Steven Curtis Chapman-- Persevering through the hard times and obstacles in our lives can make or break us.
With
scheduled to headline
May 18 and 19 at Point Mallard in Decatur, it’s hard not to think about the hard times he and his family have survived.
In case you are new to Christian music or haven’t heard the story, the Chapmans lost their 5-year-old daughter, Maria, in 2008 after an accident in their own driveway.
Stats on couples and families show that the loss of child destroys most families. For the Chapmans, faith in God’s grand scheme has been at the core of what helped them through this dark time of their lives.
Steven Curtis Chapman has set the tone for how to handle those moments. His life is not a list of clichés in a song, but a collaboration of faith among his life, his family and his music.
Chapman’s hits “The Great Adventure,” “Dive” and “Live Out Loud” are some of the songs that have defined the sound of Christian music over the last 25 years. He has called people to a deeper love for the Lord with an acoustic, pop sound and voice that brings hope to the hopeless.
In addition to Chapman's music, he is also great about sparking movements in the hearts of his fans. With the start of Shohannah's Hope, to help families aching to adopt, he's helped to reach the hearts of families. The spring, the Show Hope's Big Red Bus Project is traveling to college campuses with a partnership with speaker Chris Wheeler to call more students to the movement to care for orphans. The double-decker bus with its rolling thrift store raises both funds and awareness about the worldwide need of children.
During our own tough times, it’s families like the Chapmans who remind us where to place our faith. When we have those moments where we forget, there’s always the music to comfort us and catch our tears.
Soulstock, at Point Mallard Park on May 18 and 19, 2012, is the area’s largest Christian concert. Thanks to local congregations and businesses, admission is free.
More information about Soulstock, from the rest of the line-up to sponsorship information, is posted at soulstock.com.
Ace McKay, author of "The Marriage Playbook, has been a musician for 24 years and radio veteran of 20 years. During that time he won the GMA/CMB 2009 Radio Station of the Year. E-mail at AceMckay@gmail.com. Twitter @AceMckay.
Starting a faith-based band? Tell us about it -- kay.campbell@htimes.com.