Charlotte pastor, wife who lost sons in crash speak at Gardner-Webb

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C. — A Ballantyne pastor and his wife spoke publicly for the first time about losing their two boys in a tragic car accident.

Forest Hill Church pastor Gentry Eddings, and his wife Hadley opened up to nearly 800 students at Gardner-Webb University Tuesday morning. They shared a powerful moment just days before the accident that would change their lives forever.

[Charlotte pastor, wife who lost sons in crash to speak at Gardner-Webb]

“Our sweet little two-year old boy looked at us and said, ‘Be still and know that I am God. Psalm 46:10,’” Hadley told the crowd. “Little did we know that would be a moment and a verse that would carry us through a lot of heartache.”

The Eddings spoke in detail about the crash in May of 2015 that claimed the lives of their two-year old son, Dobbs, and their newborn son, Reed.

[PHOTOS of the Eddings family]

“Words cannot describe the grief that we felt,” Gentry said.

They talked about the power of forgiveness and finding peace after forgiving the driver who caused the crash.

“That was an important step in our journey,” Gentry told the audience.

The couple’s overall message was about relying on their faith, to get them through difficult times.

“God works through our suffering. It’s not just praise God when he’s good, praise God in the bad too and also just seeing His goodness through the rough, tough times too,” Hadley told Channel 9 after the seminar.

Students told Channel 9 they took away an important message from the emotional testimony.

“No matter what you’re going through, the Lord is always going to be there with you,” sophomore Samantha Ledford said.

Read our past coverage:

• Man charged in death of Charlotte pastor's 2 children chastised by judge
• More than 700 luminaries lit to honor 2 boys killed in crash
• Service held for toddler, newborn killed in weekend crash
• Driver faces more charges in death of toddler, newborn
• Community supports family after toddler, baby killed in crash
• Area toddler killed after truck hits pregnant mom's vehicle
• Driver pleads guilty in deaths of Charlotte pastor's 2 children
• Charlotte pastor, wife expecting twins after losing sons in 2015 crash

Gentry and Hadley ended their speech with a worship song that includes a verse about beauty from ashes; what they call a metaphor for their journey. Next week, they’ll find out the sex of the twins they’re expecting this summer.

“Our goal for sure is these babies would know who their big brothers are and know all about them,” Hadley said, adding she and Gentry talk about Dobbs and Reed all the time.

This Sunday, Dobbs would have been 4-years old. Gentry and Hadley plan to bake a birthday cake and release four balloons. They’ll do the same for Reed on the anniversary of the crash in May, which is when he was born.

"We have such a strong faith in God and we have been so comforted and so strengthened and given so much peace by Him during this time that we just want other people to know that too," Hadley said.

Last month, the Eddings announced that Hadley was pregnant with twins.

The two made the big announcement during a church service last month and also on the Prayers for the Eddings Family Facebook page. They thanked the community for their support during the difficult moment in their lives.

(Gentry & Hadley's Announcement from Tyler Carson on Vimeo)

[LINK: Gardner-Webb to host couple who understands forgiveness]

Cox Media Group