Just before his death, U.S. Senate Chaplain Richard Halverson shared these thoughts about the church with Harry N. Wendt:

"In the beginning, the church was a fellowship of men and women who centered their lives on the living Christ. They had a personal relationship with the Lord. It transformed them and the world around them.

Then the church moved to Greece, where it became a philosophy.

Later it moved to Rome, where it became an institution. Next it moved to Europe, where it became a culture.

Finally it moved to the United States, where it became an enterprise. We've got far too many churches and so few fellowships."

- Quoted by Karl A. Pohlhaus in his religion column for The Glendale Star (Arizona), July 16, 1998, p. C5.