Sad Night In Nashville - Steven Curtis Chapman

[CC1]

I just found out that Nashville Gospel music singer Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter was killed in a tragic accident.

Maria, age 5, was run over in the driveway of their rural home by her teenage brother as he was leaving the home.

The Chapman's are big proponents of international adoptions and three of their six children are girls from China, including Maria.

Maria was life flighted by helicopter to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

I can't even imagine what Mr. & Mrs. Chapman are going through right now and especially the teenage brother who accidently ran over his sister.

Let's please remember them all in our prayers.

[LaGirl]

Daughter of gospel star hit, killed by car
Published: 5/21/08, 11:25 PM EDT
By JOE EDWARDS
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - The 5-year-old daughter of contemporary Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother, authorities said.

The girl, Maria, was hit in a driveway on the family residence Wednesday afternoon by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by her teenage brother, said Laura McPherson, a spokesman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.

McPherson said no charges are expected.

"It looks like a tragic accident," she said.

She said several members of the Chapman family witnessed the accident, which happened in Williamson County just south of Nashville.

The brother apparently did not see the little girl, McPherson said. She did not have the name or exact age of the brother, only that he is an older teenager.

The girl died later at Vanderbilt Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Laurie Holloway said.

Chapman, originally from Paducah, Ky., and his wife have promoted international adoption and have three daughters from China, including Maria.

Chapman has won five Grammy awards and 51 Dove awards from the Gospel Music Association.

The singer's Web site said that Chapman and his wife, Mary Beth, were persuaded by their oldest daughter to adopt a girl from China. The experience led the family to adopt two more children and create Shaohannah's Hope, a foundation and ministry to financially assist thousands of couples in adoption.

The Chapmans did missionary work at Chinese orphanages in 2006 and 2007, according to the Web site.

"After our first trip to China, my wife and I knew our lives were changing - our eyes and hearts were opening to how big God really is, and we have wanted to experience more of that," Chapman says on the Web site. "We've really wondered whether or not we should just go to China and stay there. But I don't think so. I believe God is saying, 'I want you to go, get your heart broken, your eyes opened, and then take this story back to the church in America and around the world.'"

Chapman also has released a book about being a father entitled "Cinderella: The Love of Daddy and his Princess."

[Sister Alvear]

praying for all involved...so tragic...

[Cindy]

It is a tragedy, will be praying for this family.

[Hoovie]

I can't even let my mind go there... this is so sad.

[Kay B]

Praying for all this family.

[Steve Epley]

How sad praying.

[CC1]

Let me head 1Corinth2v4 off at the pass by stating upfront that Steven Curtis Chapman is Church of Christ so don't even ask if you happen across this thread.

[HeavenlyOne]

How sad for this family.

[MawMaw]

So sorry to hear of this heartbreaking news. :(

Praying for that family.

[Rhoni]

I can't even let my mind go there... this is so sad.

Me either, but I will breathe a prayer.

[Monkeyman]

This is so sad, we were going to do a bit on today's morning show on how his one daughter just got engaged and how fitting for his song, Cinderella...and I awoke to this news, I haven't even reported it yet because it is so heart-wrenching.

[Monkeyman]

I just played his song, God Is God (God is God and I am not)....man, questions for Heaven!!!

[MrsMcD]

I can't even imagine. I pray God wraps his loving arms around this family.

[tamor]

This is so sad, we were going to do a bit on today's morning show on how his one daughter just got engaged and how fitting for his song, Cinderella...and I awoke to this news, I haven't even reported it yet because it is so heart-wrenching.

I think he has released a Cinderella book also, if I heard the news right. I just heard this earlier this morning and my heart cries for the family.

I, like some of the others who have already posted don't even want to go there in my mind.

[Ferd]

Tragic. praying for this family.

[PastorRobbieB]

As a father and grandfather, myself, I cannot begin to even fathom the grief and pain that this family must be in today. May the love, strength and peace of God be with them right now during this extremely dark time. God is faithful!

[Tina]

I will be praying for this family.

[rgcraig]

Terribly sad.

This even made national news this morning.

[shag]

This is so terrible. His song "I'll dance with cinderella" is my ring tone. My daughter and I "cinderella and prince " dance all the time. I just can't imagine the pain he feels thru this tragedy. I'll be praying for his family, and his future. Let the comforter comfort.

[SDG]

Devastating. Will also breathe a prayer.

[determined]

Asking the Peace Speaker to hold this family during this raging storm.

[Ron]

This is terrible. Will be praying.

[StillStanding]

This is so tragic on so many levels. I can't fathom the heartache this family must be going through right now. Lord, shelter this family in your arms today and this week!

[Ron]

http://www.stevencurtischapman.com/
http://chapmanchannel.typepad.com/inmemoryofmaria/

If you go to his website there is a pic of the family & if you go to another page, there is a tribute to Maria the daughter who died.
He has a silly video of him Maria and another daughter goofing around.

It is neat that he adopted these girls.

Tragic.

[dizzyde]

This is horrible. I am so sad for this family, but most of all for this teenage boy. What a horrible thing to have to carry with you, he will need much prayer and support.

[Scott Hutchinson]

How tragic indeed.

[Barb]

I just found out that Nashville Gospel music singer Steven Curtis Chapman's youngest daughter was killed in a tragic accident.

Maria, age 5, was run over in the driveway of their rural home by her teenage brother as he was leaving the home.

The Chapman's are big proponents of international adoptions and three of their six children are girls from China, including Maria.

Maria was life flighted by helicopter to Vanderbilt Children's Hospital where she was pronounced dead.

I can't even imagine what Mr. & Mrs. Chapman are going through right now and especially the teenage brother who accidently ran over his sister.

Let's please remember them all in our prayers.Oh how tragic...they are certainly in my prayers...

[Blubayou]

So- Sad- Praying for this family.

[Sherri]

I'm so sad about this!! He has always been one of my favorite singers; what a tragedy for his family.

[Mrs. LPW]

God be with them during this awful time.

[COOPER]

This is so sad.... so very sad.

Praying.

........I have a teen age boy starting to drive and a almost 4 year old adopted little girl.

This is haunting me.