At approximately 5:30pm (EST) on Wednesday, May 21, 2008, the youngest adopted daughter from China of longtime award-winning Christian singer/songwriter Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth, was struck in the driveway of their Williamson County, Tennessee home and later died at a nearby hospital. The young girl, who recently graduated from preschool, was reportedly playing in the driveway as one of Chapman’s teenage sons accidently backed into her with the family vehicle: a Toyota Land Cruiser suburban utility vehicle. Maria was airlifted by Lifeflight to Vanderbilt Children’s hospital, where doctors tried urgently to save her life. Unfortunately, the severity of her injuries was too great.
Maria is the youngest of three girls the Chapman family has adopted from China. The other two daughters are oldest Shaohannah and second oldest Stevey Joy. Many followers of Chapman’s career and music have known Shaohannah to be the subject of a line of popular children’s books, as well as the topic of some of Chapman’s most recently renowned songs, such as “Cinderella.” Their oldest biological daughter, Emily, who is recently engaged, played an instrumental role in encouraging parents Steven and Mary Beth to adopt children from China over five years ago. Chapman subsequently established the Shaohannah’s Hope Ministry, with the goal of helping families “reduce the financial barrier of adoption.” The Ministry has provided grants to over 1700 families to date (www.stevencurtischampan.com) and given loving homes to children who so desperately need them.
Associated Content has issued a claim for content for anyone willing to brief readers on the tragedy as well as write on their similar experiences and offer at least five tips for the Chapman family on how to deal with this unfortunate event. With all due respect to AC and readers who have endured similar experiences, Steven Curtis Chapman is in need of no advice on how to grieve and is more grounded in his faith and relationship with Christ than most readers will be aware of. The Chapman family should be left to grieve in their own way. Chapman’s 1992 album release entitled “For the Sake of the Call” contains the song “Higher Ways.” The chorus of the song says, “Your higher ways teach me to trust You. Your higher ways are not like mine. Your higher ways are the ways of the Father, hiding His children in His love.” The song is based on Isaiah 55:9, which reads, “For just as the heavens are higher than the Earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts higher than your thoughts.” (New Living Translation) Chapman is indeed enduring one of the greatest hardships imaginable and the prayers of his friends, family and fans around the world are with him.
Due to the tragedy and funeral preparations, Chapman will not appear for his scheduled May 24th concert. Another artist, the name of which has not yet been released, is slated to take his place. Chapman has been recording contemporary Christian music since 1989 and is the winner of five Grammy Awards and holds fifty-four Dove Awards. He has sold over ten millions albums and holds over forty-four number one singles. (www.stevencurtischapman.com) Instead of flowers, the family is asking that contributions be made to Shaohannah’s Hope, which can be accessed online at www.shaohannahshope.org.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord, “They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.” Jeremiah 29:11 (New Living Translation)
