Maria's Big House of Hope

Special Needs Healing Home In China Named In Loving Memory Of Maria Sue Chapman, Daughter Of Steven Curtis And Mary Beth Chapman; Over $635,000 Donated To Maria’s Miracle Fund

August 6, 2008 Nashville, TN Shaohannah’s Hope, the adoption and orphan care ministry founded by Steven and Mary Beth Chapman, have announced the official name their special needs healing home as Maria’s Big House of Hope, named in loving memory of their five-year old daughter, Maria Sue Chapman. Located in Luoyang, China, Maria’s Big House of Hope will care for orphans with medical impairments, such as cleft palate, clubbed feet, urological disorders, blindness, and neurological disorders.

Maria’s Big House of Hope is currently in the building stages and is set to tentatively open their doors this October. Funded by Shaohannah's Hope and managed by New Hope Foundation, upon completion this healing home will stand to be a six-floor, 60,000 ft. facility and equipped with everything required to care for orphans with special needs. This will be the biggest of its kind, able to provide for over 100 children at a time.

Luoyang, which has a population of around six million people, is located within the Henan province of China and is one of the poorest provinces in the country. The state-run Luoyang orphanage currently takes care of nearly 700 children and tends to most of the special needs orphans from all around Henan. To care for the specific medical needs of these orphans, Maria’s Big House of Hope will provide the much-needed surgeries and medical attention, as well as be a bridge to give them hope and the love they deserve. In turn, there is hope these children will then be adopted into forever families.

The Chapman family chose to build the healing home in Luoyang, China because of the area’s desperate need for special needs orphan care as well as wanting to give back to the country that has given so much to them - three loving daughters: Shaohannah Hope, Stevey Joy, and Maria Sue.

“We are not in the business of building orphanages, but rather building hope in the lives of orphans and vulnerable children in a way that honors God,” states Scott Hasenbalg, Executive Director, Shaohannah’s Hope.

MARIA’S MIRACLE FUND

Shaohannah’s Hope also announces that to date, over $635,000 had been given to the Shaohannah’s Hope’s Maria’s Miracle Fund in loving memory of Maria Sue. The ministry continues to be overwhelmed and thankful with the prayers and generosity from people all over the world, and there are still not enough words to be able to express the deepest gratitude for these donations. Due to the munificence of these offerings, this ministry continues to give hope and support to orphans around the world to find forever families.

Though the outpouring of generosity has been incredible, there is still tremendous need. Shaohannah’s Hope looks forward to further partnering with donors to change the lives of orphans.