‘He knew I loved him’

Members of mega-church Harvest Christian Fellowship were surprised this weekend by the sight of grief-stricken Pastor Greg Laurie, who took the pulpit despite the very recent death of his son, Christopher Laurie, of Huntington Beach.

“It was not a distant relationship,” Greg Laurie said. “Thankfully I don’t have to sit around worrying he didn’t know I loved him. He knew I loved him.”

Laurie, 33, a graphic artist who spent the last three years as the church’s art director, died the morning of July 24 in a car accident in Corona, according to authorities.

Calling it the “most devastating day of my life,” a sometimes-tearful Laurie told his congregation that his faith was still strong. At the same time, he said, constant reminders — like driving past the site of the fatal crash on the way to church — made him feel the loss deeply.

Christopher Laurie’s brother, Jonathan, also took to the stage, saying his brother had a strong commitment to his faith.

“He had been growing deeper in his faith this past year, more than ever before,” he said.

According to those who knew and worked with him, Laurie was a talented graphic artist who left numerous reminders of his commitment to his father’s ministry: the bumper stickers he designed for the annual Harvest Crusade; the church website he built; even large parts of “Lost Boy,” a documentary on the life of his father, a Newport Beach resident.

“He designed the bumper sticker this year, he designed the overall look of the Crusade, and has for the past several years,” said his supervisor, Paul Eaton, administrative pastor over media at the Riverside-based church. “He was touching just about everything that came out of the ministry.”

But beyond his talents as an artist, friends and colleagues remembered Laurie as light-hearted and fun-loving, deeply devoted to his work and his father’s ministry. By Wednesday morning, there were a little more than 19,000 comments on Greg Laurie’s blog from supporters offering condolences and prayers.

“There are so many phone calls coming in, and people are bringing flowers to the church,” Associate Pastor John Collins said of the outpouring of support. “Typically we get 6,000 hits a day on our website. [July 24] it was 60,000.”

Laurie’s car, a 2008 Dodge Magnum, was eastbound on the 91 Freeway when he crashed into the back of a Caltrans street sweeper just west of Serfas Club Drive about 9 a.m. July 24, according to California Highway Patrol reports.

He was unable to stop prior to colliding with the rear of the street sweeper, according to the report. No one else was injured in the crash, authorities said.

Court records show Laurie had been cited several times for moving violations, including for driving at unsafe speeds.

The church confirmed that he died while driving to Harvest Christian Fellowship.

The fact that Greg Laurie had started out with hopes of being a graphic artist only drew them closer when working together, Eaton added.

“They spoke the same language,” he said. “Chris could present something to his dad, his dad would say something and Chris would finish the sentence. It was just a really great collaboration, friendship, father-son relationship they had.”

Greg Laurie 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, to be led by Greg Laurie, is slated for Aug. 15 to 17 at Angel Stadium.

Christopher Laurie is survived by his wife, Brittany; daughter, Stella; mother, Cathe; and brother, Jonathan. Brittany Laurie is expecting another child in November.

A memorial fund has been set up in his name; donations can be made at the church website, www.harvest.org.

Checks can also be made out to Harvest Christian Fellowship with the notation, “Christopher Laurie Memorial Fund.”

A private memorial service has been scheduled for 11 a.m. Friday; the public may view it at the church website or listen to it live on KWVE-FM (107.9).

VOICES

“I was with him on Wednesday, the day before the accident. All he could talk about was getting ready for Stella’s [his daughter’s] second birthday party. It was such a joy to be able to see him be a wonderful dad.”

David Riley

family friend and former employer

“Time stood still, and I couldn’t imagine this happening. But I knew he was in Heaven.”

Greg Laurie

“He lived in Huntington Beach and loved to surf and had lots of friends down there. He loved his family. He was a very fun-loving, talented young man who had just really blossomed and had a great future ahead.”

John Collins

associate pastor at Harvest Christian Fellowship

“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.”

‘Justine’

posted on Greg Laurie’s blog

“My heart goes out to you and your family. Even as I am typing this, my eyes are swelling with tears. Please know that my prayers and thoughts will be with you and your family in the coming days.”

‘Katherine A.’

MICHAEL ALEXANDER may be reached at (714) 966-4618 or at michael.alexander@latimes. com. CANDICE BAKER can be reached at (949) 494-5480 or at candice.baker@latimes.com.