Returning to Stage July 11th

E-mailed to our contacts this afternoon...

After much conversation, counsel and prayer, we’re planning for Steven to return to his live performance schedule beginning July 11, 2008.

Though the family is continuing to walk through this very difficult time, and some unforeseen additional issue might cause a change at a later time, as of today we fully expect and plan to play Chapman’s previously scheduled US dates. All international dates are canceled at this time.

JULY
11 Oshkosh, WI/Lifest
12 Chesaning, MI
13 Fremont, NE
17 Clarkston ,MI
18 Euless, TX (SCC solo)
24 Wheaton, IL
AUG
1 Biltmore Estate
2 Atlanta Braves
9 Hot Springs, Arkansas
10 Colorado Rockies
16 Houston Astros
SEPT
5 Dyer, Indiana (SCC solo)
13 Ft Worth Men At The Cross
19 Brentwood, CA
20 Puyallup, WA

We appreciate the understanding and patience of all through this difficult time. We also extend the gratitude of the family for your prayers and condolences.

Comments

[Kelly]

We plan to be there for Dyer, IN.

And we plan to be 'here' praying for them.

Thanks for the updates.

[Kristi Peterson]

Thanks for the updates Jim...as usual :)

I am flying from Bermuda to the Euless, Texas concert :)...it was all planned before saying goodbye to little Maria.

Continuing to pray and love on the family especially through this weekend!

[Donna]

We don't live close to any of the venues so we could go to support the family at a concert, but have been, and will continue, to lift the whole family up in prayer.

Thank you for updating us, and know that there are no words to express the admiration I have for SCC & family. Their deep faith, and their bravery & courage...

[Steve Hunter]

Good to hear about Steven returning to the stage.

We will be continuing to pray for Steven, Mary-Beth and the whole family.

Thanks for the updates Jim :)

[Janele]

I'm flying from Iowa to attend the Biltmore concert in August. I hope to find a moment to encourage Steven as a fellow parent who has lost a child. Trying to get back to 'normal' when nothing will ever be the same is so hard, but in some ways resuming some sort of routine is comforting, as well.

Please tell Steven that a mom who has also had her heart broken will be hoping to give him a hug in North Carolina.

[Rebecca H.]

Planning to be there in Puyallup on September 20th. I'm surprised he's doing as many dates as he is. I was totally expecting the entire tour to be cancelled, so it was a nice surprise to get the email about the Puyallup concert. Thanks again Jim, for all you do

[Emily]

I'll be there in WA. Normally I'd make sure I attended the show simply as a fan. Now I get to go as more of a prayer warrior/family. I'm looking forward to it.

[Amy]

Still praying and praying I'll see y'all in Euless..

[Melissa Marx, Fort Worth TX]

I'll be at the Euless concert, singing along and praying with all my heart.

[Connie]

It is so hard but we must keep living.
Even after such a heartbreaking loss.
The Lord takes our hand and walks with us
through it all. All the while telling us that
our precious loved ones are safe and happy
with him. Who could ask for a better baby sitter than our Lord Jesus Christ until you are together with little Maria. Lord be with this family and all families who have lost such precious ones.
I pray that the Chapman family will continue
to find blessings among the pain and sorrow.
I just love your children. You are a wonderful family with so much love for each other. The Lord bless you now and always
especially as you continue to raise those
two little precious girls. Please let us know how Will is doing. Will, please forgive yourself, the Lord and Maria already have.
Steven and Mary Beth from what I have come to know of both of you, you are such wonderful loving parents. Life will be good again and you have five beautiful children
who I can tell you adore and they adore you also. They will give you the strength to go on. Maria never forgotten ever.
God Bless as you continue to minister through your music.
I have come to love all of you and continue to pray each and everyday.

[Cory]

You guys are coming to Denver!?! I just went to the Rockies website and bought 11 tickets to the Rockies game for the August 10 game. We'll be there with our family sending Steven and your crew love and cheers from the stands! ;-)

[Alida]

We will be there to support him in Euless.

[Lori Powers, Kentucky]

Praying that the tour goes well and that lives will be touched and forever changed. I'm sad that Steven isn't visiting his home state of Kentucky this time around :( Hopefully, next time!

[Dani]

Oh how I wish I was able to go to one. I want to show them and tell them how much I love them and am praying for them. Maybe it will work out. I will pray that it does. Thanks again Jim. I know it's prob. unanswerable still but How is Will? I just feel so burdened for him. I just want everything to be okay. I know it will never be the same but Oh how I wish it could.
~Dani

[Beka]

I wish I could be there for some of those, but I'll be remembering to pray really hard on July 11th.

[Jody Ferlaak]

I just want you to know that I continue to pray for all the Chapmans and many of you- their friends and supporters in life. As we head into Father's Day this weekend, my heart knows the pain that will sting even moreso. Even though you can't imagine it being any worse.
One of the things my husband and I did after the sudden, tragic death of my daughter, was to send each other 'angel mail' from her from Heaven.
I left a card on his pillow that Father's Day- sent from "Teagan in Heaven". {She was four, and so I would write as she would have written...}
It seemed so unreal to do such a thing- to be imagining what she might say or do, and our hearts were breaking from missing her presence and trying to still wrap our minds around the reality that we would never hold her or see her again- this side of Heaven.
Somehow though, those cards and emails that we sent each other {and sometimes we sent some to other family members and friends on special days or just simply to say 'thinking of you from Heaven'} helped to ease our sorrows and reminded us exactly where Teagan was. She'e not missing us and when we get to Heaven it will seem as though all this time of ache and sorrow is but a moment. I look forward to falling at Jesus feet and thanking Him for the trials that helped better prepare me to worship Him for all eternity.
Most of us don't choose the path of suffering, and yet it's exactly what Christ calls us to do as followers of Him.
I am praying and trusting that God's mercies will be tender- yet great for all the Chapmans this weekend. Especially SCC.
Love and care and prayers and blessings as they continue to allow God to heal and restore their Joy.
Thank you again for your many thoughts and updates, Jim.
Happy Father's Day to you- a more understanding, intentional Dad- thanks to Maria.
We often say about our daughter, "She may have been an angel here on earth; we just never saw her wings." I think maybe Maria was one of these little angels-in-disguise too. And I have no doubt she is smiling down from Heaven awaiting the day when she will dance with all her loved ones again someday!

[Debbie from Ohio]

Great news, although it will be hard for him and his family, I am sure. God will give them all the strength.

[Valarie]

We have tickets for Euless and will be lifting him up in prayer throughout the concert. God will give him the grace he needs. Thank you as always for the update.

[Kevin C.]

Looking forward to Brentwood, Ca.

We will continue to pray for the Family and Steven as they move into the next phase of grieving while returning to business and what used to be the normal life this time without Maria.

I know moving on sometimes makes people feel like they are doing an injustice to the memory of their lost loved ones, however as I know from my own experiences the greatest honor you can do to their memory is living life to the fullest and carrying their love and story into the future!

Kevin

[Christie]

I'll be watching for the Dyer link! We saw SCC in March in South Bend and it was the best concert I can say I ever have been to (I'll never forget the "I need a potty and a pancake" speech that SCC gave). Although I can't even begin to imagine going out again on tour... I know at some point life starts on again.
We'll be praying for the Chapman family (and yours too, Jim) over this weekend. Thank You for continuing to be the Chapman's voice through this.

[Pam]

Jimbo! Do you still love red shoes!!!! Do you remember me? This is Pam from Cedarville '90. I can not even imagine it is you. I did not put Jim Houser of SCC with Jimbo from college years... Oh, what a sad way to reconnect - I have no idea of you will read this but know I am praying for you in a big way. May you feel God's loving arms around you all. Rest in Him my friend from the past!

[Phil Bransom]

Jim... I have posted a few other thoughts that hopefully will mean something to you and the Chapmans as time is available to read the thousands of incredible posts people send.

This is a blog I posted after the loss of our 7 year son to a neighbor's SUV in 2006. I just re-read it and believe it true still after these many months. It might help in a small way.
======================================
Aug. 20, 2006

I'm writing from a Residence Inn in Costa Mesa...

We moved Jamie into her dorm room today.. a couple of trips to some local stores and she had just about everything she needs. Our Tahoe was packed from floor to ceiling and a carrier on the roof rack. Our daughter Krista and Jamie's boyfriend, Erik traveled with us. 17 hours... I'll be looking for airline tickets for sure... I'm sure it will be an emotional time when we leave to head back to Oregon tomorrow.

Before we departed, I had my two daughters and my wife come into Douglas' room. A good friend of ours wrote a song he gave to us on his church's worship CD. The song was called "He Will See You Through". I played the song and while it was playing, we looked around the room and picked up many of his favorite things. It was a good time for our family...

Many many Douglas moments on this trip.... he loved going to California.... California to him was synonymous with Santa Cruz, Disneyland, beaches and warm sand...

It's difficult to describe the many emotions you go through after a loss of a loved one... I was in a store today getting supplies for Jamie... Douglas and I used to love playing tag in the store aisles... it was one of those moments where again the stark reality of death hits you in the head... I've shared with several people that until you've experienced death... you can't truly experience life... now I know what the disciples felt like...

When Douglas first died, I immediately could see him with God that night, hanging with Jesus... In the last few weeks, I continued to have daily memories of him.. but I didn't necessarily keep the reality in the forefront of my mind that he was at that very moment, that very instant, chillin with Jesus...

Now when I have a Douglas moment, I realize that at that very instant, Douglas is with God, doing all the things we talked about at bed time...

This is a road I would never have chosen to travel... or have my family travel... the fact is this is where God has placed us... one thing I know for sure... God is very real and His word is true... so don't mess around with it...

The reality is that death is waiting for everyone... whether it is in the next 5 seconds, 5 days, 5 years or 55 years... it will come... the only cure for death is the resurrection we can look forward to when Christ returns...

[Swedish]

I'll pray that the return to stage will be carried by God and for the whole Chapman-family in this hard times.
I hope that Steven will come to Sweden (or at least any place nearer than US) any other time soon :-)

(sorry about my bad English..)

[Kathy Lebron]

Glad to see Steven is gearing up to get back on the road. I'm blessed to have been at his solo concert in NY a few months ago. His fans need to see him. And he needs to feel the warmth and love from them first hand. I wish I was near one of the venues, but know that I'll be keeping him in prayer, much this weekend, believing God that he'll have a very blessed day tomorrow filled with the joy and laughter Maria would want for him, and for the Lord to be His Rock and strong tower as he goes on tour. We love you, Steven.
Kathy from NY

[Susan]

Our prayers continue as the new "normal" begins to take shape their lives. (though nothing will feel normal about it) God will bless this step of faith the Chapman family is taking. He will not fail you.