Episode 75 - The Transition I Planned…The Transition I Got (featuring Jim West)
Telling stories of turning transition into transformation. There is Life After Ministry.
Stepping away from leadership is rarely just a strategic decision. It’s personal. Emotional. Spiritual. Especially for founders and long-term leaders who have poured their lives into a ministry.
In this episode, Jim West reflects on what it meant to hand off leadership of the Barnabas Group, a ministry he helped build and lead for over two decades.
Just weeks after that transition, Jim was diagnosed with cancer, forcing him into a season of surrender he never planned.
This conversation explores succession, identity, grief, and trust. It’s an honest look at what happens when God asks you to release what you love, and how unexpected seasons can become some of the most formative and meaningful of your life.
Key Takeaways
Succession is not an emergency plan. It’s a discipleship issue.
Founders often grieve more than they expect when they step away.
A ministry continuing without you can be a sign of health, not failure.
Forced stillness can protect both leaders and organizations.
Identity untethered from role allows for deeper trust in God.
Life after ministry can be fuller, not smaller.
Transitions require guides, not just decisions.
Chapter Markers
00:00 – Jim’s path into the Barnabas Group
03:30 – Recognizing the need for succession
05:20 – Passing the baton and receiving a cancer diagnosis
07:40 – Watching the ministry grow without him
11:50 – Faith, cancer, and spiritual clarity
16:00 – Discovering life and ministry after leadership
27:10 – Advice for leaders facing transition
And if you or your organization are facing a leadership transition, visit ministrytransitions.com to book a confidential conversation and get support that protects people, preserves purpose, and plans wisely for what’s next.
Find resources. Find hope.
This is a sanctuary for those who've experienced a transition out of church or nonprofit Christian leadership roles. Our mission is to provide a platform for sharing, learning, and growing through each other's experiences.
A place for elders needing answers.
Welcome to the Elder Hub, a platform designed to uplift, empower, and unite elders across Christian denominations. This group serves as support and guidance for those entrusted with the weighty responsibility of making critical decisions within churches and nonprofit ministries.
