For more than three decades, his voice inspired millions, and his songs became a source of comfort during life’s darkest moments. But behind the stage lights, he had been fighting a devastating battle that very few people knew about.
At first, it seemed like nothing more than a routine health issue. However, the pain grew worse, and medical tests revealed increasingly alarming findings. Doctors searched for answers while the illness continued to spread rapidly.
When his family finally shared the heartbreaking truth, fans from around the world united in prayer and support. Sadly, there was far less time left than anyone had imagined.
It was Canadian Christian singer, songwriter, and worship leader Brian Doerksen. He passed away at the age of 60, just days after his family revealed that he had been diagnosed with stage 4 cancer. According to his loved ones, Brian died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Abbotsford, Canada, surrounded by his family.
His health problems began back in February. At first, doctors struggled to determine the cause of his severe pain, but further examinations revealed tumors in his pelvis, along with cancer that had spread to his liver, lungs, and tissue surrounding his heart. Despite treatment and pain management, his condition deteriorated rapidly. Doctors were never able to determine the exact primary source of the cancer.
Even during his final days, Brian continued to encourage those around him. In a statement released by his family, they shared that he expressed gratitude to his medical team, comforted friends and relatives, and remained a source of hope and kindness despite his own suffering.
Throughout his career, Doerksen released more than 30 albums. His songs, including Come, Now Is the Time to Worship, Refiner’s Fire, and Faithful One, have been sung in churches around the world for decades and became some of the most beloved worship songs of their generation. Fellow musicians and Christian organizations described him as one of the artists who helped shape modern worship music.
Brian is survived by his wife, Joyce, and their six adult children. His passing is a tremendous loss not only for his family but also for millions of people who found comfort, faith, and hope through his music. His legacy will continue to live on through the songs that have touched countless lives around the world.
