God called Mary Beth and Steven Curtis Chapman into the journey of caring for vulnerable children and families decades ago. It began with their own family as they adopted three children from China. It then grew into the work of Show Hope, an organization that seeks to engage churches and reduce barriers to adoption.
Their prayer was, as Steven shared, “We want God to do something, maybe through our story and us sharing our journey, in the church that we have not really seen happening.”
God answered in incredible ways, and over the years, they have seen Him grow and shape a movement within the body of Christ to care for vulnerable children and families. And a hallmark of that movement has been collaboration.
As Mary Beth explained, “What I’ve seen change and grow is a willingness to step into the hard … and to say, ‘Is it [my] time to go deeper, or is there somebody else that can do that?’ … [There’s been] a willingness to not just be stuck in a lane, but be a little more outward facing with your hands to go, ‘How can we all help each other,’ instead of going, ‘Oh, this is my thing and this is what we do.’”
For the Chapmans, collaboration and unity are not just about getting things done on behalf of children and families. They’re about bearing witness to God’s goodness and character with a skeptical world watching.
Because, in Steven’s words, “In God’s brilliance, [He says] ‘This is pure religion … This is as clear as you’re going to be able to reflect my heart.”
The Pure Religion Project, CAFO’s church ministry initiative, aims to inspire and equip God’s people to live out the “pure religion” described in the book of James and invited throughout Scripture through resources, supportive community and ongoing connection and coaching.
