Missionary Highlight: Greg & Laura Hamilton

They say in the business world that one of the most important considerations is, "location, location, location." In our ministry world, our most important consideration is, "relationship, relationship, relationship." The heart of InterAct's approach is bound up in relationship. Our shared history, particularly among Indigenous people is a history of broken trust. Our desire is to build relationships of trust, so that our shared trust allows for us to have spiritual conversations that lead to relationship with Jesus Christ. Much of our time is spent building relationships with small groups of people to impact them with the truth of the gospel. Thriving churches across Siberia, Alaska, and Western Canada remain our focus.

I serve as the Regional Director for Western Canada, and, with Laura, we spend much of our time shepherding our twenty-five staff serving in community among Indigenous and new immigrant people. We have staff located from Manitoba to the Yukon, many in small outlying communities. The beauty of what I am seeing now is that first and second-generation believers are taking steps to see the next generation impacted for Christ.

Here are a few highlights from this past year:

• Over 150 people gathered at South Asian Bible Conference in Abbotsford; the gathering began with a baptism service, and several put their faith in Jesus over the course of the weekend.
• A brand-new site for Midway Bible Camp in Thompson, MB, continues to be developed with the hope of hosting camp on the new site next summer.
• Waymaker youth weekend for Indigenous youth had 80 youth in attendance near Armstrong, BC.
• Several First Nations young people from three communities attended three different bible colleges in the past year.
• Native Youth Conference had two hundred in attendance. This is an evangelistic weekend where kids from Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba gather just outside of Edmonton.
• Three fellowships of Punjabi people gathered earlier this summer in Calgary; there were 30 that were able to come from the Punjabi church in Winnipeg.
• Younger Leaders in the Punjabi Fellowships in Abbotsford are taking up leadership in worship and directing the ministry of the church.
• Our team in Calgary had several opportunities to disciple Indigenous youth through our business as mission, "Restora," in home mentoring, and in developing regular youth events in surrounding communities through our Anchored Warriors program. Young adults are growing in strength and wisdom.

Laura and I look forward to being at SDBC on November 10th and 17th. It has been some time since we have had the opportunity to connect with both old and new members. This next year marks 25 years since we were commissioned by this body into missions. We are grateful for your faithful partnership.