Gabriel Brown, left, Operation Veteran group leader and U.S. Army veteran, leads fellow vets in prayer during a weekly Tuesday evening meeting. Photo by Aaron Ricca
KINGMAN – Veterans in the area have a unique opportunity to get in touch with each other spiritually.
Operation Veteran offers camaraderie and fellowship with other servicemembers who understand the unique challenges of military life and where they can be part of a welcoming community who gathers to support one another through shared experiences, prayer, and brotherhood.
The club holds weekly meetings every Tuesday from 6 to 7 p.m. at New Life Church, Classroom 3, 419 Harrison St. (Just off Hualapai Mountain Road).
New Life Church lay minister Gabriel Brown, along with friend and assistant Jason Millin, have both taken lead in the effort to offer spiritual services to local vets.
Brown was an Army explosive ordinance disposal specialist for the 717th Ordinance Company at Ft. Campbell, Kentucky, from 2004-08. He’s currently training to become a chaplain for the Arizona National Guard.
Millin served in the U.S. Army’s 82nd Airborne for eight years as both an infantryman and motor transport operator.
Both men serve their communities today.
Brown operates heavy equipment for the Mohave County Public Works Department. Millin is the Workforce Development Supervisor for Arizona@Work.
They’ve both leaned on their spirituality to guide each other through the processes that many veterans share, especially issues related to PTSD.
Operation Veteran is a ministry extension of New Life Church. Fellowship is at the heart of the group and encountering the healing power of God.
“The main purpose is to provide local veterans with a safe and confidential place for fellowship,” Brown said.
One of the questions he gets asked quite a bit is if Operation Veteran is a PTSD support group.
“I answer, not necessarily, but you’ll benefit if you have this,” he said. “I am a firm believer that God is a true healer.”
For Brown, healing includes recovering from mental and physical conditions such as PTSD, family problems, dependence issues, and sexual assault.
“This is a place where we have that common bond,” Brown said. “This is a place that feels more open to discuss those issues.”
New Life Church has had a veteran’s ministry in some form for roughly eight years.
It was based on what is known as Point Man Ministries, a nationwide PTSD and support group for veterans. Operation Veteran has existed for about seven years. A change of hands in the organizational structure made changes toward religious aspects.
“That’s what this group was modeled after, a peer support group,” Brown said.
Brown credited Kingman native Larry Imus, former U.S. Marine and Vietnam War veteran, deputy sheriff and Mohave County justice of the peace, for taking the initial lead and starting the local group of veteran ministries about seven years ago.
Brown took over Imus’ duties in 2020.
Operation Veteran is open to all veterans, regardless of religious faith, but it is Christian at the foundation.
“It is open to anyone,” Brown said. “But it is an extension of (New Life Church) ministry.”
That welcome extends to all veterans.
“Even if you only served one day in boot camp, you’re technically a veteran and welcome here,” said Brown.
Meeting attendance fluctuates.
Brown estimates around 20 members total with weekly meetings attracting between six and 10 people.
“People have their own things going on,” he said.
Brown and Millin would like to expand opportunities to accommodate the large veteran population in Mohave County.
“We know there’s a huge veteran community in Mohave County,” Brown said. “There are a lot of veterans that would benefit from being here and fellowship and we’re trying to get the word out.”
Operation Veteran is involved throughout the community.
The group coordinates with and provides volunteers for events organized by Jerry Ambrose Veterans Council and the Kingman Veterans Day parade and will be holding a yearly Veterans Day banquet at 5 p.m. Sunday, Nov. 10 at New Life Church.
“(The banquet) is something that God placed on my heart to honor our veterans,” Brown said. “It’s something we want to do for the community.”
Millin has only been involved with the church for a few months. He, along with some of the group members, are or have been mentors at the Kingman Veterans Court. Millin had a spiritual calling, met Brown, and decided to focus on helping Operation Veteran move forward.
“Come to the group. Come talk. This is important, not just for the community, but for your soul,” said Millin.
Brown and company encourage veterans to stand together, grow in faith and friendship and find fellowship.
For updates on group events or just a weekly message, check out the weekly column from Operation Veteran in the Wednesday print edition of The Standard Newspaper or online via Facebook or www.thestandardnewspaper.online.
Aaron Ricca
