Wreckage from a small place appears on a field off of CR 462 Tuesday afternoon outside Yoakum. — Victoria Advocate/screen shot from actionnews5.com
YOAKUM, Texas — A plane crash in Lavaca County, Texas, Jan. 17, killed four members of Harvest Church, Germantown, and left the pastor in critical condition. The crash occurred near the Yoakum Municipal Airport, between Houston and San Antonio.
Among those killed were Bill Garner, the church’s executive pastor, along with elders Steve Tucker Tyler Patterson and Tyler Springer. Lead pastor Kennon Vaughn was reported in stable but critical condition in an undisclosed Texas hospital.
On Wednesday, Jan. 18, Harvest Church posted on its website: “We rejoice this morning in God’s goodness. Kennon is breathing on his own and has been able to communicate some through writing. The latest reports from the doctors are all positive. Kennon is currently at one of the top trauma centers in the country and we are so thankful for God’s provision. Kennon still needs to have some surgeries to repair injuries to his abdomen so please continue to pray for a full recovery.
KTRK Television in Houston reported Jan. 17 that a small plane crashed around 11 a.m. between Houston and San Antonio. The station reported that state troopers said the plane went down about a mile from Yoakum Municipal Airport. The cause of the crash is under investigation, according to KTRK.
Harvest Church opened its doors on the night of the crash and the next morning so church members could grieve together, said Danny Sinquefield, Harvest Field 1 team leader for the Tennessee Baptist Mission Board.
Sinquefield knew those involved in the crash and is especially close with the pastor. “Kennon is so highly respected and loved in this area. I count him as a close friend,” he said.
Sinquefield noted that Harvest Baptist was Vaughn’s first pastorate. He started the church with about 100 people and it has grown to nearly 1,000 members. The church shares the facility of Forest Hills Baptist Church in Germantown, he added.
Vaughn also is the president and founder of Downline Ministries in Memphis. It’s stated missions “is to encourage restoration of biblical discipleship in and through the local church by equipping men and women to know God’s Word and make disciples.”
Sinquefield noted that Garner was successful businessman in Memphis before he joined the staff of Harvest Church as executive pastor. “He also was well loved and respected in the area,” he added.
He also knew Steve Tucker, who owned the plane that crashed. “He was a longtime leader and former member of Bellevue Baptist Church before he left to help with Harvest Church. He was a great community leader,” Sinquefield said.
Sinquefield said the entire Memphis area is grieving the loss of the four men in addition to their church. “It’s a great tragedy. “Pray for the families and for Keenon.” B&R