What does it take to be an effective NewStart Pastor?
Charles Ridley conducted a study of church planters in the United States and Canada.  His subjects in the study represented 13 Protestant denominations.  Based upon his research and subsequent field testing, he developed a list of 13 prominent performance characteristics.  For over a decade, these characteristics have been used to select church planters.

The ideal new church leader is one who possesses the following qualities:

1. Visionary Capacity: Ability to project a vision into the future, persuasively motivate people toward that vision, and bring it into reality.

2. Intrinsically Motivated: Approaches ministry as a self-starter and commits to excellence through long and hard work.

3. Creates Ownership of Ministry: Instills in people a sense of personal responsibility for the growth and success of ministry and trains leaders to reproduce leaders.

4. Relates to the Unchurched: Ability to develop rapport, break through barriers, and encourage unchurched people to examine themselves and commit to a walk with God and lead people to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

5. Spousal Cooperation: Creating a workable partnership that agrees on ministry priorities, each partner's role and involvement in ministry, and the integration of ministry with family life.

6. Effectively Builds Relationships: Takes the initiative in getting to know people and deepening relationships as a basis for more effective ministry.

7. Committed to Church Growth: Values church growth as a method for building more and better disciples; strives to achieve numerical growth within the context of spiritual and relational growth.

8. Responsive to the Community: Adapts the ministry to the culture and needs of local residents while seeking to engage community issues and concerns.

9. Utilizes Giftedness of Others: Equips and releases people to do ministry according to their spiritual gifts.

10. Flexible and Adaptable: Ability to adjust to change and ambiguity, shift priorities when necessary, and handle multiple tasks at once.

11. Builds Group Cohesiveness: Enables the group to work collaboratively toward a common goal and skillfully handle divisive elements into positive resolutions.

12. Demonstrates Resilience: Ability to sustain oneself emotionally and physically through setbacks, losses, disappointments, and failures.

13. Exercises Faith: Demonstrates how one's convictions are translated into personal and ministry decisions and possesses a vital spirituality.