Jennifer Barrick has a contagious faith, and we have prayed for her fervently since the day of the accident. The pages of this book reveal the greatness of our God and how He supernaturally ministered to the entire Barrick family. Miracle for Jen will take you on a journey of experiencing Gods help, hope, and healing power in a whole new way.
TIM AND BEVERLY LAHAYE
Bestselling authors
Jens story exemplifies how a battle can be turned into a beautiful life that glorifies God.
SHERI ROSE SHEPHERD
Bestselling author of His Princess
In a world full of hurting and broken people, Miracle for Jen will astound you and bring healing to your soul. If you have ever questioned how God could turn a tragedy into triumph, you need this book.
DR. TIMOTHY CLINTON
President, American Association of Christian Counselors
Jen Barrick is an inspiration. What a wonderful living example of perseverance! This story is a must-read for anyone facing the unexpected storms of life.
VERNON BREWER
President, World Help
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Visit the Barrick family website at www.miracleforjen.com and ministry website at www.hopeoutloud.com.
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Miracle for Jen: A Tragic Accident, a Mothers Desperate Prayer, and Heavens Extraordinary Answer
Copyright 2012 by Linda Barrick. All rights reserved.
Front cover photograph of Jennifer Barrick taken by Stephen Vosloo. Copyright by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. All rights reserved.
Interior photograph of Jennifer Barrick by Michael Tuck/michaeltuckphotography.com. Used with permission.; interior photograph of Barrick family by Chris Runk. Used with permission.; interior photograph of musical performance by Kim Wilson/wolfcreekphoto.com. Used with permission.; cover and interior photograph of car accident taken by the Virginia State Police; cover and interior photograph of Jennifer Barrick in hospital by Kaelynn Judd. Used with permission.; interior cheerleading photograph is used with the permission of the Christian Cheerleaders of America.; all other photographs are from the personal collection of the author and are used with permission.
Cover designed by Stephen Vosloo, interior by Jennifer Ghionzoli
Edited by Kimberly Miller and Kathryn S. Olson
Published in association with the literary agency of Wolgemuth & Associates, Inc.
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com.
Scripture quotations marked NASB are taken from the New American Standard Bible, copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission.
Scripture quotations marked NKJV are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. NKJV is a trademark of Thomas Nelson, Inc.
Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Barrick, Linda.
Miracle for Jen : a tragic accident, a mothers desperate prayer, and heavens extraordinary answer / Linda Barrick.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references.
ISBN 978-1-4143-6119-2 (hc)
1. Barrick, JenniferReligion. 2. Brain damagePatientsRehabilitation. 3. Traffic accident victimsRehabilitation. 4. Traffic accident victimsReligious life. I. Title.
BV4910.B37 2012
248.8'60922dc23
[B] 2011041689
ISBN 978-1-4143-7263-1 (International Trade Paper Edition)
ISBN 978-1-4143-6120-8 (sc)
ISBN 978-1-4143-8712-3 (ePub); ISBN 978-1-4143-8711-6 (Kindle); ISBN 978-1-4143-8710-9 (Apple)
Build: 2015-06-25 10:28:46
To our army of helpers
hundreds of people who went into action
and thousands who prayed for us in our darkest hour.
You brought hope to our hearts.
Acknowledgments
I would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to the publishing and marketing team at Tyndale House. I remember thinking, I cant believe God wants me to write a book. I think God has a sense of humor. He delights in using us to accomplish what were incapable of because He wants to receive all the glory and praise! I am grateful for the opportunity to work with such amazing and talented editors as Kim Miller, Kathy Olson, and Bonne Steffen. Stephen Vosloo did a spectacular job during our photo shoot; one of his portraits of Jen appears on the cover.
I also want to express my appreciation to Wolgemuth and Associates, Joe Musser, Dawn Emeigh, and Stephanie Schneider, who helped make this book a reality.
Literally hundreds of people went into action when they heard about our accident. Our family refers to them fondly as our army of helpers. I was told that, thanks to e-mail, there were thousands of people all around the world praying for us within minutes of the accident. I truly believe those prayers kept us alive through the night and brought us strength in the months that followed.
For months, our army of helpers were scheduled 24/7 to bathe us, watch over our kids, feed us, clean our house, and help in more ways than we could ever imagine.
Job 25:3 says, Who is able to count [Gods] heavenly army? Thats how I feel about the army of volunteers God called together to help us on earth. While I could never mention every name without frustrating my readers or leaving someone out, heres my attempt to at least mention the groups who became our hands and feet when our bodies were broken....
Our incredible families, my childhood girlfriends, the Lynchburg General Hospital staff, the UVA Childrens Hospital ICU staff, Liberty University staff and alumni, our Thomas Road Baptist Church family, my Mountain Blend Bible study girls, out-of-state-friends who traveled to help us, neighbors, Andys basketball team, the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and Liberty Christian Academys extended family. We are especially grateful for the local volunteer rescue workers and firemen on the scene of the accident, the special education school teachers from Jefferson Forest High School, the staff and therapists at Kluge Childrens Rehabilitation Center, and the nurses who volunteered to help us once we were home.
Finally, to my husband (who is more like Jesus than anyone else I know), to my daughter (who praises God and bows her desires to His plan every day), and to my son (who is an amazing, selfless servant leader). I am so proud of who each of you is becoming. In the early days of the tragedy, I thought it would have been easier if we had all just gone to heaven. But I truly cherish each moment we have together here on earth to live for the Lord and glorify God with our lives.
FOREWORD
BEFORE YOU BEGIN...
MY LIFE IS ON DISPLAY. Whether its the child studying my wheelchair, the couple in the store smiling sympathetically, or the waiter eyeing me as I use my bent spoon to eat slippery spaghetti, Im aware that people are watching. Some watch out of pity, some out of admiration. But all watch with unspoken questions.