UPDATED BELOW
Maria Sue Chapman, the 5-year-old adopted daughter of contemporary Christian music superstar Steven Curtis Chapman, died in an accident at the family home in Franklin, Tenn. yesterday. According to a press release:
"At approximately 5pm on the afternoon of Wednesday May 21st, Maria Sue Chapman, 5 years old and the youngest daughter to Steven and Mary Beth Chapman was struck in the driveway of the Chapman home in Franklin, TN. Maria was rushed to Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital in Nashville, transported by LifeFlight, but died of her injuries there. Maria is one of the close knit family’s six children and one of their three adopted daughters."Click here for the story from The Tennessean in Nashville.
Chapman is a Paducah native who attended Georgetown College before moving to Nashville. The Chapman's have been outspoken advocates for adoption. In a 2005 interview Chapman told me he promoted adoption because it was like, "You just had an amazing experience -- you've read a great book or seen an incredible movie -- and you want to tell everyone you care about, 'You've got to see this. This will deeply affect you. This will enrich your life and make your life fuller and richer.'
"Adoption has been that for us. Getting involved in the lives of orphans and bringing some of them into our family, or helping other families to do that and watching how it has blessed them and made their lives richer has been one of our great joys as a family."
My wife tells me that while she was driving in to work this morning, a caller to Air 1 dedicated Third Day's Cry Out to Jesus to the Chapmans -- an appropriate selection for a family that will need lots of prayer in the coming weeks and months.
UPDATES:
~ In lieu of flowers, the Chapman family has asked that donations be made to the Shaohannah's Hope Ministry, which promotes and helps facilitate the adoption of orphans.
~ To leave condolences and see a video of Maria, visit the Chapman's blog.
GodBless you all at this time-the prayers of so many are with each member of your family as you go through this heartbreak-
Posted by: Diane Hawkins | May 23, 2008 at 09:47 PM