Tag: The Nelons

She carried them with her: Autumn Nelon’s journey to Malawi

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DON HEBERT

There is a particular kind of grief that doesn’t stay still. It moves, it searches, it looks for somewhere to go. For Autumn Nelon, it found its way into a suitcase packed with toothbrushes, yo-yos, crayons, nail polish, Bibles, and baby wipes, then boarded a plane bound for Malawi.

This month, Autumn flew to Africa on a mission trip that her family had long dreamed of taking together. The Nelons, that beloved pillar of Southern Gospel music, had talked about going. They had hoped to go as a family, the way the Nelons did most things, shoulder to shoulder, in harmony. But on Friday, July 26th, 2024, that future was taken from them in an instant. Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, Amber and Nathan Kistler, their assistant Melodi Hodges, pilot Larry Haynie, and his wife Melissa were all killed in a tragic plane crash while en route to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska. The Gospel music world went quiet in a way it rarely does.

And yet, here is Autumn, making the trip anyway.

She spent the past month doing what people who come from Gospel families know how to do when the world falls apart: she got to work. She fundraised. She bought supplies. She asked, and people gave. Toothbrushes and balls for the children. Coloring books and markers. Yo-yos, because joy matters. Diapers and wipes, because need is practical before it is anything else. Bibles, because that is the bedrock of everything the Nelons ever stood for.

It is hard not to see the weight of what she is carrying over there, and not just in the luggage. The mission trip The Nelons hoped to take together is now the mission trip Autumn is completing for them, and perhaps with them, in whatever way love persists after loss.

The Southern Gospel community, which rallied around the Nelon family in the devastating aftermath of the crash, is now rallying again. Prayers are going up across congregations and fan communities alike, asking that God uses Autumn in a mighty way on the red soil of Malawi, among the new friends she is only just beginning to meet.

There is a moment, somewhere in Malawi, where a child might pick up a yo-yo that a grieving young woman bought with money strangers gave her, in memory of a family that sang about heaven their whole lives. That child will not know any of this. They will just know the yo-yo, and the person who brought it, and the smile that crosses her face when they play.

Rhonda Nelon on the mend after two surgeries

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TEXAS GOSPEL VOLUNTEER

It has been nearly two weeks since gospel music favorite Rhonda Nelon first fell ill, and her family is now sharing an encouraging update with fans and supporters.

Rhonda underwent gallbladder surgery last week, followed by a second procedure shortly after. Both surgeries were successful, though the road to recovery has not been easy. Despite the positive outcomes, Rhonda faced a significant amount of pain in the days that followed.

Her husband, Todd Nelon, spoke on her behalf to let well-wishers know how she is doing. “For those asking, Rhonda is doing well after the surgeries and improving more and more each day,” he said. “It’s been a tough week, but God has been faithful, and she’s looking forward to seeing everyone soon. Thank you for all the prayers.”

The outpouring of support from fans clearly means a great deal to the family during this difficult time. By all accounts, Rhonda is moving in the right direction, and those who love her music and ministry can take comfort in knowing she is on the mend.

Autumn Nelon Streetman’s Journey to Parenthood

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AMY TURNER

Autumn Nelon Streetman and her husband Jamie are preparing to welcome their son Rhett into the world, and they recently shared a unique moment of mutual understanding about the physical challenges of pregnancy.

In a candid and lighthearted conversation, Autumn highlighted the often-overlooked difficulties women experience during pregnancy. Her experience inspired a creative demonstration to help her husband truly comprehend what she has been going through.

“You know, I feel like guys don’t really understand what women go through when you’re pregnant for nine months. Like I can’t bend down and tie my shoe. You know, I’m out of breath when I walk up 10 steps,” Autumn explained.

Determined to help Jamie understand her daily struggles, Autumn devised an innovative approach. With the help of a friend, she taped a 20-pound bag of flour to Jamie, challenging him to complete a series of workouts.

“And so I was like, you know what, Jamie? Let’s let you have a taste of what it’s like to carry around a baby for nine months,” she recounted. Surprisingly, Jamie performed remarkably well during the experiment.

As the couple anticipates the arrival of their son, their playful approach to understanding each other’s experiences demonstrates the power of empathy and communication in preparing for parenthood.

The community is invited to keep Autumn and Jamie in their prayers as they prepare to welcome their precious baby boy, Rhett, into the world.

Tragedy Strikes Beloved Gospel Music Family: Members of The Nelons Lost in Plane Crash

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Jeff Turner / Constance Scully

Texas Gospel Canada has learned of the deaths of Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, Amber and Nathan Kistler, and their assistant, Melodi Hodges who were involved in a plane crash Friday. The pilot, Larry Haynie, and his wife, Melissa, also died.

Autumn Nelon Streetman, who also performs with the Nelons, was not on board. She confirmed the death of her parents and sister on Instagram. She thanked fans for their “prayers, love, and support” hours after the fatal crash.

Gaither Management said the passengers were making their way to Seattle to join a cruise ship on which The Nelons were set to perform. A National Transportation Safety Board official said the crash happened around 1 p.m. Friday north of Gillette, Wyoming. Preliminary reports indicate the aircraft went down due to an “auto-pilot issue.”

The Nelons have been nominated for three Grammy awards and were inducted into the Gospel Music Association Hall of Fame in 2016.

A Statement from Gaither Management Group:

One of the best-loved Gospel music families in America, The Nelons were involved in a tragic, fatal plane crash on Friday afternoon on their way to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska. Killed in the crash were Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, Amber and Nathan Kistler, and their assistant, Melodi Hodges, along with the pilot, Larry Haynie, and his wife, Melissa. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident.

Autumn, Jason and Kelly’s youngest daughter, and her husband, Jamie Streetman, were not on the plane and arrived safely into Seattle and were notified of the accident. They were brought to the hotel where artists were gathered with Bill and Gloria Gaither to pray, sing, and embrace them in their grief, pledging to support them in whatever needs arise.

Autumn and Jamie will return home for now to Kelly’s brother, Todd Nelon, and his wife, Rhonda, to begin the hard tasks that lie ahead. Please keep them, the Kistler family, the Haynie family, and the family of Melodi Hodges in your prayers.

A Statement from Autumn Nelon Streetman:

As many of you have heard by now, my father and mother, Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, along with my sister, Amber, and brother-in-law, Nathan, as well as our dear friends Melodi Hodges, Larry, and Melissa Haynie, were involved in a tragic plane crash on Friday. Thank you for the prayers that have been extended already to me, my husband, Jamie, and our soon-to-be-born baby boy, as well as Jason’s parents, Dan and Linda Clark. We appreciate your continued prayers, love, and support as we navigate the coming days.

A Statement from Autumn Daywind Records:

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (July 27, 2024) One of America’s most cherished Gospel music families, The Nelons, was involved in a tragic plane crash on Friday afternoon. The family was en route to join the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska when the accident occurred. The crash claimed the lives of Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, their daughter Amber and son-in-law Nathan Kistler, their assistant Melodi Hodges, and the pilot Larry Haynie and his wife Melissa. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is currently investigating the accident.
 
Daywind Music Group’s Ed Leonard states, “The Daywind Music Group family is devastated by the news of the passing of several members of the Nelons in a plane crash on Friday. We pray that God’s peace and love cover the surviving member, Autumn Nelon Streetman, and her husband, Jamie, along with the Clark, Hodges, Kistler, and Haynie families, following the loss of Kelly Nelon Clark, Jason Clark, Amber Nelon Kistler, Nathan Kistler, and their close friends Melodi Hodges, Larry Haynie, and Melissa Haynie, who traveled with them on the flight. In this time of unimaginable grief for these families, we know that our beloved artist and their friends are in the arms of Jesus Christ whom the Nelons spent their entire careers singing about as they spread His Gospel around the world. We stand on His promises today as we grieve the loss of our precious Daywind family members.”

Autumn Nelon Streetman, the youngest member of the Nelons and daughter of Kelly Nelon Clark and Jason Clark, and Autumn’s husband, Jamie Streetman, were not on the plane and arrived safely in Seattle. They were notified of the accident and brought to the hotel where fellow artists, including Bill and Gloria Gaither, gathered to support them. The community joined together to pray, sing, and offer their heartfelt condolences, pledging unwavering support during this difficult time.

Autumn and Jamie will return home to be with Kelly’s brother, Todd Nelon, and his wife, Rhonda, as they begin to navigate the challenging days ahead. The Nelon family, along with the Kistler, Haynie, and Hodges families, need your thoughts and prayers.