Brian Doerksen, worship songwriter, dies at 60

Brian Doerksen, the Canadian songwriter behind the globally sung worship anthem 'Come, Now Is the Time to Worship,' died Tuesday at his home in Abbotsford, British Columbia. He was 60 and had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer shortly before his death, according to a statement from his family shared by CHVN-FM.

Doerksen passed away peacefully in his sleep at 6:45 a.m., surrounded by his loved ones, the family said. He had experienced undiagnosed medical issues since February, was later hospitalized, and his condition deteriorated rapidly in his final days. 'Till the very end, Brian continued to love those around him and shared incredible gratitude to those in the medical field,' the family statement read.

Born in 1965, Doerksen spent more than three decades writing and recording worship music, much of it through the Vineyard Church movement. His songs crossed denominational lines and are sung worldwide. He won a Juno Award in 2008 for his album 'Holy God' and received six Covenant Awards the previous year. He is survived by his wife Joyce and their six children, all of whom live with Fragile X syndrome.

Doerksen's musical legacy includes enduring songs such as 'Refiner's Fire,' 'Faithful One,' and 'Your Love Is Amazing.' His death prompted tributes from Christian music leaders and congregations reflecting on his impact on modern worship music.