November is National Adoption Awareness Month. Adoption is a topic that has long been near to my heart. It is also near and dear to the heart of multiple Grammy and Dove Award-winning artist, Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife, New York Times best-selling author, Mary Beth.
November is National Adoption Awareness Month. Adoption is a topic that has long been near to my heart. It is also near and dear to the heart of multiple Grammy and Dove Award-winning artist, Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife, New York Times best-selling author, Mary Beth.
Many of you will know Steven Curtis via his music. He has enjoyed a storied and successful music career spanning 3 decades and giving us many unforgettable musical memories along the way. What you may not be as familiar with is the story of how he, his lovely wife Mary Beth, and their family came to adopt 3 precious girls from China (Shaohannah, Stevey-Joy, and Maria), and how those adoptions were the catalyst for the creation of Show Hope, their non-profit organization producing adoption grants, advocacy and care services to many thousands of families. Through their work with Show Hope, the Chapman family are on a mission to care for orphans by engaging the church and helping children come home to families by reducing the barriers to adoption.
I recently had the honor of speaking with Steven Curtis, Mary Beth, and their biological daughter Emily Chapman Richards, who was recently named Executive VP of Show Hope. We spoke at length about the Chapmans’ own adoption journey, what they’ve learned along the way, the highs and lows that many adoptive families experience, and the work they are doing through Show Hope. You can listen to the complete interview in the podcast player above.
Adoption can be a subject that many look on with either excitement, trepidation or endless questions.
What will our kids think of us adopting?
How can we afford this?
Can I love my adopted child as much as my biological child?
What if the child has issues we aren’t ready to handle?
How can we be sure this decision is right for us?