Is Success Measured by Sustainability?

Last year Matt Chandler, influential pastor of The Village Church in Dallas, was diagnosed with brain cancer. Chandler has fought the cancer bravely, and continues to share the Gospel and lead at his church. In an interview recently, Chandler offered an interesting quote. “If I die and The Village Church falls apart, do I care? I’ll be honest, I don’t. It seems to me that when you look at history, God raises up certain men for certain seasons in certain places. He pours out his Spirit on them, and when they’re done its very rare for God to continue the work that was done uniquely through him. If I die and The Village ends, I’m alright with that.” Chandler goes on to say that while many of us feel that a ministry has to flourish ever once we’re gone, that this expectation is “unfair, unhistoric, and maybe even unbiblical.” I think that Chandler brings up some interesting points. It does seem that often throughout church history, whether it be Charles Spurgeon, D.L. Moody, or Charles Finney, God raises up leaders for a specific time, and then their ministries begin to lose influence rapidly after their death. Often ministries will go on in a leader’s stead, but they will be fairly unrecognizable to the original leader’s goals and methods. Does the church put unnecessary pressure on the leader to sustain his or her influence, or should all true leaders place great importance on preparing for life after themselves?