InterAct Ministries experienced many changes and transitions in 2021. One of these was new leadership for the Canada field. Over a year ago, Greg Hamilton stepped into the field director role for Canada, and Dan Mayerle moved to a part-time assistant field director and part-time discipling missionary role. In a brief interview, Greg recently reflected on this transition and his first year leading the field.


Has your transition to field director been what you expected?


“When I was teaching interns through EnGage!, I used an analogy to help them understand transitions. I would have them put one arm on top of the other and then raise the top arm to create a 45-degree angle. The bottom arm represents reality, and the extended arm represents expectations. The distance between the two is our level of frustration. The greater our expectations are removed from reality, the greater our frustration.


I expected the transition from assistant director to director to be seamless. My expectations did not match up with reality. I thought I was more prepared. Dan Mayerle and I have worked together closely for the past ten years. However, this change involved a significant level of attention and learning I did not anticipate.”


Where have you seen God at work in this transition?


“Throughout the process, God called me to focus on Him. I have been more intentional in my relationship with the Lord than at any other point in life. I must ultimately rely on Him for wisdom and direction as we move forward into this new era. This passage of Scripture has greatly encouraged me on this journey:


1 Peter 1:3,4 ‘Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to His great mercy, He has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you…’ (ESV)


Disappointment, discouragement and hopelessness are easy to find amid constant change. The challenge for me continues to be carefully guarding where I look for hope. Our hope will only be realized as we seek our sufficiency in Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. I love the words above. ‘An inheritance that is imperishable.’ ‘Undefiled.’ ‘Unfading.’ Even more importantly, our inheritance is not dependent on anything we do. God keeps it safe!”


Where do you see God leading the Canada field?


“The present reality of the Canada field is diversified by people groups and locations, as well as ministry approaches. While there are strengths found in diversification, it becomes an increasing challenge to support with a small team. The piece that continues to unite everyone on the Canada field is one of discipling people in their understanding and application of the gospel. I believe as we develop as Christ-followers in our grasp of the gospel and its application to our own lives and the lives of those we are discipling—we will then be a greater reflection of who God intends His church to be. Pray for us that we would be sensitive to the leading of our Lord as we seek to see lives transformed by the Good News.”