Evangelest’s son, killed in crash, ‘spoke the same language’ as father

Members of mega-church Harvest Christian Fellowship are surrounded by reminders of Pastor Greg Laurie’s son, Christopher Laurie: 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 Greg Laurie, a Newport Beach resident.

Laurie, 33, a graphic artist and Huntington Beach resident who spent the last three years as the church’s art director, died Thursday morning in a car accident in Corona, according to authorities.

“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 Friday afternoon, there were more than 8,000 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. Yesterday 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. Thursday, 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 speed.

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

Laurie had a strong relationship with his father, Eaton said. The fact that Greg Laurie had started out with hopes of being a graphic artist only drew them closer when working together, he 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.”

His father, Greg, 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, 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; checks should be made out to Harvest Christian Fellowship with the notation, “Christopher Laurie Memorial Fund.”

More information will be posted at the church website, www.harvest.org, as details become available.