A building is just a space, one with a ceiling, a floor and walls. It is the people who occupy it that make it a place of value — and when you introduce God into the equation, a building can be so much more than just a venue or destination.
That’s the premise that The Junction Center, owned by local Christian radio station WJTL, was founded upon, and it is exemplified by the building’s performing arts center, Landis Hall. The unique venue has seen plenty of success since it opened in 2017, but there is still plenty of room for growth.
“The vision behind the Junction Center is serving God and serving the community,” said Cassidy Martin, The Junction Center’s box office manager. “A lot of the things we do are community events. You can use the space for large parties or auctions or banquets. It’s a place where the community can gather. To have someone come in and see this big, empty space and say, ‘This is exactly what I envisioned,’ is so rewarding.”
Located on 28 acres of land at 1875 Junction Road in Manheim, The Junction Center houses the WJTL studios and is amply equipped to serve as the location for both indoor and outdoor community gatherings. Just as WJTL operates with the goal of transmitting God’s message through music over the airwaves, Landis Hall is able to bring that message to life through live performances and community events.
“I definitely think our mission for Christ sets us apart from other area venues,” said Martin. “It’s versatile and such a welcoming space. It’s this big, giant building, so we can mold it to the needs of the community. We can place each chair individually to meet the needs of the event. It’s one of the most versatile venues I’ve ever seen.”
Landis Hall is over 10,000 square feet and can seat more than 700 people. Because the performing arts center was designed with adaptability in mind, it has movable walls so that it can be adjusted to the size of the events taking place. This makes it an optimal location for small- to medium-sized concerts, theater productions, corporate gatherings, seminars, ceremonies and vendor fairs. Its 40-foot, red-curtained stage is paired with state-of-the-art sound and lighting systems, and the room was constructed with natural and reclaimed materials, giving it a contemporary and inviting atmosphere.
Landis Hall has hosted such popular recording artists as Steven Curtis Chapman, Phil Keaggy, Nichole Nordeman and Jason Crabb. Over the next few months, musical acts like Disciple, Behold the Beloved, We Are Messengers and Owen Mac are scheduled to perform at Landis Hall. Its upcoming schedule also features such wholesome family entertainment as the True Girl Pajama Party Tour, Slugs and Bugs Live!, and Encore Home School Productions’ performance of Disney’s “The Little Mermaid.”
“I love seeing the people we get in,” said Martin of the concert lineup. “We get some pretty big names coming in. I’d like to see that grow and for Landis Hall to become ‘the place’ for Christian music in the area. It’s a great place to experience music, and most importantly, connect to Christ. Overall, I’d just like to see more people come into the space and see what we’re all about.”
The construction of the performing arts center, known in full as the Robert M. Landis Memorial Hall, was the final phase in transforming The Junction Center from a truck shop into the venue it is today. The community-oriented multipurpose space was the vision of Tim Landis, the former president and CEO of Creative Ministries Inc. and WJTL, and it was named in honor of his father, who had loved Christian music. After Robert Landis’ death, the Landis family donated a quarter of a million dollars to the building fund in his honor.
Landis Hall stages between five and 10 events per month, or nearly a hundred per year, so it is on track to become the premiere spot for live Christian music in central Pennsylvania.
“Junction is about joining, and we’re all about joining Christ, the community and music,” said Martin. “The property is located on Junction Road, so it was kind of like, ‘Let’s call it Junction Center.’ The name really stays true to the whole history of God’s faithfulness to His people. Junction Center is a place where people can come to feel closer to each other and to feel closer to Christ.”
The Junction Center is living up to its name and its mission to connect God and His people through music and community.
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