Greg Laurie marks anniversary of son's death, thanks those who've supported his family

Eight years after the death of their son, Pastor Greg Laurie and wife Catherine thanked supporters who've been there for them as they grieved through their loss.

The 63-year-old senior pastor of California-based Harvest Christian Fellowship in Riverside and Harvest Orange County in Irvine, took to Facebook on Sunday, July 24 to mark the eight year anniversary since the death of their son, Christopher.

Laurie shared a message his wife wrote for the people who supported them, describing as much as she could how the people helped them through the tragedy.

"Thank you to the ones who stayed," wrote Catherine. "To you who listened. Who watched me cry awkward tears."

The pastor's wife also thanked those who patiently listened to her and didn't tell her "meaningless things." She thanked those who sat with her in the church, held her hand, walked with her and didn't leave her side. She thanked those who spared her "simplified theological statements like 'It was the will of God.'" She thanked those who wrote her notes and even helped in the "almost impossible task of choosing a casket, a grave site."

Their 33-year-old son, who had served as art director at Harvest Church for three years, died in a car accident on his way to the church.

A few days after the tragedy, Laurie showed up in his church's Sunday service and declared he continued to believe in God and that there's no place he'd rather be than at church to worship the Lord.

He admitted he had spoiled his son growing up and described him as a prodigal son who had found his way back in his last years.

"We were marveling at what God was doing in his life. He couldn't have been in a better place spiritually," Laurie told his congregation then, as reported by The Christian Post.

He considered his son's death as the most devastating day of his life but comforted himself with the belief that his son has gone up to Heaven.

"So I just said, 'Lord, he's yours. I dedicated him to you when he was a little boy and I dedicate him back to you,'" said Laurie.