The Power to Become

The following are words I had the privilege to deliver at this year’s 20th anniversary of CAFO (Christian Alliance for Orphans) Summit. 

It seems like yesterday—and a lifetime ago, all at the same time—when Steven and I gathered with friends and ministry partners at the very first CAFO Summit events. Some twenty years ago, Show Hope alongside our friends at Focus on the Family and Family Life pooled our resources to bring together God’s people to launch what is now the Christian Alliance for Orphans. To see how this network has grown to further fan the flame of ministry here and around the world to care for the most vulnerable is truly inspiring. 

As I thought about this year’s CAFO theme, Becoming, these words from the opening chapter of John’s gospel came to mind: “But to all who received him [Jesus], who believe in his name, he gave the power to become children of God.” 

I became a child of God and joined Jesus on this journey at a young age. My earliest memories are that of my grandfather—preaching, teaching, and singing the eternal truths I’ve come to hold so dear. Even in my days as a youth, I appreciated God’s gift of salvation and was humbled by His faithfulness to save me. To the smalltown Mary Beth, God revealed Himself as strong, and I felt safe within His care … the power to become. 

Eventually, that small town Mary Beth left her predictable life in Springfield, Ohio, and soon thereafter, I met Steve—a mullet wearing, guitar playing, singer from Paducah, Kentucky. And as my early adulthood began, I found myself unable to imagine my future without him. I was in love with an artist. A predictable life? I’ll let you guess. 

Nevertheless, here we are, nearly 40 years later this October, and soon after marrying, we moved here to Nashville, grew our family with the arrival of Emily, Caleb, and Will Franklin, and what I then affectionately referred to as Steven’s habit—playing his guitar and singing—became his full-time career and ministry. To that predictable Mary Beth, God revealed Himself as winsome and playful … as I felt free to create, to laugh, to enjoy my young children … the power to become. 

In the spring of 1997, my daughter Emily and I took a trip to Haiti. If you are familiar with the story, you know that it was there Emily had her heart broken by the reality of children living without a family, and returning home, she launched—what we like to call—her “prayer and petition” campaign, with a strategic goal of expanding the Chapman family through adoption. 

At the time, Steven and I were content supporting dear friends around us who were pursuing foster care and adoption, but to the reluctant Mary Beth, God revealed Himself in an invitation to know Him more deeply and experience His love more profoundly through the adoption journey. In many ways, I felt carried down a path my heart knew it wanted to travel, but my head had many reasons not to. Perhaps that is what faith is … the power to become.  

Our family eventually expanded not once, not twice, but three times through adoption with the arrival of Shaohannah, Stevey Joy, and Maria. On our first trip to China, as I stood in the hallways of our hotel and held Shaohannah for the very first time, everything changed. I had journeyed through most of my life believing that the salvation of my soul was conditioned upon my good deeds. But being a performer is very different from the security in being someone’s child. 

Gazing upon Shaohannah Hope in my arms, I was absolutely captivated simply by her existence … nothing she had done! “Don’t you get it? This is how I see you.” That still, small voice. The nervousness and anxiety of Mary Beth dissipated in light of the loving gaze of the Father toward me. I felt seen, and I felt precious … the power to become. 

As many of you know, this experience served as the genesis for Show Hope, with a mission to care for orphans by engaging the Church and reducing barriers to adoption. Our work is focused on addressing three primary barriers to adoption: the financial, medical, and knowledge barriers. And to date, more than 9,100 children from 60+ countries have come home to the love, security, and permanency of a family with the help of a Show Hope Adoption Aid grant. Since our inception, generous donors have partnered with Show Hope to deploy more than $44 million in Adoption Aid grants. And to the Mary Beth who almost missed this, God in His faithfulness kept shepherding to an outcome much greater than I ever could have imagined, making me feel a deep sense of gratitude … the power to become. 

At Show Hope, we often say that the adoption journey does not end the day a child is welcomed home … in many ways, it is just beginning. That has been true for each one of our daughters—and our family at large. And in light of my limited time here today, I’ll simply offer a few remarks about the life and legacy of our youngest daughter, Maria. We had the privilege of loving Maria this side of eternity until her untimely passing at the young age of 5. And after her passing, I descended into a dark night of the soul, literally questioning all I had held true and believed about God. 

After falling deep into a dark pit of grief and anger, I eventually landed on a solid and sure foundation … the loving gaze of Jesus despite my alligator tears, furious eyes, clenched fists, and hard questions. Nothing I could do, or say, or question would ever change His love for me … being a performer is very different from the security of being someone’s child. 

What Maria taught me is that I am secure in my reliance on Jesus as my one true hope for this life and the life to come. I am not pretending. I’ve gone all in … and I can TRUST He is who He says He is. To the angry, bereaved, and confused momma who carried her daughter as far as God would allow, God gives me permission to say how I truly feel … and that gives me a sense of value and security … the power to become. 

The older I get, the more convinced I am that the power to become lies within the loving gaze of the Father toward His children. It might feel elementary, but so often, our adult selves tend to skip over the very basics. Do me a favor: Today, take a few of moments of solitude, and close your eyes, and imagine the kind, loving eyes of the Father as He looks upon you. From this posture and understanding your preciousness, may you become more like Jesus in your service to God, your family, your community, and the world. Today, humanity is so desperate for a Church that knows her identity as a precious and deeply loved child of God. And so, I encourage you to walk confidently in His love for you! 

“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” 1 John 3:1 

Amen.