This weeks Spotlight: Steven Curtis Chapman

I thought Perhaps once a week I could find a positive Spotlight article, in relation to abortion/adoption. This article comes from AGAPE PRESS.

CCM's Steven Curtis Chapman Shares His Heart for Adoption

It really was no surprise when earlier this year, the five-time Grammy
award winning Christian contemporary artist Steven Curtis
Chapman played to a sold out concert hall at Continental Airlines Arena in
East Rutherford, NJ. He's sold over nine million records in his career with one
album certified platinum and two certified gold.

What might have been a surprise to some concert-goers, however, was
Chapman's repeated emphasis on adoption during the concert. It's a theme he has
threaded through many of his newer songs such as, "What Now?" and "When Love
Takes You In."

But his passionate advocacy for adoption is much more than material for a
few hit songs. It's a way of life for the Chapman family.

In addition to their three biological children, the oldest of whom
attends Baylor University in Waco, Texas, they have adopted three orphan girls
from China. "I've been buying diapers and formula for the past 18 years," he
said jokingly at his concert at West Point Military Academy in West Point, NY,
on April 2 during a 15-minute heart-to-heart chat with the audience between
sets.

Chapman uses his concerts to foster awareness about adoption and to raise
money for Shaohannah's Hope, the adoption foundation he and his wife, Mary Beth, started several years ago. Named after their first adopted daughter, Shaohannah's Hope was created to offer financial assistance by providing grants ranging from $2,500 to $5,000 to families who were willing to adopt but could not afford the expenses involved....

My wife and I were among the 20 or so volunteers who manned several booths
at the February 26 concert in East Rutherford. We worked the booth at the main
entrance to the concert hall. Before the concert and during intermission,
interested people thronged around us to learn more about adoption. Many were
also eager to make a donation. Some joined the Stevey Joy Club, named after the
Chapman's second adopted daughter, by pledging $20 monthly for a year. Others
gave a one-time gift. One person handed me a check for $2,500.

Chris and Stacy Garrison are beneficiaries of Shaohannah's Hope. They
received a $2,000 grant towards the adoption of their daughter. They are hoping
to travel to China this summer.

The Garrisons are on the ministerial staff at the Madison Avenue Baptist
Church in Paterson, NJ. They were also among the volunteers at the East
Rutherford concert. "We were thrilled at the opportunity to work at one of the
booths," they told me. "Just think, we have a chance to make a difference in the
life of a Chinese orphan we may never meet until we get to heaven."

To date, Chapman's "All Things New" tour has raised almost $2 million
towards the goal of $2.5 million. But the goal of Shaohannah's Hope is more than
simply taking money from the generous and redistributing it to the needy. Chapman is also interested in creating a desire in the hearts of
concert-goers to examine the question of adoption for themselves and their own
families....

Chapman describes adoption as "a perfect picture of what God has done for each of us in making us His children through Christ." He's on solid biblical footing. In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul describes a Christian's relationship to God as an
"adoption, as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of
His will."

Chapman has bigger plans for the future. There's talk of his foundation
possibly building a clinic in China for special-needs orphans. And he's trying
to gain more exposure among the Chinese people. "He's learning Mandarin,"
Hasenbalg says. "A friend of his is helping translate some of his songs into
Chinese. Steven is hoping to be invited to play at the 2008 Olympics in
Beijing."

Explains Chapman: "When Mary Beth and I adopted our daughter,
Shaohannah, we realized that it was only through obeying God's gentle call on
our lives that we were able to experience His blessings and goodness in this
miraculous way. We can honestly say it is through adopting Shaohannah, Stevey
Joy, and Maria Sue that we have truly seen the face of Jesus."

Besides Enjoying Stevens music, I have a more profound respect for a man and his wife who opentheir hearts and their doors to child who need a home.

A view at Shaohannah's Hope. A simple Website, with Pictures of his Family, news of upcoming events, a link for Donations, links about adoptions and information and resources pertaining to, Uplifting "Miracle" Stories, The perspective coming of a newsletter. Their mission Statement..

"Mission Statement To care for orphans by
engaging the church and helping Christian families reduce the financial barrier
to adoption.We are dedicated to helping prospective adoptive parents overcome
the financial barriers associated with
adoption. "

Why Not Visit Shaohannah's Hope. If The LORD puts it on your heart to make a small donation please do so. China's one child policy has left many babies abandoned and orphaned.