**Jared and Kim Staten

Jared and Kim Staten


Region(s): Europe/Middle East

Field(s): Republic of Georgia

Bio: Jared and Kim Staten worked as AIMers in the Republic of Georgia for one year. During that year they were able to re-establish a work that had been started previously. This work has multiplied since that contact. The pastor of the church is now licsensed as a UPCI minister and 15 people were baptized in that year. They also started a Bible school with 5 students, and the church in Georgia has also seen the growth of 4 house churches. When they return to the Republic of Georgia they plan to continue the work with the Bible school, establish a headquarters for the UPCI, and continue to establish new works in the major cities of Georgia and surrounding areas.


Georgia Republic

Sak’art’velo

Area Coordinator: William D. Turner

Superintendent/President:

Population: 4400000

Area: 26,911 sq. mi.

Capital: Tbilisi

Languages: Georgian (official), Armenian, Russian, Azeri, Ossetian, Abkhaz

Religions: Georgian Orthodox, 65%; Islam, 11%; Russian Orthodox, 10%; Armenian Orthodox, 8%

A member of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), the Republic of Georgia revels in her snow-capped peaks, rushing rivers, dense forests, and fertile valleys. Her neighbors include Turkey and Armenia to the south, Azerbaijan to the east, and Russia to the north. The Black Sea lies on Georgia’s west side. While an AIMer, Maria Barlett planted the seeds of the United Pentecostal Church in Georgia. She had received an invitation from the director of the Republican School Children’s Palace of Soviet Georgia to teach English. As she walked through the open doors, souls received the Holy Ghost and baptism in Jesus’ name, groups were established, and she eventually began working for Eduard Shevardnadze, the republic’s president. Currently the UPCI has 180 constituents and ten churches and preaching points in Georgia. Since the unexpected death of missionary James Flynn in 2005, the work in Georgia has been carried on by area coordinator William Turner and associates in missions.