Three members of The Nelons, a gospel group from Georgia, died in a plane crash on July 26 that killed all seven people on board.
National Transportation Safety Board spokesman Keith Holloway said a preliminary report on the crash is expected to be released in about 30 days, while a final report on the possible cause of the crash could take up to two years to complete.
Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark, and daughter Amber Nelon Kistler, Amber’s husband, died in the accident Nathan Kistler also died in the crash. Melody Hodges; pilot Larry Haynie; and his wife Melissa Haynie.
Stephen Peeples, pastor of the Nellon family at Roupville Road Baptist Church, found comfort in his grief knowing his friends were finally with their creator, and he shared fond memories of the family , they are regular visitors to the church.
Expert: Gospel group may have suffered ‘dark terror’ in deadly plane crash that killed 7
Three members of the Nelons died in a plane crash on July 26. (Getty Images)
When asked what the Nilons are best remembered for, Peoples didn’t hesitate.
“Their love and passion for the Lord,” Peoples told Fox News Digital exclusively. “Just their love for the Lord. Like serving in a concert, which is not a performance or anything like that, but serving the body of Christ.”
Peeples noted that many members of the community are unaware of how much the Nelons have given back through their ministry work.
Three members of Gospel Music Hall of Fame quartet The Nelons die in plane crash, seven dead
“They did a lot of missionary work that a lot of people themselves didn’t know about. So their influence went far beyond Southern gospel music, but also made it known that they had a mission mentality,” he said.
Jason Clark, Kelly Nelon Clark and Amber Nelon Kistler died in a plane crash in Wyoming. Autumn (second from left) was not on the plane when it crashed. (Terry Wyatt/Getty Images Dove Awards)
After hearing about the plane crash in Wyoming, Peeples “immediately” began trying to contact Autumn Nelon Streetman, Kelly and Jason’s pregnant daughter. The fourth member of the family.
Autumn and her husband, Jamie Streetman, traveled separately to Seattle, where they planned to meet and attend Gaither’s homecoming cruise to Alaska.
WATCH: Pastor Stephen Peeples shares memories of Mr. and Mrs. Nealon
“My heart goes out to Autumn. I can’t begin … I mean, I can’t begin to comprehend the extreme loss that she suffered,” he said. “I mean, there’s four family members – close, close, immediate family members – and here she is, having her first grandchild in the family. They’re very excited about it.
“Autumn actually told me, she said, ‘You know what? I know God sent this baby at the right time,'” Peoples recalled. “This is where we have to trust the Lord. There’s no way around it. I share with our staff that faith that cannot be tested is faith that cannot be trusted.”
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The pastor was adamant that he and the congregation would continue to trust “no matter what happens in our Lord.”
“This is where we have to trust the Lord. There’s no way around it. I share with our staff that faith that cannot be tested is faith that cannot be trusted.”
“The beauty of it all is I know it’s all in the presence of the Lord,” he said. “I know their testimony as followers of Christ – there were seven of them on the plane. As the Bible says, we grieve, but not those who have no hope…but we have a sure hope, knowing that they are with Christ.
Autumn Nealon (third from right), who was pregnant with her first child, was not on the plane. (Jason Kebbin/Getty Images)
“For those of us who know the Lord, this is only a brief temporary separation.”
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A celebration of life service for the family is scheduled for Tuesday, August 6, at 1 p.m. at Roopville Road Baptist Church, which will also be livestreamed.
“The beauty of it all is that I know they are in the presence of the Lord. I know their testimony as followers of Christ—all seven were on that plane. As the Bible says, we grieve, but not as those people did Sad who doesn’t have any hope.
WATCH: Pastor Stephen Peeples describes Nealons’ unshakable Christian faith
Holloway said a National Transportation Safety Board spokesman reported “an autopilot issue during the flight” as an initial cause for concern during the preliminary investigation, and he said investigators were further evaluating the situation.
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this atlanta gospel music family He was on his way to Alaska for a Gaither homecoming cruise when the plane crashed, cruise sponsor Gaither Music Group said.
“Autumn and Jamie will now return to Kelly’s brother Todd Nealon and his wife Rhonda to begin the difficult task ahead. Please allow them, the Kishler family, the Haynie family and Melody Ho The Chiss family remains with you.
Nelons was inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016 and has won 10 GMA Dove Awards, including multiple Song of the Year and Album of the Year awards.
