The family of Brian Doerksen say they are “heartbroken and hopeful” as the Christian singer-songwriter is treated in hospital. 

Doerksen, who wrote Come Now is the Time to Worship and Refiner’s Fire, had been suffering with severe pain for several months. 

In a statement posted on his Instagram account, the family said Doerksen and his wife Joyce have “limited capacity to receive and respond to individual texts, but they welcome your thoughts and prayers and will visit you here, in this space.”

“Brian is in hospital and now under the care of an excellent team of caring and competent doctors. The news yesterday was difficult. In short, scans indicate a mass in the pelvis and spots on the liver and lungs and close to the heart. Brian will be undergoing a colonoscopy and biopsies today and results will be known in 3-5 days.”

The family shared the Canadian artist’s words from Every Moment Holy, a song on the forthcoming Breathing album:

“From our genesis to that final breath
You’re redeeming all our trials and sorrows
Every tear that falls you collect them all
Then you heal us with your love and mercy.”

Supporters shared their prayers in the comments, with some explaining how meaningful they have found his songs. 

Born in 1965, Doerksen began leading worship in Vineyard Churches in the late 1980s.