2022 in Review: January

The new year started with urgent prayer requests and tragedy, but there were also glimmers of hope that encouraged us along the way.

A FAMILY OF 4, INCLUDING A BABY AND A YOUNG CHILD, DIED TRYING TO CROSS THE BORDER ON FOOT

A family from India died after they tried to cross the border into the U.S.A. at night, in temperatures hovering around -40 with the wind chill. Two other people also suffered severe frostbite and a Florida man was arrested and charged in relation to the matter.

Regional Connections Executive Director, Steve Reynolds spoke about the incident, saying that it is hard for some people to relate to in the comfort of their homes.

"The desperation some people feel, and the situations some families find themselves in that really are life and death situations, or really desperate life circumstances, and that can motivate people to take risks, and to just try to find safety and try to find a better place to be for them and their families."

BILLY GRAHAM'S GRANDDAUGHTER'S PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED AFTER HEART ATTACKS

Billy Graham's daughter, Anne Graham Lotz, put out an urgent plea for prayers early in the new year after her daughter suffered back-to-back heart attacks. Just a few days later she posted that "God has heard and answered our prayers," announcing that she had made a recovery and would be going home.

However, she was not spared from being diagnosed with a serious condition, spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD). It normally affects women in their 40s to 50s and it is an emergency condition that happens when a blood vessel in the heart has a tear.

TOBYMAC WORKS WITH SHERYL CROW TO RERELEASE "PROMISED LAND"

As a surprise to his fans, TobyMac collaborated with Sheryl Crow to accompany him on his track, "Promised Land," the fifth song in his album Life After Death. It was first released back in September 2021 as a single.

To add to Crow's experience in singing covers of gospel songs, this song is her first track with a Christian artist that is made for the Christian charts.

BIG DADDY WEAVE'S BASS PLAYER PASSES AWAY AT 42

After rushing to the hospital in August 2021 due to pain from Jason (Jay) Weaver's dialysis treatment for diabetes, his and his family's prayers were answered and he was sent home to recover. However, the good news did not last, a few months later he fell sick with COVID-19 and passed away on New Year's Day.

Many Christian artists took to social media to send out their condolences and prayers towards the family and band members, including Chris Tomlin, Steven Curtis Chapman and more. All of this love resulted in Weave's bandmate and brother, Mike to share how thankful he is for all the well wishes that have come pouring in online.

FOR KING AND COUNTRY BROTHER WELCOMES 'RAINBOW BABY' INTO THE WORLD

Luke and Courtney Smallbone celebrated the birth of their daughter, Evie Joy. This little bundle of joy is their first daughter to add to their family of three sons. Back in 2019, it was revealed that the couple experienced a miscarriage.

Just two weeks before baby Evie (pronounced Eh-vee) was born, For King and Country released a song called "Unsung Hero." It is a tribute to all mothers and fathers who have had to raise a child on their own, and also scored high on CHVN's top articles for January.