Surviving Member of the Nelons Puts Her Trust in God
By Movieguide® Contributor
The only surviving member of the Nelons, a gospel-singing group, is leaning on her faith following the tragic deaths of the rest of the family.
Jason and Kelly Nelon Clark, their daughter, Amber Nelon Kistler, and her husband, Nathan Kistler died in a plane crash on July 26 while traveling to the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska. Pilots Larry and Melissa Haynie and the music ensemble’s assistant, Melodi Hodges, also died in the crash.
During a celebration of life held at Georgia’s Roopville Road Baptist Church, the Nelons’ surviving daughter and sister, Autumn Nelon Streetman, spoke about her grief.
“I do believe that God gives us something that’s worth trusting, and that is Him and Him alone,” Streetman said. “In a matter of three minutes, my entire life changed. My precious family, my friends, my livelihood — gone, with no warning.”
She also spoke about her sadness that the baby boy she is pregnant with “will never know his family on this side of heaven.”
Streetman continued, “Every day, I’ve asked God why this happened, and then I’m reminded that He told us, ‘In this world we would have trouble.’ So, I changed my, ‘Why’ into, ‘Then, what now, God? How do you get the glory in the midst of this tragedy?’ My choice is to trust Him fully.”
“God has entrusted me with a legacy to carry on,” she concluded. “And I will seek His will and guidance.”
In a statement Streetman shared following the crash, she wrote, “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.”
Fox News reported that the National Transportation Safety Board noted an “autopilot issue during flight” that might have been the cause of the crash, but the investigation is still ongoing.
Movieguide® previously reported on the Nelons’ crash:
Three members of the family Gospel group The Nelons died during a plane crash that occurred last Friday.
The crash took the lives of Kelly Nelon Clark, her husband Jason Clark and their daughter Amber Nelon Kistler who were headed to the Gaither Homecoming Cruise to Alaska. The small plane went down near Recluse, Wyoming, according to The National Transportation Safety Board, though an investigation into the crash has yet to occur due to the remote location and first responders being preoccupied with a nearby forest fire.
Gaither Music also lamented to loss of the three Nelons and the hole that their passing will leave in the Gospel community.
“One of the best loved Gospel music families in America, The Nelons were involved in a tragic, fatal plane crash on Friday afternoon…” Gaither Music wrote. “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.”
For their work in Gospel music, the Nelons have multiple Grammy nominations and were inducted into the Gospel Music Hall of Fame in 2016.
Please keep Autumn and her family in your prayers as they navigate this difficult time.
