A car crash in southern Indiana July 23 claimed the life of a husband and father of four who was also a Master of Divinity student at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Wade Alan Stephenson, 42, was struck near Posey Chapel Road and Kansas Church Road in Fredericksburg, Indiana, when another vehicle drove through the intersection, according to a news release from the Washington County Sheriff’s Department. Emergency responders airlifted Stephenson to University of Louisville Hospital, where he died shortly after arrival.
“The Southern Seminary family is heartbroken over the death of Wade Stephenson and our hearts and prayers are with Becca, their three precious girls, and their son, just about to be born,” said Southern Seminary President R. Albert Mohler Jr. “We are thankful for Wade’s life and witness, and we pray that his family will know the peace from Christ that passes all understanding. We are stunned by this tragedy and are reminded all over again that our only hope — and our certain hope — is found in the gospel of Christ.”
Stephenson, a member of Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville, began taking classes at Southern Seminary in August 2014. Southern Seminary hosted a July 26 memorial service in Heritage Hall to honor his life with his family, Sovereign Grace members, and the seminary community.
“The sheer weight of resurrection hope at Wade’s memorial service was palpable,” said Jeremy Pierre, dean of students and associate professor of biblical counseling at Southern Seminary. “This was a man who proclaimed Christ with his life so clearly that others knew they simply had to proclaim Christ with his passing. His family, his church, and his friends are a living testimony to his faith. We are honored to have such students at Southern Seminary.”
Stephenson is survived by his wife of 12 years, Becca, their three daughters and soon-to-be-born son. A GoFundMe page to support the Stephenson family has raised more than $41,000 since it was posted July 24. Donations can also be made to Sovereign Grace Church of Louisville, Memo: Stephenson Memorial Fund, 303 N. Hurstbourne Pkwy Suite 160, Louisville, KY 40222.
Stephenson worked as a piano technician and graduated from Salem High School (1990) and Indiana University Southeast (1999). He was laid to rest July 27 following a graveside ceremony at Mount Eden Cemetery in Scottsburg, Indiana.