More On Maria's Miracle Fund

In the 27 days since Maria Sue Chapman died, the Maria's Miracle Fund, as of noon today, has received just over a half a million dollars in donations.

In the past, Shaohannah's Hope gave grants of $3,000 per family toward defraying some of the enormous expenses associated with adoption. Think of how many more children will now have their forever families, due to the generosity of so many.

Yes, there can be beauty from ashes...

Maria's Miracle Fund

Three weeks ago today, Steven Curtis Chapman lost his youngest daughter, Maria, in a tragic accident at the family home. Truly, God sometimes works in ways we may not always understand, but there can be blessings in spite of great tragedy. From the death of one little girl has come hope, now, for many more children to be placed in "forever families". Please continue to keep the Chapman family in your prayers.

WITH MUCH GRATITUDE, FROM SHAOHANNAH’S HOPE - Maria’s Miracle Fund

June 10, 2008 – Nashville, TN – Shaohannah’s Hope, the adoption and orphan care ministry founded by Steven and Mary Beth Chapman, would like to extend their deepest gratitude for the generosity of prayers as well as donations offered upon the memory of Maria Sue Chapman. The enormous response has been truly overwhelming, it has not gone unnoticed, and is so graciously appreciated.

Scott Hasenbalg, the ministry’s Executive Director, states, “People have not just been praying for the Chapman family, but crying out to God for them and their healing.” On behalf of the staff of Shaohannah’s Hope, which is based in Franklin, Tennessee, Hasenbalg continues, “While we don’t comprehend God’s ways all the time, we have a deeper sense of our responsibility to carry out the mission that began more than five years ago. We are committed to working hard together as a team to be a good steward of the support that has been poured into this ministry. We are filled with sadness for this tragedy, but also gratitude to all who has responded with their love, prayers and support.”

As previously reported, the Chapman family has requested that in lieu of flowers, donations can be given in memory of Maria to Shaohannah’s Hope Maria's Miracle Fund. In less than two weeks, thousands of you have responded and over $425,000 has been raised in honor of Maria. Thanks to the generosity of these donations, the ministry of Shaohannah’s Hope continues to give hope and support to orphans around the world to find forever families. In the coming days, more information will be announced regarding the donations offered towards Maria’s Miracle Fund. There is much hope during this time of sadness.

Please continue to keep the Chapman family and the Shaohannah’s Hope ministry and staff in your prayers.

How to donate - Visit: http://www.showhope.org/ Or by mail: Shaohannah's Hope, c/o Maria's Miracle Fund, PO Box 647, Franklin TN, 37065

Maria Sue Chunxi Chapman May 13, 2003 - May 21, 2008

As the mother of a daughter adopted from China, I was in tears at the news that singer Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter, Maria Sue, 5, had died. Maria had celebrated her fifth birthday less than 10 days before the tragic accident that took her life.

Steven and his wife adopted Maria from China in 2004. Her family has asked that donations be made to Shaohannah's Hope, Maria's Miracle Fund(http://www.shaohannahshope.org/), an organization they founded after the adoption of their daughter, Shaohannah, to provide grants to families wishing to adopt.

I found this quote from the author George MacDonald on another site. Truer words were never spoken:

“Sometimes a thunderbolt will shoot from a clear sky; and sometimes in the life of a peaceful family, without warning of gathered storm, something terrible will fall. And from that moment everything seems changed. That family is no more exactly what it was before. Better it ought to be, damaged it may be.

“The result depends on the family itself and its response to the invading storm of trouble. Forever after, its spiritual weather is altered. But for the family who believes in God, such rending and frightful catastrophes never come but where they are turned around for good in that family’s life and in other lives they touch.”

Maria's funeral was this morning. Please keep the Chapman family in your prayers, now and in the days ahead, as they move forward in life without their darling daughter.