Ministering as an XP, Dr. Nathan Baxter loved ten hours of his job. Those one-on-ones with staff fueled him; the rest of his responsibilities slowly emptied him. Naming that truth started a two-year journey out of a role he’d held for decades. However, he didn’t abandon ministry; he changed vehicles so his calling could breathe again.

In this conversation with Matt Davis of Ministry Transitions, Nathan walks through a practical runway. He set a modest income target, built a small savings cushion, and launched a coaching practice with a pastor’s heart.

He also shares the moment his elders asked him to leave—sooner than he had planned—and how they chose to be surprisingly generous, a gift that humbled him more than any pain. Now coaching CEOs and pastors alike, Nathan talks about finishing well, clarifying a particular purpose, and the three anchors every leader over age 50 needs: margin, influence, and hyper-intentional living.

If transition feels like a free fall, this episode will help you steady your soul and take the next right step.

Key Takeaways

  • Honest work audits can reveal misaligned roles without shaming your calling.
  • A two-year discernment window can hold fear, finances, and family well.
  • Build a simple runway: clear income target and small savings cushion.
  • Generosity in transition can reframe pain and deepen humility.
  • You can keep a pastoral identity while changing employers.
  • Finishing well rests on margin, influence, and intentional living.
  • Purpose is discovered over time. Let the desert do its work.

About Nathan & Matt

Nathan Baxter was a Featured Speaker at the 2025 XP-Seminar and Ministry Transitions is an ongoing sponsor of the XP-Seminar. Hear great speakers like them at the XP-Seminar.

Matt Davis is the President & Chief Pastoral Officer of Ministry Transitions. They say, Before you make the next move, make the wise one. Visit ministrytransitions to schedule a confidential call, get transition tools for your board or staff, or give to help another leader walk through theirs with dignity.

Nathan Baxter is the Founder of Lead Self Lead Others. To learn more about how pastors can become powerful leadership coaches, visit Lead Self Lead Others. You’ll find tools to help you clarify calling, build a coaching rhythm, and multiply your impact beyond the church walls.

Chapter Markers

00:00 Welcome and background
02:20 When the job isn’t the joy anymore
04:55 Two-year wrestle and first paid coaching moment
08:24 Elders, early exit, unexpected generosity
10:14 Building a practical runway and budget targets
12:16 Why “Lead Self, Lead Others”
16:02 Defining finishing well in the fourth quarter
18:18 Retiring the fee, keeping the call at 68
20:07 Purpose unfolds slowly, not suddenly
24:42 Margin, influence, and hyper-intentional life
27:30 Why pastors make great coaches
30:01 CEOs and pastors face the same pressures
31:38 Wisdom to a next-gen pastor son
34:03 Where to find Nathan’s work