After a period of atheism in his early 20s, he began following Jesus. Almost immediately, he attended Bible college, where he met his wife, Rebecca, who was also a new Christian. They began traveling and sharing the good news for several years before pastoring in Michigan and California, where Nathan completed seminary at La Sierra University.

Nathan spent his formative years in the natural wonder of the Black Hills of South Dakota. The beauty and ruggedness of that land fostered a lifelong love of the outdoors. He cultivates that love by rock climbing and chasing trout like he did as a child.