While courageous men and women fight for freedom and truth across the globe, on the homefront, a growing group of Veterans engage in spiritual battle to help other Veterans read God’s Word. Retired Brigadier General Greg Nelson is one of the Veterans leading this battle through the Warfighters Bible Study. Since 2023, he and other Veteran friends have met weekly to “slow march” through the Bible and help each other heal and grow stronger in the Lord.
Greg enlisted in the Air Force at age 17 and served for more than 40 years. “All Veterans hold a common bond,” he said. “We all took an oath to support and defend our Nation. We learned about discipline, following orders, and the comradery of supporting each other in training or battle. We understand we all have wounds in our life, and Studying God’s Word together helps us heal and strengthen.”
In the early days of the ministry, Greg, Ben, Frank, and Dylan sat around a picnic table outside a local church reading the Bible together. Now, more than 60 Veteran men and women who represent every branch of the military come together at two local churches to study God’s Word together.
“We come together for the strength God’s Word provides us. We are learning the power of faith and prayer from warriors like David, along with the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ,” Greg said.
That first year, Warfighters was a word that popped into the mind of one of the original founders of the study. Soon after, someone gave Greg a copy of The Warfighters Study Bible, published by the American Bible Society’s Armed Services Ministry. He opened it and read, “A Warfighter is any member of the Armed Services who is serving or has ever served in the defense of our Nation. There is also an important secondary meaning to our use of this term (Warfighter). As Christians, we know that we are engaged in daily spiritual warfare, … What you are holding in your hands is a powerful weapon that will serve you well in your battles… Like with any weapon, training and practice are required to know how to most effectively use it.” The men agreed that all Christian Veterans fight wars for God all their lives – before, during, and after military service, so this is where the name “Warfighters Bible Study” came from.
Greg said, “Many of us share downfalls during our time in the military, times we turned away from God and went down the wrong path.” That transparent sharing encourages brothers and sisters who currently serve not to think they must conform to a non-Christian lifestyle to fit in or get promoted. “We want them to know they can believe in God, our Savior Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit, and still pull the trigger.”
The Military Format
Following a somewhat military format—pray in, read God’s Word, and pray out—the groups meet no more than one hour a week. As they read the Scriptures, they talk about the background and history of Bible accounts, the geography (God’s battleground landscape), and ways to apply the Bible to their own battles. “We also talk about our weapon, the Word of God,” Greg said. Warfighters believe that starting in the Old Testament teaches Biblical history and provides a foundation for understanding the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “We’re learning God’s covenant love and forgiveness woven throughout the Scriptures,” he added.
Over the last three years, the Warfighters Bible Study has advanced to a 501(c)3 non-profit Veterans Bible study organization. Their aim is to grow into a national Bible study for Veterans. Each Warfighter is encouraged to invite other Vets they know to join in digging into God’s Word.
Their original Warfighters Bible Study doctrine requires them to meet in a Church. “We believe Warfighters need to read God’s Word together in His house for spiritual strength and protection from the enemy while they study,” Greg stated.
As of this writing, three chapters meet weekly. One men’s and one women’s chapter meet at Destiny Worship Center in Panama City Beach, and one men’s chapter meets at Lighthouse Church in Panama City. Veterans in these chapters attend five different churches in Bay County, and some Veterans don’t currently worship in a church building. “Attendance comes and goes,” says Greg, “but we try to stay in touch with our brother and sister Warfighters. God doesn’t want anyone to fight their battles alone.” This biblical truth is taken from Proverbs 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.”
The Warfighters Bible Study growth plan is to work with churches around military installations willing to host a Warfighters Bible Study; along with contacting the Command and Chaplain’s offices at the military installation to tell them about the Veterans Bible study. “We want to take our unique ministry out into the local community,” Greg said. “We provided a Veterans Day party at the local Veterans Nursing Home, participated in a Resiliency event at Tyndall AFB, and talked with Veterans at last year’s Faith Festival in PCB.”
With more than 40,000 Veterans in the Florida panhandle, those who attend Warfighters pray for additional Veterans to join them in reading and studying God’s Word together.
For more information, go to warfightersbiblestudy.org. Although it’s still under construction, Greg encourages any Veteran interested in joining a Warfighters Bible Study; wanting to start a Warfighters Bible Study at their Church; or just needing to pray with another Veteran, to visit the site. He also asks readers to pray for all Veterans. “And please, pray for our nation.”
