On January 11th, Big Daddy Weave embarked on a trip to Cambodia with World Vision, where they saw first-hand the work that World Vision is doing and the services they are providing. A long-time partner with World Vision, having endorsed child sponsorships at numerous shows throughout their career, Big Daddy Weave has played a key role in fulfilling World Vision's mission.
"Over the years, Big Daddy Weave has connected over 13,000 caring fans with children in need through their sponsorship," says Lee Broadwell, World Vision Artist Representative. "We were honored to take them to Cambodia last week to experience our transformational development programs and meet the precious children, families and communities we serve in the name of Christ."
During their visit, which was largely documented on film for future efforts to aid victims of human trafficking, the band learned more about Cambodia's history, the horrific realities of genocide and visited with young women, formerly enslaved in human trafficking, who are now being treated for their trauma and are on their way to re-establishing healthy lives with the help of World Vision. "Our trip to Cambodia was one of the most terrifying, really heart-wrenching field experiences of my entire life," says Mike Weaver of Big Daddy Weave. "I'm not sure I really know how to put into words the things that we've seen and the depth of what we felt there. All I know is that I left having fallen in love with the people of Cambodia."
The week-long visit concluded on the 18th. Just one week later, Big Daddy Weave will be on the road again, traveling to New York to perform at the esteemed Brooklyn Tabernacle. The free concert will take place this Sunday, January 25th, and is a reciprocal homage to the church and the band. In 2013, the six-time GRAMMY Award-winning Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir recorded "Redeemed," which became the title track to the album they were working on at the time. Written by Mike Weaver and originally recorded by Big Daddy Weave, the #1 hit resonated with the choir's founder, Carol Cymbala.
"I was in Nashville mixing the
Love Lead The Way album and heard the song on the radio," she recalls. "I wasn't familiar with it but it struck a chord with me. The song's message of redemption is relevant to us all and I felt it would be a wonderful song for the choir to record for our audience."
While preparing for the performance experience, Big Daddy Weave is also celebrating their recent nomination in the K-LOVE Fan Awards for Worship Song of the Year—"Overwhelmed"—and as a contender to appear on fan-voted 7UP Cans, through Pepsi MidAmerica. The winner will be revealed at the K-LOVE Fan Awards Show, which takes place in Nashville, Tennessee May 31.
In February, Big Daddy Weave launches the second leg of their overwhelmingly successful Beautiful Offerings tour, which also includes Jason Gray, Citizen Way and Lauren Daigle, during which time they will also be working on a new studio album—their first since 2012.
More information about the Brooklyn Tabernacle performance is available
here.
Click
here for full Beautiful Offerings tour listing and ticket information.
K-LOVE Fan Awards voting is open May 1-May 30. More information can be found
here.
