[Robert]

I think that many Christians make basic mistake in approaching to this matter.
First of all to define anything we should have that " anything" in our hands.
Lat's take sunflower for example. This size, this colour, these particular characteristics.
Jesus gave us very simply words. "gathered in my name...".
One person can not show love for himself. This kind of "love" we call "selfishness". Isn't?
We can be humble and kind and loving only toward other person.
That is why Jesus said:" two OR three..." Other words, number does not matter.
What is more important, He said "in my name".
What does really mean "in my Name"? What is His name?
Is that name meaningless? Or less important from "Sunflower"?
Jesus means: The One Who Exist Saves.
If we only meet together because of our real salvation and our real experience of being born from God that means Jesus is really among us.
Jesus described reality which John repeated later:
We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not abideth in death.
1 John 3:15
Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him.
3:16
Hereby know we love, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.
3:17
But whoso hath the world`s goods, and beholdeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his compassion from him, how doth the love of God abide in him?
3:18
[My] Little children, let us not love in word, neither with the tongue; but in deed and truth.
3:19
Hereby shall we know that we are of the truth, and shall assure our heart before him:
3:20
because if our heart condemn us, God is greater than our heart, and knoweth all things.
3:21
Beloved, if our heart condemn us not, we have boldness toward God;
3:22
and whatsoever we ask we receive of him, because we keep his commandments and do the things that are pleasing in his sight.
3:23
And this is his commandment, that we should believe in the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, even as he gave us commandment.
3:24
And he that keepeth his commandments abideth in him, and he in him. And hereby we know that he abideth in us, by the Spirit which he gave us.

We should really have deeply in our minds that "church" means " the called ones" or " congregation of people".
Numbers or defining gives nothing if we do not experience fellowshipping even with one or two others.
Would be amazing with 300 or 3000! But we have certain reality and circumstances so talking about something which does not concern to us gives nothing.
I do not belong now to any congregation. But I do meet with believers having real fellowship. For many Christians I do not belong to any church. In their meaning yes! But in Jesus meaning?
I was very faithfull and carefull listener of WL.
When I started to apply in my live all what he wrote, saints had left me.
There is many good points in books. About practice. I guarrantee to all that after they start to act according his words all churches will seperate from Anaheim and LSM.
But thanks God, I have better example to follow than WL and his books.
In my short live I have to apply only my master's teaching.
I do not see any intention in His teaching to define any organisation. Rather Organism.
Our words should fit to reality. One Sunflower in hand then word:" one Sonflower".
Local churches are any more local. They are "company subsidiaries" in fact.
The more we talk having no cover in facts, the more we become Empty Talkers. 98% of LC members are Empty Talkers.
I am very thankfull to God for each particular believer every day he gave me.
Where is love, there must be longing and utual desire to meet and help each other in daily life. That is it! Very, very simple!