Our History(ELCK)
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Kenya (ELCK) was born out of the work of Swedish Lutheran Mission (SLM) started at Itierio, Kisii County in 25th July 1948. The initial focus was on evangelism, medical services and education. The first regular baptism took place on 23rd December, 1951 at Itierio, during which 17 men and one woman were baptized. In the same year, Luther’s Small Catechism was translated into Ekegusii and Dholuo languages.
The first school was opened at Itierio in 1949 and the first medical clinic opened at the same place in 1950. In 1957 a Bible school was opened at Matongo, Nyamira County (the now Neema Lutheran College).
After 1969 the SLM was joined by other mission organizations namely Swedish Lutheran Evangelical Association in Finland (SLEAF) , World Mission Prayer League (WMPL), the Lutheran Evangelical Association in Finland (LEAF), the Norwegian Lutheran Mission (NLM) and the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod (LCMS).
ELCK covers a wide geographical area in Kenya although the church had its beginning in Kisii – Nyanza therefore, a majority of her churches are concentrated in that cradle region. ELCK has parishes and congregations in most parts the country currently. They stretch from Anona congregation in the north near the Ethiopian border to Msambweni at the Indian Ocean coast, through the Maasai steppes to the Kisii highlands on to the shores of Lake Victoria up to the north west to Lake Turkana. Currently, ELCK is estimated to consist of more than 100,000 members who worship in more than 700 congregations, which are organized into six dioceses. The work of ELCK currently reaches more than 17 ethnic communities.