The Ekklēsia in John’s Letters By his use of ἐκκλησία, ekklēsia, in 3 John 6 and 9, John specifically refers to a local church. He says nothing directly about church organization or church officers in his epistles. But it is apparent that the church, for John, is a distinguishable community, because he urges Christians to love one another and to be willing to lay down their lives for their brothers (1 John 3:16). Another indication that the church for John is a distinguishable community is the