Georgia (or Sakartvelo in the local language) is a Caucasus nation with an ancient Christian story — one tradition traces the Gospel’s arrival to the Apostle Andrew’s missionary journey.

Jeyakaran Emmanuel, Vice President for A3 Global Ministry, says his predecessor in the ministry, Noel Becchetti, had an encounter with a Georgian pastor who had learned about A3’s work and projects and said:

“It will be wonderful to have this program in Georgia. I think this will meet many specific needs in our country, particularly in uniting pastors.”

After prayer and research, A3 answered the call. They are now praying for the right strategy and timing to launch their pastoral leadership development program, which they hope will serve as a catalyst to unite Georgian churches under one mission.

Emmanuel says that kind of unity is needed almost everywhere — but building it can be difficult.

One obstacle is the tendency for ministries to operate independently instead of together. “There has been that trend for ministries to work in silos, not so much coming together in unity,” he explains.

Georgian men in national costumes (photo courtesy of Paata Vardanashvili via Wikimedia Commons)

Another challenge is when believers hold tightly to non-essential doctrines in ways that prevent partnership.

“Many denominations hold on to their doctrines so rigidly that they would not want to see beyond that to relate to anyone who has a different doctrine,” Emmanuel explains, adding that this does not mean compromising on fundamental doctrines that must be honored.

And in some places, competition between churches can breed suspicion — concerns that another congregation is “taking people” or using unfair tactics.

Still, Emmanuel points to the truth that can bring pastors back to common ground:

“The church is not ours. The church belongs to our Lord, Jesus Christ, whom he has purchased with His own blood, and we are merely stewards and shepherds,” he says.

Pray for A3 as they connect with Georgian pastors and plan next steps. Their long-term goal is unity with a purpose: reaching the lost. Emmanuel puts it this way:

“Our prayer is that everybody, in some way, will start getting connected to one another, and that A3 will be God’s agent or instrument to catalyze unity in Georgia.”

Header photo: Tbilisi, Georgia (courtesy of Hongbin via Unsplash).

MNN ministry partner Slavic Gospel Association is a member of IFCA International. Many IFCA-partnered churches were severely impacted.

Dr. Richard Bargas, Executive Director of IFCA, says, “We’ve had reports back from some of our pastors, like I’m looking at one from a pastor that’s in Martinez, Georgia, and the picture of their little church has this massive tree that just basically crushed it.”

Flooding from Hurricane Helene in Asheville, North Carolina. (Photo courtesy of Bill McMannis/Flickr: https://shorturl.at/gtou0)

When IFCA asked about the church’s needs, “They actually were asking for prayer for Kingdom opportunities because they’re meeting their neighbors. They need to build relationships. They want to sow seeds of the Gospel. They want to see people saved,” Bargas says.

“Even though their building has been destroyed, the church is still going on. As a matter of fact, on Sunday, I guess they met in the backyard of the church on their property, and they’ve removed all the wood and all the things that have destroyed their building, and they’re looking for where they’re going to go now.”

Christians are actively serving as the hands and feet of Christ. Even individual believers are going out on their own and offering assistance.

Bargas says, “I was [talking with] a young man the other day who’s in North Carolina. He said he’s just going to grab his saw and he’s going to jump in his truck and he’s going to get down and see what he can do to help people.”

IFCA also works with various institutional and military chaplains. These chaplains have gone to hurricane-impacted areas to listen to and spiritually encourage survivors.

“They’re helping them,” says Bargas. “The shelters are providing showers and hot food and supplies and things, but they need spiritual help too, and so the chaplains are praying for people. They’re letting them weep and tell their story. There’s bigger needs than just food and water and clothing. Those are being taken care of, but there’s more needs, and a lot of them are spiritual.

“We would ask that believers would pray for those that are firsthand ministering to those spiritual needs, that they would be able to turn people to Christ and give them the hope that’s only can be found in Jesus.”

Pray for survivors of Hurricane Helene to turn to the Lord for comfort and sense His presence.

We’re also keeping tabs on Hurricane Milton, now Category 5, approaching Florida’s west coast. Pray for those preparations and a weakened impact.

Header photo: Georgia National Guard Soldiers, Airmen, and State Defense Force personnel continue to deliver Hurricane Helene Relief supplies at points of distribution across the state. (Photo courtesy of Staff Sgt. Amari Cooper, The National Guard, Flickr: https://shorturl.at/e6uMw)

Eric Brew is the director of Warriors Set Free Georgia, a ministry of Set Free, based on the western edge of the state. He says the storm swung east of them and hit hard as it went north. 

“I think we’d be remiss if we didn’t say we need to be praying, right? Some folks have lost everything, so asking God for His peace and His provision to cover them is first and foremost,” Brew says. 

“Secondly, I think that we need to be the hands and feet of Jesus, to step out in faith and offer help, comfort and some practical assistance to those in need.” 

More than 160 people have lost their lives from Helene, at least 25 from Georgia. That count is feared to go up as rescue efforts continue. In the meantime, consider how you can help. It’s going to be a long rebuilding process. 

“We’re going to continue [the] mission that the Lord’s given us and then figure out ways that we can get involved to help those who have struggled [after Helene],” Brew says. 

“If there [are] any veterans, active duty, or first responders out there that want to sit down and have a conversation about some of the things that they’ve seen during this devastation, we’d love to stand shoulder to shoulder with our brothers and sisters, love on them and assist them in finding ways to lay things at the foot of the Cross.” 

Connect with Warriors Set Free Georgia on Facebook, or get in touch with Eric Brew directly at eric@warriorssetfree.org. Learn more about this ministry based in Michigan and Georgia at warriorssetfree.org. 

Header photo: Georgia National Guard 1st Sgt. Michelle Abbot, senior enlisted leader with the Columbus-based Alpha Company, 876th Engineer Support Company, 878th Engineer Battalion, 648th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade gives route clearance guidance to her Soldiers at the Augusta Readiness Center in Augusta, Georgia, Sept. 28, 2024. (Photo and caption courtesy of Georgia National Guard via Wikimedia Commons)

The attack left two students and two teachers dead. Nine others at the school were wounded. It’s the 45th school shooting this year in the U.S., according to a CNN analysis. It’s a sobering reality for families in the back-to-school season.

“You can’t say, ‘Okay, I won’t be afraid anymore for my kids.’ That’s not real,” says Ron Hutchcraft with Hutchcraft Ministries. “But we can deny [fear] the driver’s seat. It doesn’t have to be the source of our decisions that we make with our children, of our attitude, of our conversations.”

Hutchcraft says children today face cruelty from fellow students, lies that are taught in the classroom as truth, and pervasive cultural pressures from media. It’s tempting for parents to respond by trying to control everything for their children, but that’s exactly what we shouldn’t do.

Children today face pervasive cultural pressures from media. (Photo is a representative stock photo courtesy of Kelly Sikkema/Unsplash)

“If I’m afraid as a parent, then I will probably react by pushing harder on my child because I’m afraid. So I’ve got to keep preaching to them and trying to protect them — and in so doing, I’m probably pushing them away,” Hutchcraft says. “I’m going to overreact to things. I’m going to sow fear in my child. There’s no wonder that God says ‘fear not.’”

He points to 2 Timothy 1:7 as a special encouragement for parents and grandparents.

“It says God has not given us the spirit of fear, but he’s given us power, love, and a sound mind. I think that’s the ability to think straight,” Hutchcraft explains. “Fear distorts reality. It makes the problems and dangers bigger and shrinks our faith.” 

Instead, parents can help their kids look to Jesus as they deal with challenges at school. It could be as tangible as praying together in a living room chair.

(Photo is a representative stock photo courtesy of Laura Ohlman/Unsplash)

“If we can establish in our home a sense of the realness, the closeness of Jesus that they can take with them when they walk out that door, it makes them make different choices, and it’s a tremendous antidote to fear,” Hutchcraft says. 

Ask for God’s mercy for the families touched in the Apalachee High School shooting. Pray that God gives Christian parents courage and trust in Him to stand against fear.

5 key scriptures for courageous faith

If you’re a parent looking for a practical next step, Hutchcraft shares five Scriptures to walk through with your child.  

1. You are the light of the world. Matthew 5:14–16
2. Cast all your care on God. 1 Peter 5:7
3. Take your stand. Ephesians 6:10
4. Guard your heart. Proverbs 4:23
5. You are God’s masterpiece. Ephesians 2:10

“If they can go armed with those five truths, those are five powerful fear-fighters and [make-a-difference] battle cries,” Hutchcraft says. 

Header photo is a representative stock photo courtesy of Taylor Flowe/Unsplash

Not all but many of the country’s 16.2 million veterans “are in the fight for their [lives], whether it’s depression, anxiety, suicide, [or] divorce,” says Warriors Set Free director and Army veteran Steve Prince.

“They’re fighting to be happy, healthy, and whole again, based on the trauma they’ve been through.”

A division of Set Free, Warriors Set Free focuses specifically on veterans and first responders. Learn more here.

“We fight alongside them, train and encourage them in the spiritual fight so they can have victory over the spiritual enemy,” Prince says.

“John 10:10 says Satan comes to steal, kill, and destroy, but Jesus came to give us life and give it fully. That’s what we want for these military veterans and first responders.”

Based in West Michigan, Warriors Set Free started a second branch in Georgia in late 2021. “Michigan doesn’t have any active-duty posts, and veterans don’t flock to Michigan to retire [but] Atlanta is the hub of the South,” Prince says.

“There are over 30,000 veterans in the county that Fort Moore is located in.”

In 2024, Warriors Set Free: Georgia is planning four freedom events for struggling veterans.

(Photo courtesy of Warriors Set Free)

“We call it (the event) ‘Warriors Battle,’ and the [tagline] is ‘You are worth fighting for,’” Prince says.

“I love the idea of taking the physical fight from our physical enemy and bringing it to the spiritual and fighting for these men and women who have sacrificed so much for our freedom.”

Know someone who might benefit from these events? Connect with Warriors Set Free here.

Prayer is the first and best way to help Warriors Set Free, Prince says, but “we [also] love to see people coming alongside and supporting us financially. People give $20 a month; we have people write huge checks; they all matter.”

Give safely online to help Warriors Set Free reach more veterans.

Header and story images courtesy of Warriors Set Free.

Steve Prince of Warriors Set Free, a division of Set Free Ministries, went through this process last fall. “We felt led to go to where there’s more activity in the veteran community. Michigan, where we’re currently based, has no active-duty posts and very minimal retirees” compared to other states, Prince says.

“As we were evaluating data, looking at the numbers, and praying about where we should go, we met somebody from Atlanta or Georgia almost daily.”

Learn more about Warriors Set Free: Georgia here.

Prince and his team stepped out in faith one year ago, launching a new branch of Warriors Set Free in Atlanta, Georgia. Today, “we’re following where God is leading us, and we’re excited about reaching more veterans and spreading the Gospel,” Prince says.

“We are obedient to what God is calling us to do, and there’s a lot of momentum. The doors keep flying open.”

According to a 2020 study, Georgia ranks 10th nationwide for having the most active-duty personnel. The same research placed Michigan at 44th of the country’s 50 states.

GallantFew at The Ranger Outreach Center provides one-on-one transition assistance and veteran support to Army Rangers and veterans in Columbus, Georgia.
(Photo, caption courtesy of Warriors Set Free)

Many veteran organizations are based in Atlanta because “there’s a huge need [for veteran services], both in Atlanta and across the state,” Prince says. During a recent visit, he connected with the City of Refuge, The Warrior Alliance, VETLANTA, and VEO.

“VEO is a property that houses vets [who are] struggling with homelessness. Their CEO participated in some ministry events with us, and he’s excited about us being on their campus,” Prince says.

Support Warriors Set Free here.

Pray for transformation in Atlanta as people find spiritual freedom through Christ. “We specialize in veterans because we are them. As you impact a veteran, you impact their marriage, family, community, and church,” Prince says.

Pray that many veteran and military-oriented organizations will partner with Warriors Set Free as they learn about freedom ministry. Leaders from several ministries recently went through “freedom appointments” led by Warriors Set Free.

“It’s like a one-day spiritual basic training. But for every individual we get to do that with, it has a dramatic impact, helping them become obedient to who God’s called them to be,” Prince says.

“I’ve heard from the staff of one organization that their leader is leading better and has become a more godly individual [as a result].”

In the header image, Steve (left) and Wayne (right) meet with Mitch (middle), a U.S. Army Ranger veteran and point-person for Warriors Set Free in Georgia. (Photo courtesy of Warriors Set Free)

In the past 12 months, a few social media posts and many prayers led to a new branch opening for Warriors Set Free, a division of Set Free Ministries. Warriors Set Free expanded to Atlanta, Georgia, from Grand Rapids, Michigan, in early 2022.

The “soft launch” followed months of research and preparation – and a little heavenly intervention.

“Last summer, we knocked on the door of the state headquarters of the Georgia National Guard, and within about 20 minutes, we were in the office of the commander of the state, the two-star general,” Warriors Set Free Director and Army vet Steve Prince says.

Only God could orchestrate a meeting like this. “We know people are praying for this ministry,” Prince adds.

“Walking into a building and having a meeting with a two-star general without an appointment is a miracle. That just does not happen.”

It would be like having lunch in your state capital one day, “and the governor decided to sit down and grab lunch with you,” Prince describes as an example.

Steve (left) and Wayne (right) meet with Mitch (middle), a U.S. Army Ranger veteran and newest member of the Warriors Set Free team.
(Photo courtesy of Warriors Set Free)

“There’s probably 15,000 people this man (the General) is responsible for. He doesn’t talk to people that don’t have a reason to talk to him.”

The Lord connected Warriors Set Free with the Army Chaplain Corps to start work among active-duty personnel during this meeting.

Plus, “Jeff Struecker was in the actual mission for Blackhawk Down. He’s a pastor [in Georgia] now, [and] he referred Mitch, who we brought on staff,” Prince adds.

These connections lay the groundwork for more veterans and active-duty military personnel to find healing and freedom in Christ. Praise God for opening doors of opportunity that only He could unlock. Pray He will provide the manpower and resources needed for ongoing ministry.

Learn more about Warriors Set Free here.

Header and story photos courtesy of Warriors Set Free.

A 2014 study found nearly one in four active-duty members showed signs of a mental health condition. Today, over a million veterans live with invisible war wounds like post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, depression, or anxiety.

Warriors Set Free, a division of Set Free Ministries, points wounded warriors to healing in Christ.

Your mission isn’t over; you still have a role to play. We need you. Your fellow veterans need you.
(Graphic, caption courtesy of Warriors Set Free)

“We know veterans are hurting, and they’re trying just about anything they can to deal with their pain. Then they go, ‘Well, maybe I’ll try faith; maybe I’ll try Jesus’,” WSF Director and Army vet Steve Prince says.

“We need prayer to connect to them in that time, at that moment, and we need an introduction.”

The Lord is doubling Warriors Set Free’s impact and reach through a recent expansion. Along with a residential program for veterans, WSF partners with the Army Chaplain Corps to help active-duty members.

Right now, the Army Chaplain Corps is studying WSF methodology and results. “Once that [study] publishes, that’ll be open to the entire Army. So, somebody at Fort Hood, Texas, [could] read about this study a year from now, call us up and say, ‘Will you come to train my staff?’” Prince says.

“We will be training active-duty chaplains how to do what we do: bring freedom in Christ to active-duty service members who are, just like veterans, at high risk for suicide.”

Warriors Set Free needs help from prayer warriors. “Please, please, please pray for these hurting veterans,” Prince requests.

“Pray God would move them to grow closer to Him and not try some of these other things that don’t work.”

Additionally, Warriors Set Free is a Christian nonprofit and depends on gifts. Support WSF here.

“I love the $10 a month donation. That’s where my heart is; I love the giant donations too, but for a little old lady somewhere to send us $10 a month means a ton [because] I know she’s praying for us,” Prince says.

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Diego González/Unsplash.

Steve Prince leads Warriors Set Free, a division of Set Free Ministries. Based in West Michigan, Warriors Set Free helps veterans from all branches. Learn more about their approach here.

“As a current member of the Army, Warriors Set Free is important because I know that I don’t have to combat lies and fear alone.”
(Graphic, caption courtesy of Warriors Set Free)

“Bringing Jesus to veterans helps them with PTSD, suicide, depression. We assist them, we guide them in healing from the past and winning those battles,” Prince says.

Last year, the Lord put a more expansive vision on leaders’ hearts. “Michigan has no active duty posts at all. So, we started praying about it, and all roads led to Georgia,” Prince says.

“Out of faith, we got on a plane, went down to Atlanta, started meeting people, and connecting with different organizations.”

Today, Warriors Set Free has one full-time staff member in Atlanta, and “in December, a man in Holland, Michigan, connected us with Terry Tucker, who runs a property [in Atlanta] that’s going to house 400 veterans,” Prince says.

“They’re doing complete (holistic) care, and they were missing the spiritual element, so we’re going to be a part of their collective impact.”

Plus, “God keeps opening doors. A week ago, we did a Zoom call with a colonel who’s in charge of finding new approaches within the (Army) Chaplain Corps, and they’re going to study the freedom appointments specific to veterans,” Prince says.

“We already know it works. This will be scientific proof to the Army, to the other branches, that freedom in Christ [works] and warriors who are set free are set free indeed.”

Ask the Lord to strengthen and sustain Prince and other believers on the Warriors Set Free team. The ministry is growing at an incredible pace. Support Warriors Set Free here.

“I’m holding on and praying and telling the Lord, ‘this is more than I can handle,’ so He better be driving. I’ll sit down in the backseat, shut up, and do what I’m told,” Prince says with a laugh.

“We want to be in the will of God; we want to be going where He leads us and not forcing things on our own,” he adds.

“As He opens doors, we need the courage and the wisdom to go through them.”

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of israel palacio/Unsplash.

Southern Russia

As COVID-19 spreads throughout Russia and the former Soviet Union, many families face severe scarcity.

One such family lives in a region of Southern Russia that is predominantly Muslim. Three young girls were taken in by neighbors after their mother wound up in prison. SGA’s Eric Mock says, “They were already in poverty. If you compound that with the economic issues, this person was really struggling. But by God’s grace, there was a local church and through Christ Over COVID, we provided them the resources to bring food to this family.”

A picture of the three girls with their neighbor. (Photo courtesy of SGA on Facebook)

A family from a local church provided food to the family and shared the Gospel with them as well. Mock says, “How amazing that the neighbor took the kids in and that, in the midst of all this hardship, that was the mechanism that God used to open the door for the Gospel to be presented.”

Belarus and Georgia

Meanwhile, in Belarus, a pastor works with orphaned children. Mock says many orphans are ill-equipped to take care of themselves after leaving the orphanages. “So this missionary pastor had gone over to visit this orphan boy that he knew. The boy was sitting there; he didn’t know how to make his own dinner, any way to really care for himself. [The pastor] came over and bought food, but he [also] sat down and showed him how to make chicken soup.”

Because of this kindness, the pastor built a relationship with the boy and has since been able to continue ministering to him.

In the country of Georgia, a skilled doctor retired and only had $23 to live on each month. But then a local church started providing her with groceries. Mock says, “She was blown away that she was provided those basic needs. Before, she had not really heard anything of the Gospel, but now she has heard the Gospel.”

Sharing food through the Christ Over COVID program has opened many avenues for churches to share the Gospel. (Photo courtesy of SGA on Facebook)

How to support the work

As Christ Over COVID continues to help these people, Mock says, “SGA didn’t create anything new. We’ve been serving the churches from the beginning. And whether it’s training, whether it’s supporting the missionary church planters or supporting their ministries to their communities, we don’t have to come up with a great strategy, other than to get behind the churches and what God has raised them up to do.”

Continue to pray for the churches in Russia and the former Soviet Union. Pray that they would proclaim Christ through loving their neighbors.

All of these stories were emailed to people participating in SGA’s daily prayer guides, which you can sign up for here. You can also participate in getting these families the groceries they need during COVID-19.

Christians ready to distribute food to those who need it in the former Soviet Union. (Photo courtesy of Slavic Gospel Association on Facebook)