In Arizona, local authorities are insisting that Maricopa County's Little County Church pave their parking lot, or face closure. The tiny Baptist congregation, which comprises only three families, voted to shut down the church rather than pay $16,000 to pave the lot. Minister Michael Fahrer points out that the county roads leading to the church are not paved, either. "It's absolute lunacy... We asked the county, 'When are you going to [pave the roads]?' And they said, 'Well, we can't afford it.' " Part of the $16,000 cost consisted of complying with environmental regulations, which require a flood control plan, including a water runoff and flood ditch. "This is in the middle of the desert," he says. "They also insisted [upon] enough space for 19 cars despite the fact that we only have 16 people. Now doesn't that violate all common sense?" The church will probably be converted into a store, says Fahrer, who adds that he doesn't know if the store's parking lot will be paved.

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