Laura Story, Chris Tomlin, and a Tennessee mountain

The staff and I step into the month of February with a little trepidation but leaning on God. Coming out of maybe the busiest year in my memory, the pattern continues into this month. We look ahead to some challenging projects and hard anniversaries. We would love your prayers.

The new movie “ I Can Only Imagine 2 ” opens nationwide on February 20. It is a sequel to the highly successful first movie, “ I Can Only Imagine ” (2018) which was inspired by the title song about how MercyMe lead singer Bart Millard reconciled with his alcoholic father. Even before that movie came out, Millard was on tour (2017) with his 15 year old son, Sam, who is diabetic. But while MercyMe was having tremendous success, Millard’s relationship with both his son and his wife was strained. “When you're a parent of a child with any kind of chronic illness, these things don't go away. You have a lot of good days, but some days you feel like you're losing bad. I was in the midst of one of those bad days when 'Even If' was written," Millard recalled. “ Even If ” was co-written with Tim Timmons, who had joined MercyMe on tour. Millard discovered that Timmons was carrying his own hardships and secrets. When film director Andy Erwin (October Baby, Jesus Revolution) heard “Even If” he was blown away. "I never dreamed there was more story to tell — until we heard the story behind 'Even If.' Learning how Tim and Bart co-wrote that song out of deep, lived faith moved us to tears; the honesty and hope woven through each of their journeys are undeniable. (Filmmaker) Brent (McCorkle) and I knew immediately that 'I Can Only Imagine' truly deserved a sequel." A new song written for the movie, “ Make It Well ,” expresses even more pain and struggle. Make it well with my soul Don’t let me face this loneliness alone Make it well with my soul I need a peace that only heaven knows Jesus could you please Just sit and cry with me Till I can sing It is well with my soul I Can Only Imagine 2 open at the Regal Canyon View theater in Grand Junction with a sneak preview on Feb. 14, and then a full opening on Thursday, Feb. 19.

KJOL added 118 new songs in 2025. That’s a new song every three days! The list included a number of great new artists. Megan Woods ( The Truth ) 24 year old from Massachusetts who overcame an abusive relationship after a friend introduced her to Jesus John Wesley ( Oh, What a Friend ) Not the hymnwriter! John Wesley Honaker is a worship leader in Florida. Rachel Purcell ( Show Up ) A native of Muscle Schoals, Alabama (home of a famous recording studio), Purcell is also a country musician under her maiden name Rachel Wammack Emerson Day ( God Ain’t Finished Yet ) (album version!) She graduated as a “decorated lacrosse player” with a degree in homeland security. But instead, she felt called to pursue Christian music. Jamie MacDonald ( Desperate ) A Michigan native who met Jesus at youth camp, left home and forgot Jesus, returned to the Lord in her 20s. Peter Burton ( Where Would I Be ) He started Thrive Worship at Bayside Church in Sacramento with Lincoln Brewster. Now he is a solo artist with Story House Collective, managed by Matthew West. (Bonus for the guys: the video features a 1975 Chevy Blazer with a custom 409 engine!) Jet Trouble ( I Need You ) The most unusual name in our repertoire! He is a Dallas based musician whose full name is James E. Troublefield (J.E.T.). And he knows about trouble: his father was diagnosed with ALS and died, inspiring “I Need You.” And we can’t discuss 2025 without mentioning one more notable artist. Forrest Frank In July, he was playing with his daughter in his driveway when he crashed his skateboard and broke two vertebrae! While lying in bed, he composed the song “ God’s Got My Back! ” Then two weeks later, tests revealed his back was healed! He later decided not to attend the Dove Awards, saying “I will not receive a trophy for something that is from Jesus and for Jesus.” He swept the Dove Awards anyway: Artist of the Year, Album of the Year, and Song of the Year ( Your Way’s Better ).

Michael W. Smith is getting ready to release his first new studio album since 2018. Smith says “This whole record starts out with a bang... I don’t think I’ve had this many upbeat songs on any record that I’ve ever done. Those are really sort of hard to write.” But Michael says it’s not all “pop stuff.” I have a song about communion. I don’t think we have enough communion songs. And there’s a couple worship moments that are pretty powerful, too. The first three singles may remind you of his earlier sound from the 1990s, which some of us consider a good thing! The first single, “ Arms Around The World ,” features Jesus on the drums! Well, it’s Jonathan Roumie, to be precise, the actor who plays Jesus in “The Chosen” series! Michael says his “musical hero” is movie composer John Williams . I went and saw Raiders Of The Lost Ark 28 times in 1981 and it changed my life. I went “Why do I keep coming back?” And it was the music. That was the year I began to write cinematic music. That cinematic flare is included in his second single, “ Your Love Is A Flood ,” which has a 30-second counter-melody that sounds like it could be from “Jurassic Park.” That same cinema sound also opens his third single is “ Kingdom Come ,” which Michael says is his personal prayer . This one is so close to my heart, born out of the prayer I’ve prayed daily: ‘Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.’ It’s a bold anthem of hope, healing, and God’s presence breaking into our lives. Michael told the Christian Post : My identity is not being Michael W. Smith the artist. The things that are near and dear and more important to me are, first and foremost, my relationship with Lord. Then my family, my wife, my kids, my grandkids, my friends that I walk through life with. Your craft can't be your identity. If it is, it will consume you, and not in a good way. At the end of November, Smith will join Amy Grant and CeCe Winans for a nine city tour, followed by his Christmas tour in December with special guest Riley Clemmons. But unlike Laura Story (who will be in Grand Junction for a free Christmas concert, courtesy of KJOL), you’ll have to go to Florida to catch Michael’s Christmas tour .

Forrest Frank has been everywhere this year. He even broke his back and wrote a song about it ( God's Got My Back ) while lying on his back! But one place Forrest Frank won't be this year is the Dove Awards . He announced that he will no longer attend any of the awards shows, including the Doves and the Grammys. “As Christians, it’s hard to know where the line in the sand is between being in the world and not of the world,” he said . Pondering where to draw the line between being in the world but not of the world, he said, “I’m convicted, personally, that a line that I can draw is that I will not receive a trophy for something that is from Jesus and for Jesus.” Frank added, “I was wrestling with this last year. I even said that on stage at the Dove Awards. I said, ‘I’m still struggling with the concept of receiving this award, but all glory to Jesus, every name will fade away, including mine, except for one name.’” So he decided "to go even a step further and say, ‘I don’t know if I even want to step on the stage. I don’t know if I want to step in the room.’ So I will not be attending the Doves and the Grammys.” “I hope to be an example to the youth that the trophy is our salvation ,” he added. “The trophy is that my name is listed in the Book of Life and I get to have eternal life . What good is a piece of metal going to do compared to that?” His absence at the Dove awards will no doubt be a problem for them. He’s nominated for four major awards: Song of the Year (Composer): Good Day Recorded Song of the Year: Your Way's Better Album of the Year: Child Of God Artist of the Year He is almost certain to win at least one of those awards. UPDATE : The Dove ceremony was broadcast Friday, October 10. Forrest Frank won three major awards! Artist of the Year Album of the Year (Child of God) Recorded Song of the Year (Your Way's Better)