, and was among the many victims of the Catholic persecution. As a preacher of the Reformation he suffered martyrdom because of his religious zeal and teachings.

In 1614, at the age of seventy-one, Hans Landis was admonished by the Papal Council of Zurich to cease his preaching and practices. Upon his refusal, he was arrested and carried in irons by the Council to the Catholic canton of Zolothurn to be judged by the authorities there. He was imprisoned, but by the aid of friends he escaped prison, and was soon back to preaching among the communities along the Rhine.

This resolution was disappointing and unsatisfactory to the Papal Council at Zurich, who rearrested Landis, declaring him guilty of disobeying their decree of 1533. He was carried before the Council and rigidly examined as to his faith and doctrine. When he refused to deny his faith, cease his preaching or take an oath of allegiance to the Pope, the Council condemned Landis to death. In September of 1614, Hans Landis became one of the first martyrs during this period representing Apostolic Truth!

Hans was led under guard to Wolf-Statt, and there beheaded by Paul Volmer, the public executioner. But Paul first fell to his knees and begged forgiveness for what he was about to do. Hans consoled him saying, “I have already forgiven you. May God forgive you also that nothing may hinder you in this matter.”

After his execution all the property of Hans Landis was confiscated and his family was greatly persecuted. One after another his sons were imprisoned, or their property taken from them until they were reduced to near starvation. But even in the midst of this great tribulation, the family kept the faith and some escaped and many ministers and preachers came from this lineage. Hans Landis the second was also an Anabaptist minister, and Rudolf Landis, brother of the martyr kept the faith and settled in Germany . Rudolf's leg of the Landis family also produced many ministers and preachers.

Now in 1681, King Charles II of England had a large loan from William Penn's father, after whose death, the King settled by granting William Penn a large area west and south of the New Jersey Colony called Pennsylvania. Perhaps the king was glad to have a place where religious and political outsiders like Amish, Mennonites, and Quakers, could have their own place, far away from England.

William Penn was a Quaker, and from evidence in his writings believed in Jesus Name Baptism. Penn recruited many Anabaptists, Amish, Mennonites and Quakers to settle lands inside Pennsylvania promising that they would have the religious freedoms that had been so elusive to them.

Among the waves of European immigrants that came to Pennsylvania were hundreds of Landises from Germany, Holland and Switzerland. Most of these families were direct descendants of Rudolf Landis, the brother of Hans “the martyr.” But a few were direct descendants of Hans Landis' sons, who had escaped the family persecution in Switzerland . The main wave of Landis family immigration came between 1717 and 1749, and they settled in several counties of Pennsylvania, concentrating mostly in Bucks, Montgomery, York, Chester, Lehigh, and Lancaster counties. Many of them were Mennonite Ministers and Preachers of the Anabaptist Tradition.

Brother Raymond Landis is a descendant of this rich heritage. His family remained in the Chester and Bucks county area of Pennsylvania until the early 1900's, when His grandfather and his brothers moved to southern New Jersey.

In the Spring of 1990, Raymond and Wendy Landis were both baptized in water in the Wonderful Name of Jesus and received the Gift of the Holy Ghost within four days of each other. Since that time they have dedicated their lives to serving the Lord Jesus Christ in Truth and Spirit...

And the Lord has already begun to bless the next generation of Landises... all three of the Landis children (ages 12 though 19) have been baptized in Jesus Name and have received the Gift of the Holy Ghost, choosing to walk in the faith.

Many trials and tribulations have come their way and still they remain steadfast in the faith; pressing toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus (Philippians 3:14).

Brother Raymond Landis is the pastor of City of Light Worship Center, located in Saint Albans, Vermont. Sister Wendy Landis serves as worship leader and operates in deliverance ministry.