Next GEN Leaders and the Bellwether Effect
There is a middle eastern custom called "A Bellwether".
It is derived from shepherds who used to put a bell on the castrated goat of a flock so that the sheep would follow that goat. Because of the bellwhether sheep, the shepherd could know where the flock was based upon the noise the bell made.
Historically
It eventually followed that bellwether would come to refer to someone who takes initiative or who actively establishes a trend that is taken up by others. This usage first appeared in English in the 15th century and has remained in the language ever since.
Similarly, in leadership, there is a bellwhether who is central to the movement of a corporation, team, family, or church. Someone who "rings the bell" or creates movement. Trend starters in culture are seen as people who are bellwhethers. They influence the trend and give the direction that a culture is tending.
I believe that this concept relates to the Next Gen leaders calling in two ways:
First, God has always had a person in every generation
Moses, Joseph, Deborah, Esther, David, the Prophets, the Disciples, Paul, Saint John of the Cross, Saint Francis of Assisi, mother Teresa, Billy Graham, and many others throughout human history.
To lead young people and the city we are called in the message of the Gospel.
That is generally done through pastoring the youth group, but also through our relationship in the culture and the city around us.
It is pretty clear that the church has lost its voice.
But, I believe we are seeing signs of the church and especially the Alpha Gen & Gen Z sets restoring the church to a central leadership in our nation again. Just look at the significant spiritual leaders who are impacting America at the government, education, business, sports, and entertainment, and social media sectors.
And second, God is more concerned about who is following us than who is liking us
I know that sounds like a play on words, but let me explain this.
Most of us are more concerned with all of the likes that we have on a post or even on the kind of things that we say or do. But what is most important is who is actually listening to us and following our leadership.
I want to make such a sound that others will actually change their way and follow the truth of my words and my life. The concept of following is way more important than the concept of likes.
When someone chooses to follow us, several things are happening:
They are listening and not just hearing
They are making a decision to trust us
They are going out of their way
They are ultimately following God
The responsibility for spiritual leadership is great. Spiritual leadership comes with the important principles of humility and preparation. The important principles of scripture and understanding culture.
Of course, spiritual leadership is not perfect. But it should be accountable and submitted
With that said, let me give you 5 traits of a bellwether:
Control - this is why often a bellwether is a castrated sheep. Going through that act of castration brings control and reduced aggression to the sheep.
Undistracted - A bellwether is actually considered one of the most focused and disciplined sheep
Experienced - The experience of an older Bellweather sheep is that they understand the trails, the dangers, and the predators
Shepherds sheep - It is known that a Bellweather sheep stays close to the Shepherd and has a good understanding of commands and instructions
The bell - No other sheep has this audible advantage that becomes the clarion sound most recognized by the other sheep
Finally
When I think of the ministry of a Next GEN leader, I think of this concept of the Bellwether sheep. We are willing to stay so close to God that our lives are a great sound to the generation around us.
I am reminded of the story of the Pied Piper. Here is a short description of the Pied Piper story:
The historical legend of the Pied Piper was the story of a charismatic Piper who was hired because the town of Hamelin in 13th century Germany was having a problem with mice.
When the piper came to the small hamlet, he began to play his flute and attract all of the rats who had infested the small village. As he played, the rats followed the piper outside of the town and the effect was powerful.
There are other lessons to this story that we won’t tell here, but, Next GEN leaders have a powerful responsibility to play the shepherds song and lead a generation to Christ.
A 'sound' for Christ that is distinguishable from all others present in our day.
John 10:5, "And a stranger they will not follow, but will flee from him: for they do not know the voice of the stranger."