Brian Doerksen obit

Brian Doerksen dies after battle with Stage 4 cancer

 

He was not on the list.

Canadian Christian worship artist Brian Doerksen has died peacefully at his family home on Tuesday morning.

His family shared the news on social media saying, "On July 21, at 6:45 a.m., our Beloved Brian passed away peacefully in his sleep at his family home, surrounded by those who loved him most."

The news comes after his family asked for prayers after he was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer.

"Till the very end, Brian continued to love those around him, encouraging them in who they are, and shared incredible gratitude to those in the medical field who tried their best to help him. He was a beacon of light even in his final moments to his close family and friends, and loved well right to the end," the social post said.

The family thanks everyone who lifted Brian up in prayer. "Thank you to the entire community around the world that prayed, gave, and sent incredible messages of love."

Doerksen was a member at a local Mennonite Brethren church in British Columbia and graduated from the Mennonite Educational Institute in 1983. In his early twenties, he joined the staff of the Langley Vineyard Christian Fellowship and spent several years there as the worship pastor in the late 1980s and early 1990s.

For many years Doerksen was part of the Vineyard Churches as well as Vineyard Music Group. In that context he was extremely influential in the area of contemporary Christian worship music. He was a featured worship leader on many Vineyard worship CDs and also taught extensively on worship leading and songwriting. Doerksen's worship recordings are known for their high production values and quality songwriting.

Notable songs written by Doerksen include: "Refiner's Fire" (1990), "Light the Fire Again" (1994), "Come Now is the Time to Worship" (1998), "Faithful One" (2002), "Hope of the Nations" (2003), and "Today (As For Me and My House)" (2008). Some of these songs have been covered by a number of artists including the Oslo Gospel Choir and Phillips, Craig & Dean.

Doerksen later produced worship music through Integrity's Hosanna Music, including his albums You Shine (2002), Today (2004), Live in Europe (2005), Holy God (2006) and It's Time (2008).

He received a Gospel Music Association Dove Award in 2003, only the second Canadian to be so honoured. He also won a string of Covenant Awards during his career including four in 2005, among them: Artist of the Year, Praise And Worship Album of the Year and Praise And Worship Song of the Year. Three more Covenant Awards followed in 2006, and a further six in 2007. In 2008 he won a Juno Award for the album Holy God.

Doerksen collaborated on a musical titled Prodigal God with playwright and worship pastor Christopher Greco. The production had its debut performance in February 2010 in Vancouver, before going on tour.

Doerksen served as one of two co-pastors along with Dean Richmond, Janine Richmond, Irv Esau, and Karin Esau at an interdenominational church they started on Mother's Day 2006, called The Bridge in Abbotsford. This church met in Matsqui Village. Doerksen was a teaching and worship arts pastor and oversaw the church's growing team of worship leaders.

He led Prairie Bible Institute's School of Worship Arts starting in September 2014.