The community recently lost a walking miracle when Jen Gentry passed away on August 12. Jen was the author of no less than 15 books and a multitude of articles and blogs, which she authored after moving to Bristow in the 2000s. In fact, many years ago, she taught writing classes at the Bristow Public Library. I was blessed to join her in that endeavor.
In addition to writing and serving the community, Jen was also known to serve with and attend Cornerstone Church; although, she may be remembered most for the miracle she received and her life’s testimony.
Jen often shared the many blessings she received from her personal Savior, Jesus Christ, during times of trial and hardship in her life—of which there were many—always being sure to give him the glory. She spoke of his amazing grace during two of the most difficult times in her life, when her young granddaughter perished in a tragic accident in 2012 and when she was seriously injured in an accident in 2014, noting that she and members of her family would not be walking the earth if not by the goodness and grace of God.
Jen worked as a registered nurse until 2014, when she suffered life-altering injuries in a wreck. In many ways, Jen thought the wreck destroyed her life; unbeknownst to anyone at the time, she would receive miraculous healing of those injuries years later, bearing witness to the Lord’s goodness and faithfulness.
At the time, the wreck immediately impacted her family, leaving her unable to work when the vehicle’s engine crushed her legs as it was pushed through the dash and into her body. With everyone focused on the injuries of her lower body, no one noticed that her eyes were slowly filling with blood. By the time anyone realized that her eyes were injured, Jen had lost most of her sight, leaving her legally blind and unable to drive. Unable to work as a nurse, Jen and her family left their home in Broken Arrow and moved to Bristow, where she began attending Cornerstone.
In her new home, Jen committed herself to another lifelong passion: writing. Despite being unable to see, she authored several books, edited for
See Jen, Page Three other authors, and helped others publish their own manuscripts. She even offered writing workshops at the library. She continually thanked God for being able to see well enough to write, conducting her work mere inches from her monitor.
Although she built a successful secondary professional life as a self-published author after the wreck, Jen desperately longed to be able to drive again. Despite enduring more than 20 surgeries on her eyes, her eyesight remained poor, leaving her legally blind. Jen refused to give up hope, though. She continually placed her faith in God. Belonging to a prayerful church congregation at Cornerstone, she requested prayer for herself that God would restore her eyesight and allow her to drive.
One Saturday evening, Jen sat at home, toiling away on a manuscript with a deadline, instead of attending the church prayer service. She described suddenly becoming tired and falling asleep at her computer. When she awoke, she could see details in her home she never before had seen. Days later, she told Cornerstone Pastor Mark Evans what had happened and learned that the church had prayed for the restoration of her sight, allowing her to drive, while she had slept that Saturday evening.
Whn she went in for an exam with her ophthalmologist— whom she did not tell of her miraculous experience— later that week, he told her that her vision was markedly improved, and she could drive. Jen noted that moment confirmed the miracle with which God had blessed her. She later shared her testimony of the miraculous blessing on PJNet.tv, praising God “I was tested by fire and was blind but now can see. I am amazed and truly blessed.”
Jen proudly proclaimed that she was saved by amazing grace, indeed. With a heart for Jesus, she desired for her family and community to know him; thus, her story will be told and passed on for generations.
Jen was beloved and respected and will be missed by all who knew and loved her. May her light continue in giving God the glory through her family, community, and all of those who loved her.