GOODlife Magazine June 2017

thinking, ‘Hey I just need to fix whatever is wrong in this, go to the right counselor
if need be, read the right book, pray harder….‘ And you begin to realize that
these are two broken people that bring all this [their individual problems] into
a marriage, and yeah, you continue to try and make better those things that are
broken. But there’s a reality that until heaven, it’s not all going to be fixed. And
it was like, what do you do with that, how do you live with that, how do you keep
going in that reality?” Steven further explains about “getting involved with and into
the world of adoption, entering into that space of seeing brokenness for so many
children globally; the losing of our youngest daughter, and the ‘unfixable-ness’ of that—
all of those places are where God has made himself the most real, and I’ve experienced
him in the most changeable ways. And I hope that by sharing my journey that it will
encourage people in the ‘unfixable’ places in their lives.”
Looking back at your past can also refocus you on where you are wanting to go—
contemplating the dreams God has placed on your heart and remembering the
reasons for which you press on in those areas. For Steven and his family, reflecting
back, they see God’s hand in their lives as they sought to step into facing the
global issue of orphans and to become a voice for the many who don’t have
that voice. Steven’s wife Mary Beth often says, “Not everyone is called to
adopt, but everyone is called to do something.” And that is the heart of
Show Hope, the non-profit organization the Chapmans founded back
in 2003 to help give grants to those who want to adopt but cannot
financially afford to do so. They developed a great passion for breaking
down barriers between waiting children and loving families. The
Chapmans themselves adopted three children from China—
Shaohannah, Stevey Joy, and the late Maria—who were welcomed
with open arms by Steven and Mary Beth’s biological children Emily,
Caleb, and Will. Now grown and with a family of her own, Emily,
who was the one who had prompted her parents to adopt in the first
place, was just named Vice President and Assistant Executive Director
of Show Hope on May 8 of this year.
While Show Hope will continue to receive much of the Chapmans’
time and attention, Steven has made a personal commitment not to
step into too many new ventures going forward. This decision came after
looking back over the recent few years and realizing how busy his schedule
had become, running from one project to the next. He wants to be more
intentional about his time with his family, particularly in spending time with
his wife. As he has learned through this process, reflecting on our past allows us
to see not only where we want our priorities to be, but allows us to step back and
evaluate how well our actions are lining up with those desires, so we then can make the
necessary changes for our future.
“There’s a lot driven in us to worry about, think about, and plan for the future. And certainly
that is something that is important as human beings and believers on this journey, but I think
that there is something really important about remembering.” Steven’s hope is that people will
gain insights from his own journey, but also that through looking back at their own past, they
will be able to recall and then retell the stories of God’s faithfulness in their own lives.
For Steven’s full story and more insights in light of his experiences
and testimonies of God’s faithfulness, be sure to grab a copy of
Between Heaven & the Real World in stores or online.
For more information
about Show Hope, visit
ShowHope.org