Young Church Leader Killed in Crash on Way to Honeymoon Less Than 24 Hours After Wedding
Less than 24 hours after celebrating the wedding of their young adult leader, Jordan Costa, 21, members of a Canton, Mich., church were floored with heartache after they got news that he was killed in a car crash en route to a honeymoon with his new 21-year-old bride, Heather Favazza-Costa.
In an earlier report, David Stephens, associate pastor of Connection Church, where the couple got married last Saturday, said they were on their way to Myrtle Beach, S.C., when the deadly crash took place. Favazza-Costa was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.
Before the accident, according to Stephens, the couple had exchanged heartfelt vows in chapel packed with family and friends.
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"There had to be eight or nine people on each side standing up with them, great friends," said Stephens. "The chapel was packed and full of people. ... Just full of celebration. A very excited and joyous occasion."
But that bliss quickly turned into a nightmare delivered in the form of a heart wrenching statement from Rocky Barra, the pastor of Connection Church who had officiated at the couple's blissful event.
"I was called out of our first service on Sunday to find out that Heather and Jordan were in a terrible car crash while they were driving south for their honeymoon. Toward the end of the second service, I received the horrible news that Jordan had died. They had been married for less than 24 hours. Thankfully, and miraculously, Heather had no broken bones," wrote Barra.
"This is very difficult for me to share with you. On Saturday, I was so very honored to officiate the wedding ceremony of Jordan Costa and Heather Favazza. Heather has, literally, grown up in our church. Nancy and I dedicated her as a baby, watched her grow through her teenage years, and become the beautiful bride she was on Saturday," he noted.
"Jordan Costa has been a huge part of our youth ministry. He was a youth leader, and was the facilitator of our college & career ministry. He was definitely a handsome groom, with his family in attendance from his home out east," he added.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol noted that Costa was driving southbound in a Ford Escape on I-77 in Tuscarawas County when he lost control of the vehicle. The car careened into the median, hit an embankment and flipped over a number of times crossing into northbound lanes. They couple were wearing seatbelts and alcohol did not appear to be a factor.
According to information on Connection Church's facebook page, a memorial service will be held for Costa at the Church on Saturday May 25 starting at 11 a.m.
