GOSPEL MUSIC ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF GMA SPECIAL AWARDS AT MONDAY MORNING LIVE

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – April 7, 2003 – Recipients of the Gospel Music Association’s Special Awards were announced at the annual Monday Morning Live membership meeting during Gospel Music Week 2003.

International Award
The International Award honors a performer or organization from outside of the U.S. that has made an impact not just in his or her own country, but on the world at large. Songwriter, worship leader and producer Brian Doerksen receives the distinction this year. Born and raised in Abbotsford, British Colombia, at 19 Doerksen married his high school sweetheart, Joyce, and began their married life serving with “Youth With A Mission” in Southeast Asia. After serving as worship pastor for the Langley Vineyard Christian Fellowship, Doerksen lived in London from 1997-99 training worship leaders in the UK and Ireland and produced the worship project Hungry. Doerksen then returned to Canada and continued his songwriting and producing with Vineyard Music, joining Integrity Music in 2002. His first album with Integrity, You Shine, was recorded in Dublin, Ireland, and was distributed to more than 170 countries. Some of Doerksen’s songs include “Come, Now is the Time to Worship,” “Refiner’s Fire,” “Light the Fire Again,” and “Hallelujah (Your Love is Amazing).” Doerksen has recently garnered five nominations for the 2003 Vibe Awards, a people’s choice awards ceremony celebrating Canadian Christian music.

Doerksen, Joyce and their six children live in Abbotsford, British Colombia, in the old farmhouse where he was raised.

Past honorees include: Delirious?, Darlene Zschech, World Wide Message Tribe, Graham Kendrick, Adrian Snell, Cliff Richard, Sheila Walsh, MiC and in 2002, Matt Redman.