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As a pastor of a small congregation, I have to say no, of course a small congregation shouldn't necessarily disband. Granted, I have experience of some congregations that have outlived their usefulness, and should be allowed to die as painlessly as possible. It's so hard, though, to pull that plug, especially when an elderly congregation cherishes memories of the baptisms, weddings, and funerals that mark the passing of a life.

So, really, rather than a flat-out yes or no, my answer to this question is more like, "Sometimes," or "it depends."

Really, though, I want to respond to a few things Mr. Stuart said in his "Yes" article. I, too, have known congregations such as he describes-places that become not evangelical societies so much as family chapels. This is clearly problematic and must be addressed. I have also been in large congregations that became the family chapels to a few people with money; the idea apparently being that he who pays the bills calls the shots. The adjectives that Mr. Stuart uses to describe small churches-unproductive, ineffective, drain on resources, non-existent mission, lack of mission and purpose, [lack of] ministry and vision, coast along, do nothing effective or productive-these adjectives can just as easily be applied to unhealthy large churches as unhealthy small ones.

Churches whose lives reflect the image that Mr. Stuart has held up should either be closed and the resources directed to a richer mission field, or they should be the recipient of fervent prayer and fasting for revival. Sometimes the Holy Spirit does not intend revival, and we pray for a holy death. So be it. But it's neither just nor accurate to say that just because a church is small that its life reflects that negative image. Some small churches are vibrant, caring, evangelistic, socially active, and practically vibrating with the power of the Spirit in their rich and full spiritual lives.

My own church is one such congregation. I can't take credit for it; I am merely building with excellent material on foundations lain by previous godly pastors. In my church there are prayer warriors and healers. There is prayer in church and out, and the members reach out to each other in sacrificial ways. And the generosity staggers me. This small congregation adopts five teenage boys from the local boys' home at Christmas, they empty their pockets for special collections, they raise money for developing countries, they collect food for the food

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