Arrests Made at Campsite of Religious Group Who Believes Leader Is Jesus Christ Incarnated

Authorities arrested several people after executing a search warrant at a rural campsite in Walker County, Alabama, that had been occupied for months by a religious group whose members reportedly believe their leader is an incarnation of Jesus Christ.

The Walker County Sheriff’s Office said deputies carried out the warrant at a campground near Empire, Alabama, on Tuesday, Dec. 30. In a video shared by Sheriff Nick Smith, officials confirmed that arrests were made at the property and that drugs and a handgun were recovered.

The group, identified as More Than the Prophet Ministries, had been living at the site for nearly a year, according to WBRC 6 News. Its leader, Lando — known to followers as Reverend Lamp — told the outlet that he paid monthly rent to use the rural property and invited people there who were seeking to “get yourself together,” including those dealing with drug and alcohol issues.

Lando said the property owner, who lives in Arkansas, asked the group to leave in November. By the time authorities executed the warrant, several members had already departed, he said, adding that the remaining individuals were in the process of packing up and planned to leave by the end of December. Lando also claimed he had already paid rent for that period.

Sheriff Smith said several members of the group — which included about 15 people from states such as California, New York, Georgia and Florida — were arrested. He said “illegal narcotics” and a handgun were recovered at the site and warned that any members who returned would be arrested for trespassing.

“We have arrested some of the individuals connected to this campsite. We have released the others,” Smith said in the Dec. 30 video. “They are getting their belongings and they are leaving the property. They have been advised that they are no longer the property owners of this property.”

The Walker County Sheriff’s Office did not respond to requests for comment.

Lando disputed parts of the sheriff’s account, telling WBRC 6 that three people were arrested for refusing to give their names to authorities. He said the substance found at the campsite was marijuana, not narcotics, and claimed the handgun belonged to someone who no longer lived there.

Describing himself to WBRC 6 as “the only begotten son of the living God,” Lando said he was asleep when authorities arrived and woke up after hearing noise outside. He alleged that one member had their hair forcibly pulled during the encounter and said members were handcuffed and made to lie face down on the road.

Lando criticized what he described as a heavy-handed response by law enforcement, saying the situation could have been resolved simply by asking the group to leave. He told the outlet that had officers woken him and explained the situation, he would have informed them the group was already planning to depart that day.

Sheriff Smith said the investigation involved assistance from the Blount County Sheriff’s Office and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, though the specific role of DHS was not immediately clear.