Gentry Eddings, who lost two young children when a truck ploughed into the back of the family's stationary car, told an 800-strong congregation at their funeral that he and his wife have forgiven the driver responsible.

Eddings, a worship pastor at Forest Hill Church in Charlotte, North Carolina, was driving a car towing the family caravan when the truck driven by Matthew Deans ploughed into the back of the separate car driven by his wife Hadley. Their two-year-old son Dobbs was killed and Hadley, who was eight months pregnant, was injured. The baby, Reed, was delivered by emergency Caesarian section but died two days later.

The Charlotte Observer reported that Eddings said: "We have, in our hearts, forgiven the man who did this. It was not the easiest thing to do, but in some ways it was because we know – Hadley and I – that Jesus Christ has forgiven us our debt... So in some ways, it was very easy to forgive a man who made an accident."

Eddings called on the family, friends and other mourners at the service to also forgive Deans "and forgive anyone in your life who you hold anything against".

He also shared memories of Dobbs, telling the congregation of how the little boy loved to dance and clap, and spoke of the couple's time with Reed after he was delivered.

He told the congregation that he and Hadley had taught Dobbs words from the 46th Psalm: "Be still, and know that I am God." He recalled that on the day before the accident, as was preparing to preside over his sister's beachside wedding and "things were a little hectic", "It was then that Dobbs's sweet voice spoke up with a timely reminder. He said, 'Be still. And know that I am God.'"

He said of Reed: "We were able to spend precious moments with him, holding him in our arms before he went to be with his brother in heaven."

In his sermon, the couple's pastor Dave Chadwick referred to the story Jesus weeping at the death of his close friend Lazarus. "Jesus hated death," he said. "He hated what it had done to ransack his father's once-perfect world."

But, he added, the promise of heaven means that this world and its pain are not the end.

"I believe, Gentry and Hadley, with all my heart, that you'll see your boys again," their pastor said. "I believe... that Reed and Dobbs Eddings have never been more alive than they are right now."

A GoFundMe page set up for the family has raised more than $193,000; more than 3,300 people have contributed.