Award winning Christian artist Steven Curtis Chapman has hit six different cities across the US over the last two weeks, touching the lives of fans with his family’s story of faith and perseverance.
The July 17 concert in Clarkston, Michigan, Chapman’s fourth since the tragic death of his daughter in May, had the crowd of about 2,500 “laughing and crying and praying and rocking, often at the same time", committee member Phil C Giesken told The Saginaw News.
"It's beyond expectations," Lori Chatten from Carol Stream, Illinois, said of the most recent Chapman concert, held last Thursday in Wheaton, Illinois.
She told the local Daily Herald that she was surprised at how openly Chapman discussed his family's struggles and pain over the last few months.
"It's a blessing that he shared that with us," she said.
Earlier this year, in May, Maria Sue Chapman, the Grammy-winning artist’s 5-year-old daughter, was accidentally struck and killed by a sports utility vehicle driven by one of her brothers as he was pulling out of the driveway of the family's home.
Maria, the Chapmans’ youngest daughter and one of three that had been adopted from China, had celebrated her fifth birthday less than ten days earlier.
Her tragic death triggered a massive outpouring of condolences and words of comfort for Chapman and his family.
In the first two weeks alone, thousands of people contributed over $310,000 toward Maria’s Miracle Fund, set up in honour of the girl. Additionally, over 19,000 people posted their prayers and condolences to the Chapman family on a blog site dedicated to Maria that is accessible from the ministry's website.
"Thank you so much for your prayers and your support. It's the reason my family is more than surviving, but sure how faithful and true our Redeemer is," Chapman said during Thursday’s concert, according to the Daily Herald.
While performing many of the classics that have won him five Grammys and 51 Dove awards, Chapman shared with the audience how much Maria's death had affected him - and his songs.
After performing "Yours", a song from his latest album, This Moment, Chapman said that he had to examine his beliefs and rediscover how much they still meant.
Chapman said in particular he “had to come to a new realisation” in the song “Yours”, which specifically addresses how everything belongs to God.
"There's not an inch of all creation that God doesn't look at and say 'all of that's mine'," he explained, according to the Herald. For the song “Yours”, Chapman had added a third verse that addresses life after Maria.
Paula Odom, executive director of the Mid Cities Pregnancy Center, told the Star-Telegram of Fort Worth, Texas, that Chapman is "a great family man”.
"The fact that he is still coming at this difficult time just shows what integrity he has. It speaks highly to his faith," Odom commented.
Culture
Faith shines as Steven Curtis Chapman returns to stage
By: Josh Kimball, Christian Post
Posted:
Sunday, 27 July 2008, 23:20 (MYT)
Sunday, 27 July 2008, 23:20 (MYT)
continue to read > 1 | 2
Copyright © 2006 Christian Today. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Top Stories
Culture Headline
