What does the name "Ekklesia" mean?

Ekklesia (pronounced eh-klay-SEE-ah) is a Greek word that generally means an "assembly" or "gathering" of people. It is used throughout the New Testament to refer specifically to the gathering together of local Christian communities, and is most often translated "church". We chose this name to emphasize our commitment to returning to the New Testament model of the church—a gathering of believers—and to highlight that the church is fundamentally a people, not a building or location.

Are we one Church or many Churches?

Both! We are a Church (singular) made up of (multiple) house churches. Like the Early Church, we gather together as a large assembly on Sunday under a shared faith, purpose, and leadership. During the week, we meet every week in smaller house churches shepherded by a dedicated pastor.

Why is this important?

We aim to be faithful to Scripture in all areas, including how the church is structured. In the New Testament, we see a clear example of believers meeting both in large gatherings and in smaller, more intimate settings (Acts 2:46). This model is not just a matter of tradition or preference; it reflects God’s design for how His people grow together and carry out the mission to share the Gospel and make disciples.

By following this biblical pattern, we trust that God will use it to accomplish His purposes for the church: “to equip the saints for the work of ministry” and to help us “attain to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God” (Ephesians 4:12-13).

Are you connected to an existing denomination or church?

No, we are not formally connected with any denomination or existing church. Theologically, we probably have the most in common with a convention like the SBC (Southern Baptist Convention). Organizationally, we are inspired by the work of Church Project and the House Church Network, which emphasize simplicity, discipleship, and the “church of house churches” ecclesiology (or structure of the church). We deeply respect the evangelistic and discipleship efforts of biblically sound churches and denominations in our area. While we are open to partnering with like-minded churches for ministry work, our call is to work alongside them as an independent bible church.

How are your gatherings like?

Our Sunday Assembly will feel familiar to most Christians, with preaching, singing, communion, and prayer. What might feel different is the absence of much of the ceremony, programming, and other formalities that have become standard in most modern church gatherings. We choose a model of biblical simplicity, because it reflects the biblical priorities of God-focused worship and discipleship. Our mid-week House Church Gatherings will hopefully feel like a family gathering; with a meal, conversation about applying Scripture to our lives, and prayer for one another.

When and Where Do We Gather?

Our regular Sunday Assembly is on Sunday mornings from 10a-12p, and is currently held in the home of a generous host on the east side of Council Bluffs. Since the location has the possibility of changing from week to week, we won’t be publishing a set address during this season.

Our hope is to eventually have some type of simple commercial space that regularly serves the needs of the growing Church to gather. That might be a rented space, or a borrowed space, or even an owned space, however, our identity is not found in a building location. The Church is not a building, but a people inhabited by the Holy Spirit, and made holy by His work. That means there are no longer holy spaces, but rather ordinary spaces in which a holy people gather. We trust God to provide the space we need as we follow Jesus and make disciples.

Our House Church Gatherings meet in homes most weeks on Thursday evenings from 6-8pm.