Only One Life - By Dale Gentry - His Story - His Journey

© 2023 Dale Gentry Breakout Ministries P.O. Box 91985 Austin, TX 78709

breakoutprayernetwork@gmail.com LetsPrayAmerica.com BPNradio.com Printed By: BT Johnson Publishing www.BTJohnsonPublishing.com Toll Free: 1-866-260-9563

NKJV: Scripture taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Cover Design by: Megan Coll

ISBN: Printed in the United States ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

2

Foreword by Ken Braaten

For months we had driven by a church that was meeting in an elementary school. One rainy November evening my wife and I visited the church and slipped into the back row. The young pastor introduced a special speaker who had a “ p rophetic ministry.” I was brought up in a minister’s home and the alarm bells were starting to ring. The guest speaker was Dale Gentry. As he began to speak, he captured my attention. He referenced people and places I knew. So far, so good, I thought. Concluding his message, Dale began to prophesy over people in the audience. He then looked in our direction and said, “ will the man in the back row please come forward and bring your wife”. The words Dale spoke over us were articulate and right on for our lives. They uplifted our spirits and confirmed the direction we were going. No one could have known. We have been financially supporting Dale’s ministry through the years. He would frequently call and express his gratitude for our support. Truth be told, it is I who is the benefactor - Matthew 10:41. I thoroughly enjoyed reading Dale’s book, God Assignments, which included stories like Little Ray and Billy Bob that were woven into spiritual principles. I

3

purchased several copies to give to friends and ministers and they gave positive reviews. I suggested that Dale write another book.

Ken & Sue Braaten , Gig Harbor, Washington

4

Dedication

I’m honored to dedicate this autobiography to my grandchildren Brittanee Greenlee, Taylor Gentry Alexander and her husband Daniel Alexander, Megan Gentry Coll and her husband Spencer Coll, Jordan Greenlee, Hunter Gentry, Brock Gentry and great granddaughters Laurel Jane & Phoebe June Alexander, and Millie Ruth Coll.

5

6

Acknowledgements

A special thanks to those who have contributed to this manuscript, including my granddaughter and co writer Brittanee Greenlee. My wife Jean and my daughter Darla, who served as my editors. My nephew Gary Berry and my sister Wynell Talley who served as historians. Also, thanks to Don Couch as my proofreader.

7

8

Table of Contents

Foreword:……………………………………………...…..3

Dedication:…………………………………………..…….5

Acknowledgements:…………………………………..….7

Chapter One: My Family………………………………..11

Chapter Two: My Life As I Remember It……………...19

Chapter Three: Miracle Days………………...…………25

Chapter Four: The Motto…………………………….….29

Chapter Five: Chloe Jean…………………………….….35

Chapter Six: Radio Announcer……………………...….41

Chapter Seven: Ricky Dale Gentry………………...…..45

Chapter Eight: The Call…………………………………51

Chapter Nine: Full Time Ministry …………………...…57

Chapter Ten: Darla Jean Gentry………………..……… 65

Chapter Eleven: Moving To Del City…………….……77

Chapter Twelve: Starting A Christian School…...……87

Chapter Thirteen: Moving Back To Rockwa ll…….…..91

Chapter Fourteen: A Breakout Season……………...…97

Chapter Fifteen: Door To England Opens Wide…….107

Chapter Sixteen: Prayer Revivals…………………..…111

Chapter Seventeen: Brittanee Greenlee……………....1 21

Chapter Eighteen: Taylor Gentry……………………..123

9

Chapter Nineteen: Revival In Fort Worth………...….125

Chapter Twenty : The White House…………………..131

Chapter Twenty- One: Megan Gentry………………...139

Chapter Twenty- Two: Jordan Greenlee…………...…141

Chapter Twenty- Three: Marsham Street………….....14 7

Chapter Twenty-Four: Hunter Gentry …………….....151

Chapter Twenty-Five: Brock Gentry………………....159

Chapter Twenty-Six: Roswell…………………...…….163

Chapter Twenty-Seven: Jean’s Healing…………..….167

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Gateway Chapter Ends…….175

Chapter Twenty-Nine: Golden Anniversary………..185

Chapter Thirty: Our Move To Austin………………..189

Chapter Thirty-One: Internet Radio……………….…195

Chapter Thirty-Two: Breakout Radio Church……....199

Chapter Thirty-Three: My 75 th Birthday Party………203

Chapter Thirty-Four: Conclusion……………………..211

Poem: “ Only One Life ” By Brittanee Greenlee ……...212

Poem: “Papa’s Song” By Taylor Gentry Alexander...214

A Few Comments By Family And Friends :…...……..215

My Benediction: ……………………………….………..228

Pastors And Cities Where We Ministered: …………..230

My Gentry Ancestry:…………………………………..244

Photos: …………………………………………….…….247

10

Chapter One

My Family

1376:

M y story begins in the county of Essex, which is

in England, where my forefathers lived for more than

three hundred years before coming to America. Little

did I realize that one day a Gentry from America would

come to England and start his UK ministry in that very

county.

1690:

Samuel Gentry III came to Virginia from England

in approximately 1690 to help pioneer this great nation.

Eventually his grandsons moved to South Carolina,

Georgia and then to Mississippi. That is the state where

my great grandparents moved to.

1867:

My Grandparents

My paternal grandfather, James Franklin Gentry,

was born in Mississippi. He later moved to Texas, where

11

he married my grandmother, Jennie Outlaw.

They migrated to West Texas in 1896, where my

grandfather was able to purchase 220 acres of farmland

near Paducah. It is there they raised their 10 children,

including my dad, Orbe Clyde Gentry. They were

godly people who took their children to the local Baptist

Church every Sunday in Chalk, Texas, where

mandatory attendance was required.

During that time, my future gift of public

speaking began to take shape when my grandpa Jim

bought a telephone company, where he would

broadcast the news each evening to his 175 customers.

There was no radio, newspaper, or television, so his

daily newscast was in high demand.

My paternal grandmother, Jenny Gentry, was a

faithful wife and mother. She left her family in

Mississippi to move to a farm 18 miles from the nearest

town, where she devoted her life to her husband and 10

children. Sadly, she passed away when my dad was a

12

teenager, but during her life she was a strong, godly

woman.

1873:

My maternal grandfather Edward Daniel Wilson

was born in 1873 and lived to be 95 years old. I have

great memories of my Grandpa Wilson. He taught me

about hard work and how to laugh. He was a little man,

but I can still see him pushing that plow, preparing the

ground to plant his annual crop of okra, which he would

sell on the streets of Marlow.

In his later years he had an encounter with the

Lord and would share his testimony with anyone who

would listen. On one occasion in 1967, he came to visit

us in Holliday, Texas, where we were pastoring our first

church. On Sunday morning I had asked him to testify,

but he started preaching to our small congregation. He

declared that, “ some people get a little touch and then they

go bac k”. He kept repeating this declaration, much to the

delight of the congregation.

13

1883:

My maternal grandmother, Susie Wilson, was

born in 1883. I remember my Grandma Wilson as a frail

woman, who always seemed to be sick. I later

discovered that she mostly lived a life of depression. She

died at the age of 73 years old. She was a kind woman

and loved me and my family, but I feel as if she died

before her time .

1907:

My Parents

My dad, Orbe Clyde Gentry, was born in 1907, on

his parent’s cotton farm in Grow, Texas, near

Paducah. My dad grew up in a happy home with four

brothers and five sisters. He was the youngest of all the

boys. My dad would later tell me many stories of his

childhood. He never journeyed very far from the farm

until he met my mom.

1911:

My mother, Delia Elizabeth Wilson, was born in

1911 in Weleetka, Oklahoma. In 1924, my mother, her

parents and seven siblings moved to Marlow,

14

Oklahoma. Her father made a living as a vegetable

farmer. She did not grow up in a Christian home and

spoke very little about her childhood.

1930:

In 1930, my mother and her family journeyed

from Oklahoma to West Texas, after hearing that cotton

pickers were needed. Times were hard and very few

jobs were available in Oklahoma. My dad and his

brother-in-law drove into Paducah one Saturday night,

looking for cotton pickers. Miraculously, they met my

Grandpa Wilson and his family, and hired them on the

spot, to work on my Grandpa Gentry’s farm.

It was in those cotton fields where Orbe Gentry

and Delia Wilson fell in love. After a short courtship,

they traveled back to Oklahoma, where they were

married in Lawton. They started their new life together

in nearby Marlow, a small town where my mother had

lived prior to moving with her family to Texas.

15

Soon after my mom and dad were married, the

stock market crashed, and the Great Depression was

well underway. Times were very hard. My dad was

finally able to find a job hauling rock and lumber for ten

cents an hour. He would also stand in a long line each

week for government commodities, which consisted of

a small box of food.

It was during these Dust Bowl days that my dad’s

life changed forever. Even though he was raised in

church, he had never been saved. It was my Uncle Bill

Cline that led my dad to Jesus. My mother was saved

shortly afterwards, and they were both soon baptized in

the Holy Spirit.

1934:

My Sister

My sister Wynell was born in 1934, ten years

prior to my arrival in Marlow, Oklahoma. I have great

memories of my sister, always caring for her little

brother. I was only five when she married her

16

hometown sweetheart, Robert Berry, from Comanche,

Oklahoma. I grew up spending lots of time with her.

My sister lived a godly life. She was a wonderful

wife and mother. Her husband, Robert, was a good man,

and was a deacon at the Assembly of God Church in

Comanche. Wynell was 33 when her husband died of a

heart attack in 1967, which was a shock to the entire

family. My nephew Gary and my niece Sharon were

only 15 and 12 at the time of their father’s death. It was

a difficult season.

Wynell and her children then moved to

Chillicothe, Texas, where my dad was pastoring at the

time. A few years later, she moved to Marlow,

Oklahoma, where she met her future husband, Dean

Talley. They were later married and attended our

church in Rush Springs, Oklahoma. My sister lived

alone for several years after Dean’s death. She passed

away in 2018, and I preached at her funeral while

recalling the wonderful life of my sister, Wynell. God is

a good God!

17

18

Chapter Two

My Life As I Remember It

1944:

I was born in 1944 in Marlow, Oklahoma. I came

into this world at a momentous time, with the end of

World War II just around the corner; a new beginning

for America and a perfect time for Dale Wayne Gentry

to arrive to serve his generation. I was a miracle because

the doctor had told my mom 10 years earlier that she

would not be able to have any more children, but God

had a special plan for my life. My Mom gave birth to a

son that would take prayer and revival to many cities

and nations of the world.

Shortly after I was born, we moved to Oklahoma

City where my dad went to work at Tinker Air Force

base. All men his age was either stationed overseas or

required to work at a military base.

19

1945:

After my dad’s job was finished at Tinker Air

Force base, we moved from Oklahoma City to Modesto,

California, to live near my dad’s family. My parents

picked peaches to make a living for our family. We lived

in a small trailer and times were very tough.

1946:

In 1946, we moved from California back to

Oklahoma. We lived in the small town of Frederick,

Oklahoma. We attended the Assembly of God church,

where my dad was called to preach at the age of 40.

From time to time, our Pastor, Brother Malone, would

invite my dad to preach.

1947:

I was only three years old when my parents

bought me a ukulele. We attended a small church, and

my pastor would let me play my ukulele during the

service. I would sit next to him while he played his

guitar. One night my mother accidently sat on my

ukulele and broke it. I loved that ukulele so much and

my heart was broken. Eventually, my mom and dad

20

bought me a Gibson standard guitar, which I loved and

kept for many years.

1948:

In 1948, I saw my first miracle. My sister, Wynell,

was helping to fry pies at the church, to sell for a church

project. While she was frying pies, the pan suddenly

tipped over, causing her hand to be seriously burned. I

will never forget my sister screaming in pain as she

entered our home. My dad and others prayed for her

and within hours the pain was gone. The prayer of faith

at work with Jesus healing my sister! My father and

mother were not against doctors or medical science, but

every time I got sick, they would anoint me with oil and

pray until my sickness subsided. Their prayers of faith

were also accompanied by some home remedies, not

only for us but our pets as well .

1949:

Comanche

When I was five years old, the Holy Spirit spoke

to my dad to move from Fredrick to Comanche,

21

Oklahoma, and pioneer a church. He obeyed, and we

made the move. It was that year that I gave my heart to

Jesus, and 11 years later I was baptized in the Holy

Spirit.

I had a wonderful childhood, growing up in a

Christian home in Comanche, which later was described

as the “ poorest town in the state of Oklahoma ”, according

to The Oklahoman newspaper.

I have great memories of listening to my dad

praying each morning at 5am, on his knees, hands lifted

and praying for God to use his son, Dale Wayne, to

preach the gospel. My dad only had one volume, and

that was loud. I can still remember neighbors requesting

him not to pray so loud, since they were trying to sleep.

We had started attending the Assembly of God

church in Comanche, where my childhood was shaped

and molded. I remember my parents taking me to a six

week revival, where we attended almost every night. I

would get in bed late and get up early the next morning

for school. I’m thankful that my parents kept me in a

22

Holy Ghost atmosphere while growing up. They were

preparing me for the will of God. My dad prophesied

over me when I was nine years old that I would preach

the gospel.

1950: My dad purchased a World War II army barrack

and moved it onto a lot at 6 th and Willow Street in

Comanche. My dad remodeled the barrack, and it soon

became my childhood home. My dream while growing

up in that army barrack was to live in a house that made

a turn.

1951: My dad and mom started prayer meetings in the

living room of our home. It was in those small

gatherings that I learned about the Holy Ghost. I can still

see my mother standing in the middle of the room,

laughing in the spirit, and speaking in tongues.

Eventually, my mom and dad started a church in that

living room.

23

1952:

In 1952, our small congregation was able to

purchase property, where my dad promptly built a

“brush arbor.” This brush arbor consisted of a wooden

frame covered by tree limbs, saw dust on the ground,

and boards on cement blocks for seating . My dad then

started a revival, which included lots of singing,

preaching, testimonies, and people getting saved.

I started the 3 rd grade, and my favorite place to

eat lunch was a small store just a block from the school.

My mother would give me a quarter each day for lunch.

I would buy a hamburger for fifteen cents, and a coke

and candy bar for a dime. Life was simple. I enjoyed

coming home from school each afternoon, where my

mother would have me share my day with her. My dad

worked long hours, painting houses and hanging

wallpaper, to support his family while starting the

church. God is a great God!

24

Chapter Three

Miracle Days

1953: I n 1953, my dad built a new church building on 8th

street in Comanche. He wrote these following words

from his diary:

“We started a church in Comanche, Oklahoma. We finally

found some lots to build on. We didn’t have the money to buy

the three lots to build the church, but God told me to borrow

money on my home and I did. I borrowed $150.00 to help pay

for three lots. God sure did bless us. We want everybody to pray for us; that we all make heaven our home. Our children

and grandchildren. ”

1954:

My mother was seriously ill and was scheduled for

major surgery. My parents had been listening to Pastor

J.C. Hibbard from Dallas, Texas, on the radio, who

preached divine healing. This led my dad to make the

200-mile journey to Dallas, to have Pastor Hibbard pray

for my mom before her surgery.

25

We arrived at the church about 9 o’clock in the

morning. My dad and I went into the church in search

of the man of God, while my mom waited in the car. We

found the pastor in the prayer room surrounded by

approximately one- hundred prayer warriors. I

remember my dad approaching Pastor Hibbard,

explaining that we had driven from Oklahoma, and that

my mother needed a miracle. We asked Pastor Hibbard

if he would be willing to pray for my mom. He

immediately followed us out to the car, where my

mother was waiting. This man of faith laid his hand on

my mother's head and prayed a short and simple prayer

of healing.

The next day my mother went to the doctor for a

final examination before her surgery, and the doctor

surprisingly announced to my mom that she didn’t need

surgery after all. “ The prayer of faith shall save the sick and

the Lord will raise her up .” An incredible lesson of trust for

a young boy!

26

That same year I experienced another miracle.

My two-year-old nephew, Gary Berry, was rushed to the

hospital in critical condition. I remember the doctor

telling my sister and brother-in-law that their son might

not live. Following that report, my dad went to a local

pastor, Curtis Ledbetter, and asked him to help him

pray for his grandson. My dad and Pastor Ledbetter

spent the night in prayer at Gospel Beams Church in

Duncan, Oklahoma, interceding for Gary. As the sun

was rising the next morning, Pastor Ledbetter turned to

my dad and said, “ Brother Gentry, you got your prayers

through.” My dad returned to the hospital to find my

nephew eating ice cream, completely healed! He

recently celebrated his 70 th birthday! God is a good God!

27

28

Chapter Four

The Motto

1955:

W hile I was still in elementary school, I remember

a young man coming to our door, selling mottos. Mottos

were a piece of cardboard with a black background and

silver lettering. My mother purchased one that read,

“ONLY ONE LIFE IT WILL SOON BE PAST.

ONLY WHAT’S DONE FOR CHRIST WILL LAST.” My

dad nailed it on the wall of our small living room. That

motto disappeared somewhere in years past, but in my

mind’s eye I can still see it hanging there. It’s continued

to influence my life all these years and I never realized

it would one day be the title of my autobiography.

That same year, my days were filled with sports.

Each afternoon after school I was either playing football

at Ronnie Hobzifkin’s house or basketball at Eldon

Sears. I remember my mom interrupting our games late

each afternoon by shouting from our small back porch,

29

“ come home Dale, it’s supper time.” While growing up, I

was taught to work. I sold Grit Newspapers, pulled

cotton, mowed lawns and worked at a grocery store.

1956:

When I was in the 6th grade, I entered a 4-H speech

contest. I practiced my speech for several weeks. On the

day of my speech, I was feeling quite confident, until I

was distracted by a boy in the audience, who was

seemingly mocking me. I soon forgot my lines and sat

down in total humiliation. I thought, “I will never speak

in public again.” However, God had different plans.

1957:

In 1957, we moved to Temple, Oklahoma, where

my dad was appointed by the Assemblies of God to be

the pastor in that small town of 1200 people. I hated to

leave my Comanche friends, but I always wanted to

support my mom and dad in their ministry assignments.

I’m sure the Holy Spirit put that in my heart from an

early age, since he was preparing me for ministry. There

was no one attending the church at that time, because

there was a padlock on the door and Johnson grass

30

growing several feet high in front of the building. There

was an old parsonage, and there was no indoor

plumbing. It was quite embarrassing to have my friends

knowing that I had an outdoor toilet.

We quickly moved forward by taking the

padlock off the church door, cutting down the Johnson

grass, cleaning the church, and doing some quick

remodeling in the parsonage. It was definitely a faith

move, because we had no financial support. We

received monthly commodities, which included Spam,

flour, sugar, and a big block of American cheese.

We started having regular services, and for

several months we had the exact same attendance,

which included Brother and Sister Broach, Sister Jewel,

my mom and dad, and myself. We all came to the

platform and sang to the empty pews. I played my

guitar, which I had learned to play two years before. My

dad preached long and loud every Sunday morning,

Sunday night and Wednesday night. He also preached

on main street most every Saturday afternoon. He may

31

have been discouraged after several months, but I can’t

remember him showing it. On many occasions, I would

go into the empty church during the daytime, and

would see my dad walking back and forth, with hands

raised, praying in the Holy Ghost. Eventually, my Dad ’s

prayers were answered and the church began to grow.

Little Ray

My cousin, Ray Watkins, came to visit me that

summer and asked to go swimming. I told him the only

swimming place we had in Temple was the nearby lake.

Little Ray, as most people called him, because he never

grew over 5 feet tall, said he wasn’t intereste d in

swimming in the lake. He asked if there was possibly

another place. I responded by saying, “ the only

swimming pool in town is that of a wealthy

businessman, but no one is allowed to swim in his pool ” .

Little Ray pretended not to hear what I was saying. He

said, “ w e’ll swim in that pool today, Dale Wayne .” I assured

him that was not possible, but soon he was putting on

his swimming trunks and pulled his jeans over them

and urged me to do the same. I reluctantly followed

32

Little Ray to the wealthy businessman's house with the

big swimming pool.

When we arrived at the palatial-looking house,

Little Ray confidentially walked up to the porch, and

began to knock on the door, as I stood a few feet behind.

A woman finally came to the door and asked if she could

help us. Little Ray immediately said, “we want to speak to

the man of the house .” The lady smiled and said, “ one

moment please. ” Suddenly, a man appeared in the

doorway who looked to be at least 7 feet tall, asking how

he could help us. Little Ray spoke without hesitation,

“me and my cousin Dale Wayne want to swim in your

swimming pool .” He looked us over, smiled and said, “ go

home and get your swimming trunks on.” Little Ray

responded by saying, “ w e already have them on.” It was

surreal, walking through that beautiful home, out the

back door and into that gigantic pool, while thinking, “ if

my friends could only see me now!” I learned a great

lesson that day from my cousin Little Ray concerning

faith and tenacity.

33

1958:

My dad resigned the church in Temple, and we

moved back to Comanche, where I started the 8 th grade.

One day my English teacher, Mrs. Bicknell, said to me,

“ Dale, you would make a great radio announcer .” I knew,

from that moment, that is exactly what I wanted to do. I

started practicing, using a spoon for a microphone,

introducing songs and pretending to be a sportscaster.

God is a good God!

34

Chapter Five

Chloe Jean

1959:

M y dad couldn’t find work in Comanche, so we

moved to Walters, where he found a job with Hewett

Furniture. He could have easily driven the 40-mile

round- trip each day, but we decided to make the move.

Walters was the town where Chloe Jean Denham lived!

Best Actor

At Walters High School, I made below average

grades in every subject but one; Speech. It was in my

speech class that I gained favor with my teacher, Mrs.

Blackburn. She believed in me and encouraged me to

pursue a career in public speaking. My sophomore year

she gave me the leading role in a one-act play, where I

received Best Actor Award in our district, and the entire

region of Southwest Oklahoma. I was then honored to

be involved in the state finals.

35

While in high school, I formed a band, where I

sang and played my Gibson guitar. We played at a high

school assembly, where we brought the house down

when I sang Blue Suede Shoes !

Chloe Jean Denham

Several lifelong connections were made in

Walters, including well known author and historian,

Eddie Hyatt. However, the most important connection

came on a Friday night in December 1959, when Chloe

Jean Denham came with her cousin, Elsie, to a revival

service at the Assembly of God Church in Walters. It

was love at first sight for me. I declared , “ one day I will

marry her”, even before we had officially met. God had

sent us to Walters for me to meet the young lady who

would become my wife and walk through this world

with me! I can’t even imagine what life would have been

like without her!

Chloe Jean grew up in a home with 10 brothers

and sisters: Kennith, Ila, Jim, Dorothy, Darlene, Alford,

Nancy, Albert, Ralph, and Wayne. Her parents did not

36

take them to church, but Chloe Jean was invited by a

neighbor to attend the Nazarene Church, where she

accepted Jesus into her life.

1960:

In 1960, my dad received an invitation to try out

for a small Assembly of God church in Stecker,

Oklahoma, which had a population of 200. When the big

day arrived, my mother could not go because my

Grandpa Wilson was ill, and there was no one to stay

with him. I went with my dad, and we made the 52-mile

trip for the tryout. I sang, and my dad preached. On

Sunday night, after the service, the members of the

church voted, where my dad needed two- thirds of the

vote to be elected pastor. My dad and I waited outside

in the car while the election took place. Before too long,

the deacons came outside to let us know their decision.

When the vote was announced, I knew that my dad did

not receive enough votes. However, he immediately

res ponded by saying, “ I’ll take it !” The committee looked

stunned at his response, and after a few moments of

silence, the chairman said, “okay.” My dad knew he had

heard the voice of God saying that he would be the

37

pastor. O.C. Gentry was now the unofficial pastor of the

Stecker Assembly of God!

Growing up, I had always wanted my dad to do

the will of God, but this move was quite difficult, since

I had to leave the girl I loved. It was hard to imagine

living 52 miles away from Chloe Jean Denham.

However, it helped when I received a daily letter from

her. We still have all the letters we wrote to each other

during that time we were apart. I drove my 1951 Buick

to Walters, when I could afford the 29 cents per gallon

of gasoline . I missed her terribly and knew one day I

would spend the rest of my life with her.

1961:

Getting Married

Jean and I were married in 1961 at the Assembly

of God Church in Burkburnett, Texas. In attendance was

my sister Wynell, Jean’s mother , Virginia, and my mom

and dad. My father performed our wedding ceremony

and had us repeat our vows twice.

38

On our wedding day, Jean and I moved into our

first home. I had bought a small, 21-foot trailer, for three

hundred dollars. Jean brought everything she owned in

a small suitcase, and we started our life together in

Stecker, Oklahoma. Two teenagers in love! Ready to

spend the rest of our lives together!

1962:

In 1962, Jean and I, and my mom and dad, moved

back to my hometown of Comanche, shortly after my

dad resigned the church in Stecker. I started working

with my dad, where we operated a Texaco gas station.

It was a full-service station that included windshield

washing, checking tire pressure and oil. I was making

$35.00 per week but was still dreaming of being a radio

announcer and sportscaster. God is an awesome God!

39

40

Chapter Six

Radio Announcer

O ne day a salesman came by the Texaco station

and told me his son was graduating from a radio school

in Dallas and had landed a job as a disc jockey at KOMA,

which was the leading Top 40 station in Oklahoma City.

I knew at that moment, that I would somehow be able

to attend Elkins Institute of Radio and Electronics in

Dallas.

Soon, I drove to Dallas to visit the school and was

able to enroll. It meant living 200 miles apart, so I could

pursue my dream of being a radio announcer,

sportscaster, and station engineer. It was a huge sacrifice

and challenge for our young marriage, but Jean was in

agreement. There was simply not enough money for us

to rent an apartment in Dallas and pay for my tuition, so

she lived with both of our parents. I rented a room not

far from the school. Jean still says that sometimes we

41

must sacrifice the present in order to secure our future.

Great words of wisdom!

1963:

I graduated from Elkins Institute of Radio and

Electronics in Dallas, Texas with a First-Class Radio

Engineering License. God’s plan for our lives was in

motion. I was hired at a radio station in Quanah, Texas.

I was instructed to give the call letters of the station,

followed by this quote, “ Quanah is a small town of five

thousand friendly folks, and a few old soreheads. ”

Terminated

Jean and I loved our small apartment, and it

seemed as if I was doing well at the station. That all came

to a sudden halt when the station owner informed me

that I was being terminated. My predecessor had

requested his old job back and his request had been

granted. I have discovered since that time, that there are

worse things than being fired. The process of

elimination in our lives was in motion, and this did not

take God by surprise.

42

Jean and I didn’t know where we were going

next. However, I discovered that different radio stations

would contact Elkins to see if any of their graduates

needed a job. I heard there was an opening at KCCO

Radio in Lawton, Oklahoma, not far from where we

grew up. I interviewed for the position and was

thankfully hired.

JFK, Jerry Lee Lewis, and Joe Tom White

My time working at KCCO Radio was an

eventful season. I served as a sports commentator,

engineer, and radio announcer. My assignments also

included interviews with celebrities, such as Jerry Lee

Lewis and Roy Clark.

One of the most memorable times of my

broadcast career happened on November 22nd, 1963,

the day John F. Kennedy was assassinated. I was hosting

my radio show, when suddenly the program director

shouted from the newsroom, “ turn me on !” He then gave

the stunning report that President Kennedy had been

killed. It was a sad day in America.

43

While working at the radio station in Lawton, I

met Joe Tom White, who was serving in the military in

nearby Fort Sill, while working part time at KCCO. I felt

an instant connection. One day Joe Tom told me that he

had completed his military duty and would be moving

back to Wichita Falls, Texas, where he had a job working

at KWFT radio station. He briefly mentioned the

possibility of me also working there one day. God is a

good God!

44

Chapter Seven

Ricky Dale Gentry

1964:

O ur son, Ricky Dale, came into this world on

April 20 th , 1964. He was born at Lindley Hospital in

nearby Duncan, Oklahoma. In those days, the fathers

were not allowed into the delivery room, so I stayed in

the waiting room, accompanied by my brother-in-law,

Kenneth Denham. I had prayed for a son and God

answered my request. I was only 20 years old when

Rick was born. He was only two when Jean and I went

into full-time ministry, leaving his familiar

surroundings and his best friend, Scottie. His new home

became a 35-foot trailer, while moving to a new location

every two weeks.

One of my favorite “Rick m emories” was when

we lived in Rush Springs, and I had gone to Arkansas to

preach. Rick was 12 at the time and talked his mom into

letting him drive the final mile to our house. When they

arrived home, Rick put his foot on the gas pedal instead

45

of the brake, causing him to go right through the garage

door of our new home, and stopping just short of going

through the wall to our new house.

The next day, they picked me up at the airport in

Oklahoma City. On the way home, Rick, Jean and Darla

started crying. Immediately, I knew something was

wrong. My first thoughts were, “oh no, something has

happened to our dog Blackie. ” They informed me about the

garage door, and the scratches on our car. They were

quite surprised when I suddenly started laughing, so

relieved that it was only a garage door and not my dog,

Blackie.

I remember buying Rick a new set of drums when

he was 12 at a music store in Del City, Oklahoma, which

he still has to this day. Music has definitely become one

of his passions, playing drums for many years in church,

starting at eight-years-old. I also enjoyed playing

football and basketball with Rick when he was growing

up, especially basketball, which was his favorite sport.

He has since gone on to have an incredible basketball

46

coaching career, having won over 700 games, five state

titles, one tri-state title and one national title.

I will always cherish the years we have been able

to work together in the ministry. Rick is a wonderful

son that I’m very proud of. Most of all, I admire his

commitment to Jesus, and his love for his wife, children

and grandchildren .

Sportscaster

Shortly after Rick was born, I was offered a job at

KELR radio station in El Reno, Oklahoma, just a short

distance from Oklahoma City. My dreams of being a

sportscaster had finally come true. I served as a play-by

play announcer for high school football, basketball, and

baseball throughout the area. One of those schools was

Binger High, where I became the first sportscaster to

interview Johnny Bench. Johnny went on to become one

of the greatest baseball players of all time, and a member

of the Baseball Hall of Fame.

47

During our time in El Reno, I started a Christian

band, called the Gospel Troubadours. The group

consisted of myself, Freddie Ash, Tony Bailey, Jerry

Bennett, and Leonard Spears. It was a busy life being in

radio and traveling with the musical group to different

churches, but we made it work. Jean and I, and our son

Rick, attended the First Assembly of God Church in El

Reno, where Kenneth McGee was the pastor. One

Sunday morning Bobbie Wilkins, a missionary from

Liberia, West Africa, shared her testimony. Something

supernatural happened in my life that day. I believe the

Lord was preparing me for a new season.

1965:

Wichita Falls

In 1965, I received a phone call from my friend

Joe Tom White, telling me there was an opening at

KWFT radio in Wichita Falls, Texas. Jean and I loaded

up our car with our 18-month-old son, Rick, and drove

to Wichita Falls for an interview. I was very excited

about the possibility to work at a CBS affiliate station.

The only catch was that I had to start work at 3:30 each

48

morning. The interview went well, and I quickly

accepted the offer, gave my two weeks’ notice in El

Reno, and made the move across the Red River to

Wichita Falls. It was difficult leaving our friends and

church in El Reno, as well as the Gospel Troubadours,

but Jean and I had peace about our transition.

We moved to Wichita Falls in 1965 and started

attending Southside Assembly of God church, where

Carl Alcorn was the pastor. We began attending there at

the start of a 6-week revival, led by Evangelist Jerry B.

Walker. Little did we realize that our whole life would

change in the next few months. A whole new chapter

was about to begin. God is a good God!

49

50

Chapter Eight

The Call

1966:

E ven though I enjoyed my job at the radio

station, I was becoming discontented, and felt quite

empty inside. One cold winter morning, as I started

driving to work, I asked the Lord, “ what can you do for

me ? ” Immediately, I heard the Holy Spirit say, “ give me

the first hour of your day and I’ll change your life .” I

didn’t know at the time if I was hearing right, because I

was already getting up at 3:00 in the morning to start my

engineering duties at 3:30 and host a radio show at 4:00.

It seemed as if the Holy Spirit didn't know what time I

was getting up, so I rehearsed my morning schedule

with Him, expecting a reply such as, “ sorry about that

Dale, I didn’t know you had to get up so early. Don’t worry

about t hat one.” But instead, He repeated the same words

again, and the decision was mine. I instantly knew, in

that moment, what I was supposed to do.

51

I responded by setting my alarm for 2:00 the next

morning. When the alarm went off, I heard myself

saying “ oh no ,” but another voice said to me “ oh yes.” I

didn’t realize this would be the most important

assignment in my life, giving God the first hour of my

day. During this time, I found a sanctuary, a private

place to pray in the den of our home, where I would

meet with the Lord. It was there that I learned the three

steps to a successful prayer life: Desire, Discipline and

Delight. The two main reasons I pray are to know God

and to know what he wants me to do.

My Call to Preach

David Wilkerson had come from New York City

to minister at Southside Assembly of God on a Sunday

night in June of 1966. I was eager to hear him after

reading his book, “ The Cross and The Switchblade .” His

preaching was incredibly anointed, and my heart

burned within me. The response to his message was

overwhelming, as people streamed to the front to

receive ministry. I was operating the sound system that

night, but quickly forgot about my duties, while falling

52

on my knees to cry out to Him. I heard the same voice I

had heard months earlier, calling me to pray. This time

the voice of the Lord was saying, “ son, I want you to

preach My gospel; will you preach M y gospel?” I did not

hesitate, and said “ yes, I will preach your gospel.” I

followed that commitment by stepping onto the

platform and asking David Wilkerson to pray for me. He

wrote me a letter 40 years later, saying he remembered

laying hands on me, and praying for me that night at

2124 Broad Street in Wichita Falls.

I was silent on the way home, not sure how Jean

would respond. I knew it would be a major sacrifice for

her and our two-year-old son. We had just bought our

first home with a park close by for Rick to play at. I had

so many thoughts and concerns that filled my mind

during that short drive home. I broke the news to Jean

when we got home and told her that God had called me

to preach. She responded by saying, “ I’ll go where you

go .” Looking back, we had no idea where the journey

would take us, all these years later.

53

Shortly after, I thought that Jean would need to

learn to play the piano, if I was going to be successful in

the ministry. Jean was willing to cooperate with my

request and became a student of our pastor ’s daughter,

Jeanie Alcorn. We purchased an upright piano with a

mirror in front. I teased her, and said jokingly, that she

could watch herself practice. I was listening to her

practice one day and it dawned on me that she was not

going to learn how to play the piano. The Holy Spirit

spoke to me, that just having her partner with me in

ministry was sufficient. Therefore, I released her from

that expectation, and we sold the piano. Jean was very

happy.

Getting Started

Soon after I was called to preach, my youth

pastor invited me to preach my first sermon. I was

nervous, but very excited. I could hardly wait to get

started. I don ’t remember what I preached about, but I

knew this was what I wanted to do for the rest of my

life.

My second invitation to preach came from the

Assembly of God church in Archer City, Texas, where

54

our friends, Kern and Eddie Faye Choate, pastored.

After that, I had no more invitations, so I invited myself

to preach a revival in our home, which I accepted. I

would go into the den of our home and start preaching

to the wall. I got quite loud because my daddy told me,

“ Son if you can’t preach good, preach loud ! ” The revival

fervor continued, so I gave myself an invitation to

extend the meeting, which I also accepted.

Hours of preaching in our home, on Devonshire

Drive, prepared me for what was about to happen at the

First Assembly of God church in Burkburnett, Texas.

This was the same church where Jean and I had been

married five years previously. The pastor, John Hocker,

had heard about my call to preach, and invited me to

minister on a Sunday night in December of 1966. My

message concluded with an incredible response. People

streamed down the aisles to seek the Lord as the pastor's

daughter, Karolyn Hocker, led the worship. It was

evident that the Holy Spirit was up to something really

big. Before the benediction, and much to my surprise,

Pastor Hocker asked if I could preach again the

55

following night. I ministered for the next three weeks,

while still getting up early to go to work. It was during

that time that I began to learn how to work with the

Holy Spirit. I’ll always be grateful to Pastors John and

Donna Hocker for helping us get started in the ministry.

God is a good God!

56

Chapter Nine

Full Time Ministry

1967:

D uring the first weeks of 1967, doors began to

open for me to preach. We would leave early on Sunday

morning and drive home after the Sunday night service.

Rick and I would sleep in the back seat, while Jean

drove. Sometimes we would get home just in time for

my morning prayer, and off to work I went.

In February, I heard the Holy Spirit say it was

time for us to launch out into full-time ministry. Jean

agreed, and we started preparing to sell our house and

furniture. Looking back, I can’t imagine what was going

through Jean’s mind at that time. We had just owned our

first home for only a few months. I had a good job and

seemingly we had gotten what we wanted, but it wasn’t

what we wanted after all. We decided to follow the Holy

Spirit and do His will.

57

Very soon, I met with Mr. Ben Ludy, the general

manager of the radio station, and gave him my

resignation. He seemed rather shocked when I told him

I was leaving to go into full-time ministry. He concluded

by telling me that my job would be waiting for me if I

ever wanted to come back. We left everything behind

with only one revival on our schedule.

Launching Out

After selling our home, we purchased a 35-foot

trailer to live in, and a 1958 Buick to pull it with. We

bought the trailer for $800, the Buick for a lot less and

Jean and I, and Rick and his dog, Tex, launched out into

the deep. We started our journey on March 12 th , 1967,

from Comanche, and had only gone 15 miles when we

heard a loud noise, and smoke coming from under the

hood. My brother-in-law, Robert Berry, had decided to

follow us, and was close behind, as we pulled to the side

of the road. Funny enough, a tow truck pulled our car

and trailer to our first revival at the Assembly of God

church in Ringling, Oklahoma. It was there that the

Holy Ghost showed up, and we had two incredible

58

weeks of revival! We will always be thankful to Pastors

Calvin and Linda Newton for giving us our first revival

after going into full-time ministry.

License to Preach

Following our time in Ringling, God honored our

faith, and provided us another invitation to minister at

a church in Wichita Falls, Texas. It was during that time

that I met with the North Texas District Board of the

Assemblies of God, requesting credentials to preach.

The superintendent, E.R. Anderson, led the interview,

and seemed quite surprised when I told him that I was

already in full-time ministry. He responded by saying,

“ since you are already ministering full- time, we’ll skip the

Exhorters and give you your license to preach. ”

Revival invitations continued, including a special

meeting at Sherwood Assembly of God with Pastor Joe

Bradley in Odessa, Texas. This revival resulted in the

beginning of our relationship with Jerry and Melba

Venable, who were serving as youth pastors. They

would become our very good friends.

59