Regent University Hosts 6th Annual Veterans Prayer Breakfast

No soldier comes home unwounded. For the veterans and active-duty who leave the battlefields physically unscathed, many return with post-traumatic stress or a mental-depression that oftentimes goes unseen.

On Friday, November 6, Regent University’s Office of Military & Veterans Affairs hosted the 6th annual Veterans Prayer Breakfast, and raised awareness of this unfortunate reality within the military community.

“If I didn’t have humor, I wouldn’t be alive,” said special guest Reverend Nigel Mumford, who gave his speech “After the Trauma the Battle Begins – Post-Trauma Healing,” at the prayer breakfast. “And if I didn’t have Jesus I know I wouldn’t be alive.”

Mumford uses his love of humor and his love for Christ in the ministry he founded, By His Wounds, Inc., a healing ministry for combat veterans. He’s no stranger to the unspeakable traumas of the battlefield, having served in Her Majesty’s Royal Marine Commandos for more than six years.

“As a drill instructor, I made grown men cry,” said Mumford. “And now with the work that I do for trauma healing, I still make grown men cry.”

Now, his work and calling is tending the mental wounds that the world doesn’t have bandages for. He helps veterans cope with war-related stress. He understands the vitality of his ministry as someone who walked through mental battles of his own.

He underwent trauma of losing some of his own men in his unit. He left the experience shell-shocked and with a stutter that wouldn’t leave.

“I was broken. Absolutely broken,” said Mumford.

But through his brokenness, and what he’s witnessed in the lives of those he serves, he’s become a man who “likes to reframe,” taking captive of his thoughts and leaving them at the foot of the cross. He instructs his followers to do the same.

“Be gentle with yourselves,” said Mumford. “What we’ve seen hurts.”

Each year, following a time of worship and reflection, The Honor and Remember Flag is given to a selected family in memoriam of a fallen military veteran. This year’s flag was presented to Colonel Barry Creed (Ret.) on behalf of Sergeant Bernard “Bodie” Creed (U.S. Army).

Learn more about Regent University’s Office of Military & Veterans Affairs.