Georgia

The region of present-day Georgia contained the ancient kingdoms of Colchis and Kartli-Iberia. The area came under Roman influence in the first centuries A.D. and Christianity became the state religion in the 330s. Domination by Persians, Arabs, and Turks was followed by a Georgian golden age (11th-13th centuries) that was cut short by the Mongol invasion of 1236. Subsequently, the Ottoman and Persian empires competed for influence in the region. Georgia was absorbed into the Russian Empire in the 19th century. Independent for three years (1918-1921) following the Russian revolution, it was forcibly incorporated into the USSR until the Soviet Union dissolved in 1991. An attempt by the incumbent Georgian government to manipulate national legislative elections in November 2003 touched off widespread protests that led to the resignation of Eduard SHEVARDNADZE, president since 1995. New elections in early 2004 swept Mikheil SAAKASHVILI into power along with his National Movement Party. Progress on market reforms and democratization has been made in the years since independence, but this progress has been complicated by two civil conflicts in the breakaway regions of Abkhazia and South Ossetia. These two territories remain outside the control of the central government and are ruled by de facto, unrecognized governments, supported by Russia. Russian-led peacekeeping operations continue in both regions. The Georgian Government put forward a new peace initiative for the peaceful resolution of the status of South Ossetia in 2005. The recent (August 2008)War over South Ossetia has left the Georgian People humbled and in much need of prayer for restoration. It has also though, opened their hearts more to the Gospel.

YWAM in GEORGIA:

YWAM has been in operation since April 2005. We are still a bit in the pioneering stage and building relationships with local churches and ministries. For now we are getting lots of opportunities to teach English (as evangelism) and also hosting teams from various bases. We also partnering with a private school and working with the students and teachers.

YWAM Georgia will be running our next Discipleship Training School in March 2009. The DTS will have a special focus on reaching Children for Christ. Right now we have ministries reaching out to: Refugee children and their families, Street kids and Gypsies, a Saturday Kids club, Friday Boys club, also we are working with a ministry that focuses on Orphans.

Prayer needs:

1. Pray that the people would return to real religion- To know Jesus and follow his ways. There is much empty religion here, lots of traditions and history, but not much relationship with Christ and His ways.
2. Ongoing reform in the Government and society- Corruption is decreasing, but still lingers in many areas. On the outside society looks good, but underneath there is much hopelessness leading to drug and alcohol abuse and breakdown of traditional/Biblical values.
3. For the Church to awake to its responsiblities of winning the lost to Christ and sharing the good news.
4. For continued recovery from the recent war and that the Lord would use it to bring many to Himself.