Chapman's five-year-old daughter, Maria Sue Chunxi Chapman, was killed in a tragic accident on May 21, 2008. Maria was accidentally hit by her brother driving a Toyota Land Cruiser pulling into the driveway of their home in Franklin, Tennessee, according to Tennessee Department of Safety spokesman Mike Browning. Maria was pronounced dead upon arrival to the hospital.

The entire family was preparing to celebrate their eldest son Caleb's graduation from high school and their daughter Emily's engagement just hours before the accident. A spokesman for the Tennessee Highway Patrol termed it "a terrible accident," and no charges were filed.

Maria, the youngest in the family, was one of three daughters whom Steven and Mary Beth had adopted from China. During the memorial service for Maria, in which Pastor Scotty Smith preached, the family expressed their faith in God and their love for each other.

In the aftermath of the tragedy, the Chapman family began to speak publicly about their loss and the role that faith played in it all. They appeared on Good Morning America, Larry King Live and in People magazine. Maria was buried in her flower-girl dress as she along with Stevie Joy was going to be a flower girl in Emily's wedding in October. Chapman's subsequent album, Beauty Will Rise focuses on this event and its aftermath.

In November of 2009 -- almost exactly 18 months after this tragic loss -- Chapman performed at a special concert at Harvest Christian Fellowship. Greg Laurie, the pastor of Harvest, suffered the loss of his own son, Christopher Laurie, just months after Chapman's loss. Steven performed several songs from "Beauty Will Rise", and took part in a live discussion between himself and Pastor Laurie. The two talked about dealing with grief and their mutual belief and hope in heaven.

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