Steven Curtis Chapman's eyes are tired, but his smile is still wide as he sits in his home studio above the garage of his Nashville, Tennessee residence. While telling the stories behind his upcoming CD, All Things New (coming Sept. 21), the sun shines through the surrounding bay windows while his wife and kids bustle about outside on a glorious April afternoon. Chapman talks about how God has orchestrated the most recent season of his life, from opening doors outside of Music City's comfort zone to recording an entire CD in California to news that he and wife Mary Beth would be adopting yet another young child—their third—from China. We caught up with Chapman again recently via phone for an even closer glimpse at the record and what's going on in his family.

Where'd you get the idea for All Things New?

Steven Curtis Chapman: Initially it came from my pastor's series of sermons entitled "Renewal of All Things." I go through a season every album, saying "God, give me the message you want me to communicate—either snapshots of life or specific themes." I listened to the pulls, tugs and expectations that come from my management and record company—and they actually seem to be more intense with every album! Then I tried to silence all those voices and prayed more fervently. As I prayed that, I started reading different books, plus taking in my pastor's preaching about renewal, which opened up my understanding that God really is telling a story with all of his creation. The idea of the calendar kept coming up, and I starting thinking of the seasons and how God has sectioned those off throughout the year to be new. I think I found God screaming to us, "I'm the one who makes all things new." That's the essence of God's nature; he's not only the Creator, but he makes things new.

With five kids and another on the way to your family, how were you able to find time to sort through those thoughts?

Chapman: That was one of the greatest challenges ever. It's been very, very difficult to be a good dad while making this album. I've done most of my writing when everybody's gone to bed. I actually envision those romantic ideals of going away and retreating to a cabin in the hills to write songs, but that usually never ends up happening. Still, the goodness of God comes even in chaos of life. It's a testimony to God's faithfulness. God allowed me late hours, sleepless nights, seasons of getting away, writing on airplanes while flying to do appearances—it was all formulated and pondered throughout events of day. In some ways, as much as I would have liked escaping, it really represents where I'm at—the fact that God says "I make things new" in the middle of chaos, dirtiness and stuff of life.

You took a month to record in California. Did that add a creative edge to your music?

Chapman: It was a huge part of the process. I had really wanted to go to Colorado, but instead I wound up in Hollywood. It's got some things that are unique, but it's not the ideal place if you want to get away from it all. But it was obviously God's plan for the whole process because I got into this whole different creative environment. Guys who played on the record didn't know my music and had no preconceived ideas. It was very scary too. My co-producer Brown [Bannister] used a different engineer—and for a producer, that's like asking him to cut off his right arm. It was all very unsettling for both of us and we were nervous. But it also allowed me to share my faith with those we were working with, to communicate the Word of God in a profound way. And what was so cool is that they didn't get freaked out by that. They said it was unlike any record they'd worked on before, and it turned out to be a really innovative experience. They also said it was some of the best music they'd done—Christian rock, secular pop, whatever! It was a great encouragement to me that they were really excited and refreshed by the process.

You collaborated with some of mainstream's heavy hitters, like Johnny Lang. How did you track him down?

Chapman: Johnny and I met a year ago at a concert in Nashville when he opened for Sting. I had heard his records, owned his first one and thought it was really cool. Live, he's one of those guys who shows his passion and intensity and you can't help but love it. I knew my kids would love him and we went to go meet him before the show. I was thrilled to find out he was a Christian—his wife had actually been a big fan of mine—and he shared that he had really started to get on fire for God this past year. Afterwards I found out more and called him. He came in, was so gracious and played this awesome solo and background vocals. The coolest part was when we were done and I asked if we could pray together. That's really when I found fire in his heart to honor God. Man, when he prayed, he prayed like he plays!

How did you go about meeting Jason Wade from Lifehouse for a tag team on the title cut?

Chapman: I met him a couple years ago backstage with my kids. He says, "Steven Curtis Chapman! I've been a long time fan!" That was really wild and freaked out my kids. We talked for a bit, and when I went out to L.A., I took his phone number and debated whether I should call him. I thought, No, that probably wouldn't be right, calling him out of the blue, so I won't do it—even though I really wanted to. But then one day I was walking out of one of the studio and who walks by but Jason! I told him how I thought about calling him and wimped out. He said, "Man, you should have called," and he came the next night to sing on the title cut.

Portions of your past projects were also done in L.A. How were these sessions different?

Chapman: I had a lot of work done on Heaven in the Real World, they mixed Signs of Life and I did some tracking for All About Love in California. But this was different because we stayed out there for a whole block of time. It allowed me to be so much more creative than blocking out five or six months where I've got 10 hours a day working in Nashville, but then I have to drive to and from the studio, take a break, see family and then deal with some crisis going on with my kids. You wind up only getting three or four hours work done and it's a real stretch. To spend one intense block of time like this helped me get it all out and stay focused. Plus, you get all sorts of things happening, like Third Day's Mac Powell stopping by and lending vocals to "Believe Me Now" when they had a show in L.A. He lives in Atlanta and is always gone, so chances are I would've never gotten to work with him back home. One of the engineers also suggested getting a female vocalist to support during "I Believe In You," which was written for my daughter Emily's graduation. It turns out they were thinking of someone who had actually cut a Christian record before and it was Kendall Payne, who came in and lent background vocals. I didn't even know she lived there!

I hear you and your wife have just done a children's book.

Chapman: Mary Beth and I wrote it, and it's illustrated by her brother. Like us, he's adopted a little girl from China, which is what the book is about. It's called Shaoey and Dot: Bug Meets Bundle, and is the story of a ladybug who discovers a bundle of rags in a pathway with a baby underneath. Dot becomes Shaoey's lifetime friend and the story is told from Dot's perspective—the ladybug protector. It's a neat way to tell the story because the ladybug is an image used in folklore surrounding Chinese adoption and it sort of signifies going home. [Shaoey is the first girl the Chapmans adopted from China several years ago.]

What inspired you and Mary Beth to adopt again?

Chapman: That's another crazy story! God has far more redemptive tricks up his sovereign sleeve than I've ever imagined. We met Maria on an earlier trip to China where she was staying with an American family, and I fell in love with her. Before the trip, we said we were done adopting and that our house was full, but God just made it really clear that we were to do so once again. Here's the real clincher: I asked the family if I could hold her when we were at church and when I did, I asked if she was their daughter. They said no, but they were praying about a family for her. I asked if her name, Maria, had any significance, since that was an odd name for a baby in China, but they said they just thought it was pretty. I immediately thought back to the song "Who's Gonna Love Maria?" I'd written ten years ago when one of my kids went to school with a girl named Maria. She came from a rough home and told stories of her dad being in jail, and sure enough that line "Who's Gonna Love Maria?" just started blaring in my head. I immediately thought, No, not me, but I just realized arguing with God is a really dumb thing to do. Long story short, we're adopting Maria and we're looking forward to starting the beginning of yet another new chapter!

For more about Steven Curtis Chapman, visit our artist page for him, where you'll find past interviews and reviews. All Things New will be in stores September 21. To listen to sound clips and purchase your own copy, visit Christianbook.com.

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