SWAT Ministries began out of a country church outside of Athens, Georgia in the early 1990’s. Jon Messarra began using high school and college students to lead the students in his youth group. The dynamic of student leading student proved to be God’s desire when after four discipleship weekends the youth ministry grew from 16 to 200 students. This growth led other student pastors to request that Jon bring his student leaders to lead discipleship weekends for their churches. This led to Jon found SWAT Ministries, Inc (Student With a Testimony) in 1992.

Since 1992, we have been giving ourselves to churches across the country. We do this because there is a need for students to see older students joyfully living out their faith. Even though the mechanics of our SWAT weekends have changed over the years, the core has always been the relationships built between our leaders and the students on these weekends. (If you want a laugh, click the icon to the right to watch footage from a weekend in 1993. Don’t worry, our leaders no longer have mullets.)

Our mission is based on Matthew 28:19-20, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” We simply desire to make disciples. With a large percentage of students leaving the church once entering college, we do not want to just provide another event. Instead of focusing on creating production-centered ministry, we desire to grow students up in their faith through relational small groups. Our SWAT leaders are grown up in their gifts and talents through their training and service on these weekends. Students from the churches we serve in are grown up through the time spent with the SWAT leader.

SWAT desires to continue to grow throughout the country. We currently have leaders in Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama. As doors open, we will equip student leaders to lead discipleship weekends across the country. Our prayer is that the Lord would make Disciples of Christ through our ministry. We seek to connect all people associated with us to the source of true life through the spiritual disciplines. We pray that people associated with SWAT would grow into men and women who bring renewal and purpose to people around them.