Chaplain receives White House honor

Bronze-Star-winning minister recognized for her work with veterans

Fayetteville’s Priscilla Mondt, chief chaplain of the Veterans Healthcare Service of the Ozarks, was recognized by the White House on Tuesday as a “Champion of Change.”

President Barack Obama’s Champions of Change program honors people each week who are doing extraordinary things to empower and inspire members of their communities. Mondt was one of 14 female veterans honored.

“Their examples of courage, perseverance, and selflessness both abroad and state-side are incredibly humbling and serve as an inspiration for men and women across the country,” said Valerie Jarrett, senior adviser to the president.

A U.S. Army veteran and Bronze Star recipient who served as the first female chaplain of the U.S. Army 82nd Airborne Division, Mondt moved to Fayetteville in 2009. A large part of her job, she said, is helping returning soldiers deal with “theodicy,” which she defines as the struggle to find God in the midst of evil.

Mondt, who dropped out of school in junior high school, took a trip to Germany as a 16-year-old. During the visit, as she listened to friends describe uncaring chaplains and soldiers who lacked spiritual nourishment, Mondt said she found her calling.

“Scripture says ‘Pray to the Lord of the harvest tosend workers into the field,’” she said.

“I thought if God was desperate enough, he’d start with me.”

Since becoming chief chaplain, Mondt said she has worked to integrate spirituality in every aspect of health care at the system. She’s increased her staff from two chaplains to five (two are part-time), and has worked to emphasize counseling in emergency care, near-death care and mental-health care.

Last year, the Ozark center became the first veterans system in the nation to include religious offerings on “My Health Vet” a secure online service where veterans track their health-care history and appointments.

Mondt said veterans use it for basic messages, such as requests to take Communion during their next visitand make prayer requests, as well as to report suicidal thoughts.

Mark Enderle, the medical center’s director, said Mondt is “always willing, and anxious, to help in every way possible.” ‘HONOR WALKS’

In particular, he credited Mondt with pushing for “Honor Walks” for veterans who die at the center. Until last year, veterans were taken “out the back door” for funeral services.

Now, he said, they are taken in a procession out of the front door, and receive a salute from the staff.

“Its been a very moving celebration of their life,” he said.

Mondt is an Assemblies of God minister and has earned master’s degrees in divinity and education; sheis completing her doctorate in education from Regent University.

During her time in Iraq, Mondt crisscrossed the country visiting soldiers in dangerous territory.

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have created a desire among returning veterans to explore their spirituality, Mondt said.

She described spirituality as “anything that gives us meaning and purpose in life.”

Sometimes, veterans adjust to life back home just fine, said Ron Skaggs, a chaplain at the Ozarks service.

“A lot of vets are faced with a spiritual crisis,” he said.

To aid them, Mondt said more help is needed.

“We can’t get the entire mission done with what we have,” she said. “We really need more.”

Front Section, Pages 3 on 03/20/2013

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