Brian Doerksen, a prominent Christian musician celebrated for co-writing the worship standard "Come, Now Is the Time to Worship," has died at the age of 60. His family announced his passing on Tuesday, just four days after disclosing his diagnosis of stage 4 cancer.
Doerksen died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Abbotsford, British Columbia, surrounded by loved ones. He had been experiencing months of severe pain from undiagnosed health issues before entering the hospital earlier this month and receiving his cancer diagnosis.
Emerging in the 1990s within the evangelical Vineyard Movement, Doerksen was instrumental in crafting numerous worship songs that became staples in churches. Among his notable contributions are "Hope of the Nations," "Refiner's Fire," and "Faithful One."
Born in Abbotsford in 1965, Doerksen grew up in a family with deep Mennonite roots. He often spoke of his spiritual journey, recalling a profound moment in his youth where he felt a calling to dedicate his life to service.
A GoFundMe campaign initiated by his close circle had raised over $133,000 American by Saturday morning, surpassing its initial goal of $50,000 Canadian.
