The North East Kansas Partnership (NEK Lutherans) is a group of ordinary, local churches located in Hiawatha, Fairview and Sabetha, Kansas, who have joined together in recognition that, according to Holy Scripture, the ‘Church’ is actually not a place or a house built of wood, stone or clay, but rather a sacred union of all who believe in Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior. The word translated
"church" in the English Bible is ekklesia. This word is the Greek words kaleo (to call), with the prefix ek (out). Thus, the word means "the called out ones." A more accurate translation would therefore be, an "assembly" because the term ekklesia was used to refer to a group of people who had been ‘called out,’ like to a meeting. It was also a synonym for the word ‘synagogue’, which means to "come together," as in a ‘gathering.’ Since we believers have been united with Christ through our respective baptism, we are sometimes corporately referred to as the "Body of Christ". l2:11, 13, l8, 27; Col. l: l8; Eph. 5:30)
Thus, we Missouri-Synod Lutherans, as part of the ‘Body of Christ’ here in North East Kansas, have joined together in a partnership so as to support, encourage and equip one another in our common ministries, while at the same time, preserving our own unique church history, tradition and autonomy. (Rom. 12:4; 1 Cor. 12:14-17)
We hope that sharing our passion for the Word and works of Jesus Christ, you would join us in getting His life changing message out into the world. God’s mandate was for all of us, individually and collectively to:
19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you…”
As we do, we have His assurance that we do not go alone, for He said:
And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)
