It was a packed house on Tuesday as family, friends, and fellow musicians gathered to remember three members of the Nelon family, who had performed Southern Gospel music for years as the Nelons, and four others who died in a recent plane crash.

On July 26, multiple members of the Nelon family were on their way to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska when their charter plane crashed in the mountains of Wyoming. The crash claimed the lives of all seven people on-board the flight.

They included Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, and their daughter, Amber Nelon Kistler, all members of the singing group. Nathan Kistler, who ministered with his wife, Amber, in Washington, D.C., through Hope to the Hill, was also killed in the crash as was the couple’s ministry associate, Melodi Hodges. The pilot, Larry Haynie and his wife, Melissa, also perished.

Larry Haynie had served as the chairman of the Georgia Department of Corrections Board. Georgia Governor Brian Kemp stated that “the gospel community” has “lost dear friends in this heartbreaking accident.” The National Transportation Safety Board has opened an investigation into the cause of the crash, according to media reports.

Autumn, the youngest member of the Nelons, and her husband, Jaime Streetman, were not on the plane. They arrived safely in Seattle where they received the news that their family had perished in a plane crash.  At the memorial service for her family members on Tuesday at Roopville Road Baptist Church near Atlanta, Georgia, Autumn led hundreds gathered in prayer. 

In her remarks, Autumn shared how the loss has impacted her. “Even though my heart is breaking, and tears flood my eyes, I believe that God gives us something worth trusting, and that is him, and him alone,” said Autumn.  

Autumn went on to say that in just three minutes, her world was flipped upside down. 

“My sweet baby boy, coming in December, will never know his family on this side of heaven, and I have so many questions and so few answers,” she said. “My choice is to trust him fully. I know that he’s in control and can see what we don’t, but I’d sure love it if he’d just let me in on it.”

“For now, I’ll look forward to the promise of Heaven, a place of joy, beauty, peace and happiness that will never end. Until I make it there, I’ll keep going.”

Following the prayer, Autumn performed the song “Family Chain” alongside longtime family friends, The Isaacs, breaking into tears at the end of the song.

The Nelons, who previously had other family as group members and have received ten Gospel Music Association Dove Awards over the years, were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2016.

Messages of condolences may be expressed to the family online.

A celebration of life service for Amber and Nathan Kistler will be held on Saturday, at Mount Home Baptist Church in Morganton, North Carolina. Further details can be viewed online.

Josh Shepherd contributed to this article, which was originally published by CHVN Radio.

Journalist Colleen Houde is a news writer and on-air host at CHVN in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.