Church founders’ son dies

The son of the Newport Beach residents who founded the Harvest Christian Fellowship mega-church in Riverside died Thursday morning in a car accident in Riverside County, according to the church.

Christopher Laurie, 33, of Huntington Beach was a graphic artist who had spent the last three years as the church’s art director.

He was eastbound on the 91 Freeway when he crashed into the back of a Caltrans truck just west of Serfas Club Drive at about 9 a.m., officials said.

His father, Greg, attended Corona del Mar and Newport Harbor high schools and founded Harvest Christian Fellowship in 1979; it has since grown to become one of the largest churches in the country, and is best known for the annual Harvest Crusades it stages around the country. The next local Harvest Crusade is slated for Aug. 15 to 17 at Angel Stadium.

A person identified as Justine posted this comment on Greg Laurie’s blog Thursday: “Every time [Christopher] came into the Web office, he would just put a smile on our faces and make us laugh. You could tell he had Greg’s sense of humor! He was a genuine guy with a great laugh, a lot of creativity, a lot of passion and a joy to be around. I’m so glad I got to just be able to know him and work around him. I know that he was such a blessing to you guys.”

Christopher Laurie is survived by his wife, Brittany, and daughter, Stella. Brittany Laurie is expecting another daughter in November.

Information on memorial plans will be posted at www.harvest.org as details become available.

CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (949) 494-5480 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.