Interview with Clair MacMillan

As he takes on the mantle of Canada National Director for the Church of the Nazarene, Clair MacMillan provides some insights into his life and ministry.

Q. Where were you born and raised?
A. I was born in Prince Edward Island and relocated to Ottawa, Ontario, as a child. My primary and secondary education was in Ottawa.

Q. Favorite childhood memory.
A. The three-day train ride from Summerside, Prince Edward Island to Ottawa, Ontario, when Dad became pastor at Ottawa Grace Church of the Nazarene.

Q. Describe your first job.
A. Age 11, delivering newspapers for the Ottawa Journal. Now I see that it taught me the virtue of reliability (working six days a week, regardless of weather), the responsibility of managing other people's money, and the basic skill of building a contingent of loyal customers.

Q. What was your greatest opportunity?
A. The privilege of attending Olivet Nazarene University afforded interconnecting opportunities which still impact my life 39 years later.

Q. How did you know that you wanted to be in the ministry?
A. I never wanted to be in the ministry. I was drafted against my will, by a God who knew me better than I knew myself. I have found in obedience to His holy calling a joy unspeakable.

Q. What are people surprised to learn about you?
A. I don't know. I work hard at not being 'surprising.'

Q. Name a unique situation in which you found yourself.
A. In 1996, I was traveling from New Brunswick to Prince Edward Island on the 6:30 a.m. ferry. With only a handful of people on the boat, I didn't expect to visit with anyone. I was standing aft, at the rail, when a man stepped to my side and said, "Good morning." I turned and discovered that it was the prime minister of Canada, Jean Chrétien. We chatted for about 20 minutes before his aides called him away.

Q. Where would your dream holiday location be?
A. A week golfing at the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, without the wind blowing.

Q. What types of things do you feel most confident doing?
A. I love to preach, but I have tried to cultivate the discipline of being comfortable in whatever God gives me to do.

Q. What is the best part about your new assignment?
A. Ask me next year! However, I am anticipating the opportunity to work with the many people throughout Canada who have become friends and co-laborers over the past 30 years.

Q. What should the church know about the Canadian Nazarenes?
A. The Canadian Church of the Nazarene has become effective in international relief initiatives. Through several government programs and non-governmental agencies—some of which match donations four to one—we were able to contribute the equivalent of $26,000,000 (CAN) to address hunger and medical issues in some of the poorest nations of the world.

Q. What are you passionate about?
A. Effective evangelism.

Q. Describe a key turning point in your spiritual journey?
A. It was when I discovered that I couldn't be justified by my attempts to be sanctified and found that I could be sanctified because I had already been justified by God's gracious act.

Please note: All facts, figures, and titles were accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of original publication but may have since changed.