A Louisiana pastor and his family are facing unimaginable grief after a tragic vehicle crash claimed the lives of two loved ones and left others seriously injured.
According to WBRZ, Pastor Tim Brady of Lifeway Apostolic Church in Kentwood, Louisiana, was traveling home with family members from Camp Apex, a Christian camp in Conway, Arkansas, when the accident occurred Saturday morning in north Louisiana.
State police said the family’s pickup truck left the roadway and struck a tree near the intersection of Louisiana Highway 9 and Highway 518 in Athens.
The crash claimed the lives of two members of the Brady family. Pastor Brady’s daughter-in-law, Katie Barber, 22, and his 14-year-old son, Benson Brady, died as a result of the accident.
Three other occupants of the vehicle were transported to a hospital following the crash.
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The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the church community in Kentwood and beyond as believers rally around a pastor who has spent years ministering to others and now finds himself walking through one of life’s deepest valleys.
In a post by South Central Region Youth Apostolic, many were calling for prayers.
Please help us lift up the Tim Brady Family, Lifeway Apostolic Church (Kentwood, LA) and the others who were traveling home from Camp Apex today.
This precious family and church were involved in a fatal wreck today. Three people remain in the hospital and the entire family’s and church need our fervent and sincere prayers, love and support right now.
At this time and out of respect of the families, we cannot share more information.
All of our Apex family hurts right now. We love you all!
According to information shared through a fundraiser organized by the South Central Region of the Worldwide Pentecostal Fellowship and cited by WBRZ, one family member has since been released from the hospital, while two others remain hospitalized. One of the injured individuals is reportedly in critical condition after having surgery for collapsed lungs, a broken back and a liver injury.
The town of Kentwood also posted about the tragic event on Facebook.
LIFEWAY CHURCH AND PASTOR BRADY, Kentwood, Louisiana. Lord, today Our Kentwood Community is saddened and is praying for Pastor Brady and Our entire Lifeway Church Family. Lord, they need you right now to lean on. The entire Town of Kentwood and Surrounding Communities please pray for their Strength and Faith in God’s Power to comfort. Lord hold them tight in Your loving arms. Wherever they are Lord, bring them on back home to us. Let them know that we love them and are here for them. *** Everyone please pray for Our Lifeway Church Family and Pastor, Rev. Brady. Lord, we pray this prayer in Your Name. Amen
The heartbreaking loss serves as a sobering reminder that tragedy can strike without warning. For many, moments like these raise difficult questions. Yet Scripture continually points God’s people toward one another in seasons of suffering, urging the church to bear one another’s burdens and stand together in prayer.
Today, Pastor Brady and his family need exactly that.
As they grieve the loss of Benson and Katie while also caring for injured loved ones, Christians across the nation can join together in lifting them before the Lord.
Pray for God’s comfort to surround the Brady family during this season of unimaginable sorrow. Pray for complete healing and recovery for those still hospitalized. And pray for the congregation of Lifeway Apostolic Church as they support their pastor through one of the most difficult chapters of his life.
In moments when words fail, prayer remains one of the greatest gifts the body of Christ can offer. May the Lord draw near to the brokenhearted and sustain the Brady family with His strength, comfort and unfailing presence in the days ahead.
Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the newly released book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment. For interviews and media inquiries, please contact [email protected].
