InterAct Ministries
 | |
| Legal status | Non-profit |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Church planting |
| Headquarters | Boring, OR and Crossfield, AB |
Region served | Alaska, Canada, & Siberia |
General Director | Dale Smith |
Main organ | Board of Directors |
| Affiliations | Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), Missio Nexus, Canadian Council of Christian Charities (CCCC) |
Budget | $2.7 million (2013) |
Staff | 135 |
| Website | http://www.interactministries.org |
InterAct Ministries is an interdenominational missionary agency that focuses on church planting among indigenous people of eastern Russia,[1] Alaska, and western Canada[2]—an area it calls the "North Pacific Crescent."[3] The mission's U.S. headquarters is located in Boring, Oregon, a suburb of Portland, Oregon, and the Canada office is located in Crossfield, Alberta, 50km north of Calgary. The ministry employs approximately 130 staff members worldwide.[4]
The organization began in 1951 as Alaska Missions, Inc. In 1956, the name was changed to Arctic Missions. In 1967 InterAct began expanding into parts of western Canada to serve among the Native and Aboriginal people groups there. As ministry further expanded south the name was changed in 1988 to InterAct Ministries was chosen to reflect the fact that work was being carried out in areas well south of the Arctic Circle.[5] There are currently missionaries serving in the western-most provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. While most of their ministry in Canada is focused on First Nations communities, work has expanded over the years to include ministry to immigrant populations in urban areas.
In the early 1990s after the Soviet Union had dissolved, the mission began working among the Native Peoples of Siberia, specifically in the Republic of Yakutia. Since then work has expanded into other regions such as the Republics of Tuva, and Buryatia, as well as the Krasnoyarsk region.
Mission Statement - "InterAct Ministries exists to make disciples among least-reached peoples in cooperation with like-minded churches and organizations."[6]
Vision Statement - "Our desire is to see reproducing disciples impacting communities across Siberia, Alaska and western Canada, an area we call the North Pacific Crescent."[7]
While it has historically been a church planting organization, the approach to ministry has shifted over the years towards making disciples and facilitating Native-led churches to serve and minister among their own people. This has led to a greater focus on leadership development, one-on-one discipleship and works of mercy such as outreach to people with disabilities.[8]
InterAct is affiliated with several major evangelical accountability and partnership groups, including Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA), Missio Nexus, and the Canadian Council of Christian Charities (CCCC).[9]
References
- ↑ Sharon Linzey (2003). Christianity in Russia and Post-communist Europe. Pasadena: William Carey Library. ISBN 0-87808-507-6. Page 224.
- ↑ Paul Bramadat; David Seljak (2008). Christianity and Ethnicity in Canada. Toronto: University of Toronto. ISBN 0-8020-9584-4. Page 237.
- ↑ http://interactministries.org/#/where-we-serve
- ↑ http://www.ecfa.org/MemberProfile.aspx?ID=10011
- ↑ http://interactministries.org/#/about-us/history
- ↑ http://interactministries.org/#/about-us/mission-and-values
- ↑ http://interactministries.org/#/about-us/mission-and-values
- ↑ http://www.interactministriesblog.com/2014/10/summer-team-serves-those-with-special.html
- ↑ http://interactministries.org/#/about-us/affiliations