Specialist, Youth Ministry, Georgia Baptist Convention

"It is a thrill and an honor to recommend to any church of any size or situation the ministry of Jon Messarra and the S.W.A.T. team. Their message is an outreach given to God and definitely used for his glory. It offers local students with a high quality retreat experience along with the added dimension of young leaders with whom they can easily relate. In a day when youth ministry is calling for more student leadership, S.W.A.T. provides a model for youth. Young people easily identify with the S.W.A.T leaders. I urge anyone to use this ministry. It will be a blessing to everyone involved, young and old."

"It has been an absolute honor and privilege to come alongside of Jon Messarra and SWAT ministries in raising up and equipping young, Christian leaders to be competent stewards of their calling in the family, church, and in society. Focus Leadership Institute students who have been a part of SWAT ministries are some of our most capable students. They come into FLI with minds and hearts cultivated to receive the challenges they are met with in a way that allows them to not only learn Christian leadership but to apply the principles they are taught. Our unique partnership with SWAT ministries allows for the training and discipling of what I think may become some of the most able-bodied Christian leaders in our culture. It is a humbling and joyous experience to work with such students."
Ryan Griffin - Director, Admissions - Focus Leadership Institute

"SWAT Ministries is one of a kind. SWAT provides quality of material, quality of leadership, quality of personal impact on students that lasts long past the weekend. SWAT frees my staff and myself up to be with the students and experience the weekend, retreat with them. SWAT enables the students to digest the material and apply it to their lives. Our experiences with SWAT have always added to what we are trying to accomplish here - they are a partner in our ministry. My question would be...why would you not consider using SWAT?"
Larry Lawrence - First Baptist Church Jonesboro, Georgia

"I believe SWAT is one of the best ministries for teaching my students and helping them grow over a weekend. I would use you any time."
Garnet Blaney - Rocky Knoll Baptist Church - SC

"SWAT Ministries has been a great resource in our student ministry. The ability to have your Disciple Now leadership assembled with a phone call is wonderful. Having used them for the last six years I have found them to be reliable, trustworthy, enthusiastic, and doctrinally sound. Our students look forward to them coming back year after year."
Quentin McArthur- FBC Dublin, Ga

"This is the best thing we do all year because of the relationships the leaders build. Our kids love the relationships they build. They need to see Godly role models."
Clay Willis -FBC Mableton - GA

"We have been involved with SWAT for 12 years now. God has used them to help radically shape our student ministry and its spiritual focus. Here are just a few ways God has used SWAT to help grow our student ministry: (1) SWAT came in and handled our weekend events when we were too small to do quality God focused events our self. This really got the ball rolling. (2) Through these events our students got introduced and immersed in spiritually transforming small groups. Now our student ministry is huge on small groups and it’s because SWAT laid the ground work for small groups in our ministry years ago. Finally, because we allowed SWAT to invest in us our students have become not only familiar with being in a small group, but also know how to lead them. My graduating seniors are immediately turned into small group leaders in our student ministry their freshman year in college. SWAT has helped us grow leaders for our Student Ministry."
Jonathan Melchior - Kiokee Baptist - GA

"I was impressed at how quickly you analyzed and adjusted to the needs of our group."
FBC Fernandina Beach- FL

"It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had!"

"(The leader) not only taught the lesson in a way that I understood, but she gave personal experiences that brought her lessons to life."

"The leaders not only take time to know the Lord, but they take time to spend one-on-one time with us and really tried to get to know us!"

"Jessie is an amazing leader with an incredible heart for God. She really has a passion for what she’s doing and it’s very obvious. I think it’s great how she is just so real and straightforward with us. This weekend really was a blast, and I hope I get the opportunity to experience it again… it was really life changing.

"I knew God pursued me but it really sunk in this weekend."

"Brooke is sweetest D-now leader. she is real about everything and nothing is for show. She is just herself and has a fiery passion for God and students."

"This weekend I committed to focus my devotion on finding my place in the Lord's will and seeing clearly his divine purpose for my life."

"Thank you so much! I learned so much and I know it will help me in the future."

"The power of Christ working through your leaders to reach us is very helpful to me in my walk."

"Weekends like this are so special. Coming together as students, small group leaders, and SWAT leaders is so uplifting. It leaves a strong feeling of peace and joy in me, and it strengthens my faith."

"Seeing such a passion in a person of such high popularity shows that Chris is really doing these weekends to further the Kingdom."

"I believe this weekend was God-sent and definitely changed lives."

"Chuck Norris can touch MC hammer."

"This is an awesome ministry. It gives a weekend for our students to be able to confide in someone who is committed to Christ. It changes lives & helps teenagers to mature. As a parent, I have seen the encouragement & love shown towards my child this weekend. Thank you for listening to the Holy Spirit & ministering to a world that needs Christ."

"...leaders are spiritually sound & mature in handling students, but still on their level as far as presentation and relationship building. We have been involved with other programs, but by far these leaders were the best! The boys in our home, including our son, now have young, strong, Christian men to look up to as role models."

"Top notch leaders! There is a great balance of fun and serious, the students respected that."

"Cody is a great leader and role model for the youth. It’s very inspirational to see the commitment and passion these young adults bring to spreading God’s word."

"Continue to use students that have a heart to improve our youth."

"The SWAT weekend was an awesome experience. We pray our daughter will grow up to have a heart like Frankie and Breanna."

"We were impressed by the leaders we talked with. Please continue what you are doing. There is much need for this ministry everywhere! We appreciate the unselfish efforts & time/energy devoted to developing our young people."

"I was blown away by these ladies and pray my daughters turn out just like them."

"Thank you so much for this weekend. I have three and daughters and I thank God for such wonderful, willing, and Godly women who will share their time building up our youth. Thanks you and God."

"SWAT is great. You guys do a wonderful job-you truly glorify God in all you do with students."

"It is awesome that these college students are courageous in sharing their faith. What a wonderful example for our youth- and adults as well."