OUR STORY
SWAT (Students With A Testimony) was founded in 1992 at Colbert Baptist Church in Georgia by Jon Messarra. Designed as a comprehensive Disciple Now program, SWAT emphasized student leadership by engaging middle and high school students as leaders, speakers, worship team members, and staff. Within just over two years, the ministry grew from an initial group of 15 students to over 200, quickly becoming a model for youth discipleship that other churches began to replicate.
Since its inception, SWAT has impacted thousands of students, many of whom have gone on to serve in ministry, missions, education, and beyond. Some former participants met and married through SWAT events. The ministry remains centered on the vision God gave Jon Messarra in the early 1990s— empowering students to lead and testify to the transforming power of Jesus Christ. What began as a local initiative has grown into a national and international student-led movement, equipping youth to disciple others and lead with purpose.
SWAT Ministries will continue to empower students to lead peers through peer-led discipleship, service projects, and leadership training, equipping young people to take ownership of ministry on campus and in their communities; by investing in student-led Bible studies, outreach teams, and mentorship networks. SWAT has seen students multiply their influence, plant new student groups, and model servant leadership in workplaces and churches—creating a generational ripple where faith, character, and leadership are passed down, sustained, and expanded across families, campuses, and communities for years to come.