Full-time Staff

Jon Messarra (President/Director)
Jon began SWAT in 1992 out of his youth group in a small town outside of Athens, Georgia. In 2004, Jon stepped down from his job as a youth minister in order to focus his energies fully on SWAT. Jon serves as visionary and fund raiser for SWAT. In his spare time, Jon loves to travel and drink coffee (especially his own blend--- Unstinkinbelievable Coffee---yes, that is a real word).

Brad Kinney (Administrator)
Brad has been a part of SWAT for almost five years and has served in many different capacities. As Administrator, Brad is molding the organizational structure in order for SWAT to achieve all that the Lord has for us. Brad and his wife Cat love to take adventures and play sports!

Mary Joy Messarra-Redman (Director of Weekends, Interviews & Women’s Ministry)
Mary has been involved with SWAT since its beginning in 1992. She is the Director of Weekends, Interviews, Women’s Ministry and serves on the Board of Advisor’s for SWAT. Her passion is to see people encounter the transforming love of God and grow in intimacy with Him. Her service for SWAT has spanned over almost two decades and she credits SWAT for being the vehicle the Lord used to teach her how to share her testimony with others. As a result of her involvement with SWAT, she has seen the Lord work and move powerfully in her life and in the lives of youth and adults all over the Southeast. She is married to David Redman and they live in Athens, GA.

Matt Whiting (Worship Ministries Director)
Matt has been a part of SWAT since 2005 serving as a leader, worship leader and now as the Worship Ministries coordinator. Matt coordinates the worship teams that go and lead worship for SWAT Weekends as well as planning SWAT Worship Nights and service programming for other SWAT events. He also spends time discipling and teaching SWAT leaders who are interested in leading worship what it truly means to be a worship leader. Matt loves music (obviously!) playing guitar, playing golf, and any other sport really, and watching movies.

Women's Ministry Director

Mary Joy Messarra-Redman
Direct and Oversee Women's Ministry
Facilitate Leadership team meetings
Connecting and building relationships

Women's Ministry Coordinator

Coordinate and organize women's ministry events
Facilitate Women's Bible study
Connecting and Building relationships

Interns

Ashley Blanton
Rebekah O'Rourke
Brynn McDaniel
Mark Litton
Jordan Karr
Sean Jackson
Emily Albright

Recreation Coordinator

Develop new games for weekends
Attend REC Seminars
Plan REC for weekends
Recruit and train REC staff
Assign Rec leaders for weekends
Provide example Recreation programs (for group size)

Weekend Coordinator

Oversee the scheduled weekend
See coordinators notebook

Host Home Leader

Preparation for weekend
Lead 3 weekends a year
Attend enrichment 2 times a year
See leaders expectations list

Recreation Leader

Responsible for REC time on a weekend Preparation and supplies for REC See REC notebook

SWAT Board of Advisor's

John Eubank - Chairman
Mike Gautreaux
Mary Messarra-Redman
John Gaultney
Cindy Gaultney
Sean Britt
Michael Lodge
Ken Edwards