I'm a HUGE steven curtis chapman fan.... and this really, really breaks my heart for this family..... my prayers go out to them.

Daughter of Christian music star killed by car
By JOE EDWARDS
Associated Press Writer
NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The 5-year-old daughter of Grammy-winning Christian music star Steven Curtis Chapman was struck and killed Wednesday by a sport utility vehicle driven by her brother, authorities said.
The girl, Maria, was hit in the driveway of the family's home Wednesday afternoon by a Toyota Land Cruiser driven by her teenage brother, said Laura McPherson, a spokeswoman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol.
The brother, whose name and exact age weren't available, apparently did not see the girl, McPherson said. No charges are expected.
"It looks like a tragic accident," she said.
Several family members witnessed the accident, which happened in Williamson County just south of Nashville. The girl died later at Vanderbilt University Medical Center in Nashville, hospital spokeswoman Laurie Holloway said.
A publicist for Chapman's charity organization said the family was expected to release a statement later Wednesday night.
Chapman, who is originally from Paducah, Ky., and his wife have promoted international adoption and have three daughters from China, including Maria. They have three biological children.
The singer's Web site says the couple was persuaded by their oldest daughter to adopt a girl from China. The experience led the family to adopt two more children and create Shaohannah's Hope, a foundation and ministry to financially assist thousands of couples in adoption.
The Chapmans did missionary work at Chinese orphanages in 2006 and 2007, according to the Web site.
"After our first trip to China, my wife and I knew our lives were changing — our eyes and hearts were opening to how big God really is, and we have wanted to experience more of that," Chapman says on the Web site.
"We've really wondered whether or not we should just go to China and stay there. But I don't think so. I believe God is saying, 'I want you to go, get your heart broken, your eyes opened, and then take this story back to the church in America and around the world.'"
The 45-year-old singer also has released a book about being a father entitled "Cinderella: The Love of Daddy and his Princess." He has won five Grammy awards and 51 Dove awards from the Gospel Music Association

This is really sad - I hope the son is ok. He must be feeling really awful.

Definitely breaks my heart! My thoughts and prayers to their family and friends!

Right? How sad for him. Sad for them all.

My DH just emailed this to me this morning. Last night, we uncovered an old VHS of mid-90s videos. Heaven in the Real World was on it.

So sad- I can't imagine what the son must be going through right now.

Hubby and watched this on the news this morning. It's hard for hubby to see these types of stories, he too lost a sister named Maria, his dad ran her over in the driveway when hubby was 9 or 10, Maria was 2. he said his parents were never again the same, They are a large family, 9 remaining siblings, and Maria is never mentioned, it brings back awful memories for all of them.

Was his song (I danced with Cinderella, while she was here in my arms..) about Maria?

My son drowned almost 4 years ago and I feel for them. No parent should ever have to go through the loss of a child.

Oh how tragic!!

Tragic beyond words. Keeping them all in my prayers. And praying for our Father to lay peace upon this young man's heart, and asking for him to have the knowledge that what happened truly was an accident. Heartbreaking.

huge SCC fan here too...i heard it on the radio this morning...
so heartbreaking for them.
they will definately be lifted up in prayer, the son too

I went to his concert this fall - he said he wrote that song about Maria and Stevie Joy (the youngest 2).

Both of his sons played in his band on this most recent tour. I can't even fathom what they are experiencing right now. Fortunately that have thousands all over the world lifting them up in prayer right now.

My prayer is that even through this tragedy it will be used to minister to others. Just as they have been able to touch so many through adoption, they will have a whole new unfortunate avenue in which to minister to many.

Oh no, so sad!

My alarm/radio went off at 6:50 this morning to 95.5 The Fish here in Cleveland and that was the story I woke up to! It gave me gratitude for the mouths I have to feed and the gas I have to use to get them to school! I guess a friend of the Chapmans lost a child some years back and he wrote a song for them to help them in their time of sorrow . . . I can't imagen how their son feels. God Bless them all.

How horrible, and their poor son. May God be with them.

Steven Curtis Chapman.com: Official Source for all things Steven
In Memory of Maria