Breaking Generational Trauma with Ana Megrelishvili

In a world where addiction touches families across generations, Ana Megrelishvili's story stands as a beacon of hope. Her journey from an atheist child scavenging for bottles on the streets of Georgia to a Christian entrepreneur helping the homeless demonstrates the transformative power of faith and the possibility of breaking cycles that seem impossible to overcome.

Ana's story begins in Eastern Europe, in the country of Georgia, where generational trauma flowed like a river through her family tree. Every man on her father's side—from her grandfather to her uncles—struggled with alcoholism and drug abuse. As she puts it, she was "really the first person who has broken that cycle."

Her childhood was marked by instability and poverty. When her father would disappear on drinking binges, leaving the family destitute, eight-year-old Ana found herself on the streets collecting bottles for recycling money to buy bread. The shame of hoping classmates wouldn't see her digging through garbage planted a seed of determination: "I'm never going to be poor when I grow up."

At thirteen, standing in a schoolyard, Ana experienced what she now recognizes as her first encounter with God—though she didn't know it at the time. In a moment of supernatural clarity, amid the hustle and bustle of children playing, everything went quiet, and she heard a voice say: "You are meant for more than this life."

That message ignited something within her. Despite being told that her future was to marry young and become a stay-at-home mother, Ana chose a different path. She became what she calls a "hyper achiever," throwing herself into academics and competitions, determined to prove everyone wrong.

Anna's determination paid off when she was selected as a finalist for a U.S. State Department exchange program at sixteen. Strategically navigating her controlling father's objections with help from her grandmother and mother, she made it to America—where God placed her with a Christian family.

This family became her first example of healthy relationships, showing her a woman could have a voice, that love could exist without abuse, and that respect was possible between spouses. Though she had to return to Georgia after a year, the seed was planted: she would find a way back to America.

Anna did return to the United States, earning a full scholarship for college and eventually building a successful corporate career. Yet despite her material success, something was missing. She had become the hyper-achiever she set out to be, but the wealth and career advancement left her feeling empty.

During this time, she remained an atheist, angry at a God she believed had allowed an innocent child to suffer such trauma. Like many trauma survivors, she had learned to rely only on herself, carrying deep resentment toward a deity she felt had abandoned her.

In October 2020, Anna's life took a supernatural turn. Waking up in the middle of the night—something that never happened to her—she felt compelled to pray for the first time in her life. Her prayer was simple: "God, if you exist, what's my purpose in this life?"

What happened next defies natural explanation. An audible voice in her room gave her a specific message: "Go to the store, prepare food, feed the hungry."

Despite her fear and confusion, Anna obeyed. She called in sick to work, bought supplies, prepared 24 bag lunches, and drove to downtown Atlanta to feed the homeless. After distributing all the food, she was about to leave when a homeless woman called her back.

"I have a gift for you," the woman said, pulling a small clay sparrow from her belongings. On its chest were the words: "Now in God's hands."

Anna burst into tears. In that moment, she knew: "God is real, God is real, God is real—and he's talking to me." She drove home and ordered her first Bible from Amazon.

This divine encounter led Anna to quit her corporate job and spend a year seeking God's purpose for her life. During silent retreats at monasteries, God revealed her calling in stages. First, she wrote her book "Finding Courage to Change" in just two days—a raw, honest account of breaking generational trauma.

Then came a vision for solving homelessness through what she calls "Christ plus Community"—addressing what she learned is the number one cause of homelessness in America: relational poverty, or the lack of genuine connections.

Anna founded Christian Professionals Network Worldwide, initially as a networking organization in Atlanta that has since expanded internationally. The organization's nonprofit arm pairs Christian professionals as mentors with homeless families, addressing the missing piece that traditional shelters can't provide: authentic relationships rooted in Christ's love.

The foundation's model recognizes that people need both practical support and genuine connection. As Anna explains, "If you have Christ as your foundation, then your attitude about yourself, about work, everything changes."

Anna's transformation didn't just affect her—it created ripples throughout her family. When she immigrated to America, removing herself as her mother's "emotional crutch," her mother finally found the strength to divorce Anna's abusive father. Sometimes the most loving thing we can do is step out of dysfunctional cycles, even when it feels like abandonment.

The stakes of this work became tragically clear when Anna's grandfather, caught in the cycle of abuse, killed his own son in a moment of mental breakdown. This horrific culmination of generational trauma reinforced Anna's commitment to helping others break free from similar cycles.