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If a church has a very small congregation, should it disband?

One of the worst things I can think of and, unfortunately, have seen, is a church closing its doors because of dwindling membership and lack of funding. It happens, but it is very sad to see.

That is one reason of many why I vote no on this.

Simply because a church has a low membership, and the modest financial resources that go with it, that is no reason for a church to close its doors. I have witnessed first hand small congregations with as few as a dozen members keep their churches alive and vital. It takes effort and will, but that is what life is all about in God's service. As a person who considers himself a full time servant minister of our Lord, I am committed to developing new, start-up churches, not closing existing ones.

I have first hand knowledge of assisting such a church. A few years ago, I had the privilege of being able to lead service and preach the message once a month on Sunday in a small country church where, most of the time, the attendance would usually be seven or eight persons, sometimes fewer than that. I learned much from the small, fiercely determined congregation about dedication and service. It was one of the best experiences of my life and assisted me greatly in maturing as a Christian.

I admired the people of that tiny congregation for many reasons. They refused to bow to the wishes of the higher church authorities and vowed to keep the doors open, whatever the cost. I was pleased to be able to help them and one of the gratifying things about it for me was that I got to play country pastor for a day when my turn to lead worship service came around.

One of the most satisfying things I have ever done in service to our Lord is help keep the doors of said church open until one of the few remaining members, a very elderly woman who had been a member since 1935, passed away. It would have broken her heart - and mine as well to see her beloved church pass on before she did. Several times in my association with her and, them, it came dangerously close to doing just that.

I left the area I am speaking of several years ago and confess I am not certain if the determined little congregation hung in there to revive itself or not. If they did not it would not be because of lack of effort, it would be because the membership had dwindled to zero.

Keep those churches open and never surrender! These institutions are the houses where our Lord dwells. Only after exhaustive efforts and prayerful consideration should one ever be shut down for any reason.

Learn more about this author, Tom Fowler.
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