{"id":656,"date":"2025-10-29T11:20:36","date_gmt":"2025-10-29T15:20:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inhishands\/?p=656"},"modified":"2025-10-29T11:20:36","modified_gmt":"2025-10-29T15:20:36","slug":"community-raises-over-350k-for-pastors-family-after-tragic-hit-and-run-he-had-a-heart-for-jesus","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.beliefnet.com\/columnists\/inhishands\/2025\/10\/community-raises-over-350k-for-pastors-family-after-tragic-hit-and-run-he-had-a-heart-for-jesus\/","title":{"rendered":"Community Raises Over $350K For Pastor’s Family After Tragic Hit-and-Run: ‘He had a heart for Jesus’"},"content":{"rendered":"
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GoFundMe<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

More than $350,000 has been raised to support the family of Pastor Eric John Williams, a beloved husband, father of four, and founder of Community Church of West Garden Grove, who was tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident while cycling in Southern California.<\/p>\n

Williams, 45, was riding with two friends along the Pacific Coast Highway near Huntington Beach when a sedan veered onto the shoulder and struck<\/a> them. Williams was pronounced dead at the scene. His two friends suffered serious injuries, including broken ribs, a fractured spine, and multiple bruises.<\/p>\n

Police arrested Amber Kristine Calderon, 43, of Long Beach, shortly after the crash. Authorities say she fled the scene, driving more than half a mile with visible damage to her car, before being blocked by another driver who witnessed the collision and followed her. Calderon now faces multiple felony charges, including hit-and-run causing death and injury. If convicted, she could face up to five years and four months in prison.<\/p>\n

Williams’ family, friends, and congregation are remembering him as a man whose life reflected the love of Christ. A GoFundMe<\/a> campaign created by his sisters-in-law has raised more than $355,000 to support his wife, Robyn, and their four children \u2014 Julia, Jeanette, Alice, and James, who range from toddler to high school freshman.<\/p>\n

“Eric was a Godly man with a heart for Jesus and for people,” his sisters-in-law wrote. “He was kind, funny, and steady in his faith, always lifting others up.”<\/p>\n

Williams and Robyn had just celebrated 20 years of marriage. Those closest to him say his love for his family was evident in everything he did. “He taught me a lot about being a father,” said his brother-in-law, Josh Coy. “He spent so much time with his kids \u2014 always present, always intentional.”<\/p>\n

Before founding the Community Church of West Garden Grove, Williams served as a teaching pastor at Seaside Community Church in Huntington Beach. He was known for reimagining what church could be \u2014 focusing on service and connection rather than tradition. On months with a fifth Sunday, he would replace the typical service with “Sunday Serve Days,” leading volunteers to help senior residents, clean up beaches, and assist neighbors in need.<\/p>\n

“In his life as a pastor, he always asked, ‘What can we do differently?'” Coy told<\/a> The Orange County Register.<\/em><\/p>\n

Williams also shared a passion for cycling with others, helping launch the popular Over the Hump Mountain Bike Race Series at Irvine Lake. Friend and ministry partner Robby Knutsen described him as “the most intentional man I know.”<\/p>\n

Hundreds gathered Friday evening at Eastgate Park in Garden Grove for a candlelight vigil, remembering Williams as a devoted husband, father, and servant of Christ. Through tears and shared stories, mourners celebrated a man who lived his faith boldly and loved deeply.<\/p>\n

“He spent his life serving others,” his family said. “Now, it’s our turn to carry that light forward.”<\/p>\n

Please continue to pray for Robyn, their children, and all those impacted by this tragic loss.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

More than $350,000 has been raised to support the family of Pastor Eric John Williams, a beloved husband, father of four, and founder of Community Church of West Garden Grove, who was tragically killed in a hit-and-run accident while cycling in Southern California. Williams, 45, was riding with two friends along the Pacific Coast Highway…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":516,"featured_media":659,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fbia_status":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-656","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"\nCommunity Raises Over $350K For Pastor's Family After Tragic Hit-and-Run: 'He had a heart for Jesus'<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Over $350K raised for family of Pastor Eric Williams, a father of four remembered for his faith, kindness, and heart for Jesus.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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