A church community is shattered after a car accident killed not only a pastor but his 3-year-old son as well. 31-year-old Stephen Clayton of Becker Evangelical Free Church in Minnesota was driving home with his family to Monticello after a visit with his wife’s family in South Dakota when the wheel from a trailer flew off and broke through his windshield. A 2012 Dodge Ram 2500 pickup was towing a stock trailer west on Interstate 90 in the opposite lane of traffic from Clayton when a tire from the trailer broke off and crossed the median, striking the minivan with Clayton and his family and tearing open the van’s roof.

Clayton and his 3-year-old son, David, were killed. Clay’s pregnant wife, Katie, and their 11-month-old son, John, were also in the car. Katie was airlifted to the hospital in Sioux Falls with fractures to her jaw and face. According to a GoFundMe started for the family, she has had reconstructive surgery and faces a long recovery. John sustained minor injuries. Their unborn child also is reported to have been unharmed in the accident.

Steven Lee of The North Church in Mounds View, Minnesota wrote a tribute for Stephen after hearing of the heartbreaking loss. According to Lee, Clayton had served under him as his ministry assistant at The North Church for three years. Lee described Clayton as “sober-minded, thoughtful, intelligent, and intentional.” “He never boasted or bragged about playing in a professional orchestra in Canada,” added Lee. “I never heard him complain or grumble.” Lee also served as the pastor for Stephen and Katie’s premarital counseling and described Stephen’s desire to be a good husband. “Even through difficult seasons after having children, Stephen was steadfast and strong,” wrote Lee. “As he stepped into the role of pastor at Becker, he was eager to preach God’s word, serve, and shepherd. It had its difficulties, as all pastoral ministry does, but he grew in patience, endurance, and steadfastness.” He noted that Stephen would be “deeply missed” and referenced Psalm 34:18, which states, “The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”

The funeral for Stephen and David is scheduled for Friday, October 23 at The North Church. The GoFundMe for the family has reached nearly $250,000. While his family admitted trying to grapple with the tragedy, the fund referenced 2 Corinthians 4:17-18, which states, “For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.”