Three concerts are planned in Abbotsford and Chilliwack on April 27 and 28 as part of the Fraser Valley Festival of Praise.
The event features a mass choir directed by Fred Ekkert, pastor of music ministries at Clearbrook MB Church; a male chorus directed by Professor Ben Ewert from Trinity Western University; and a Ukrainian ensemble directed by Andriy Zolotaryov, who left his home in Zaporizhzhia after the war began.
Zolotaryov, who serves as pastor of the new Ukrainian Church that meets in Abbotsford, along with his wife Lyudmila, are committed to assisting Ukrainians who have fled from the war in their homeland.
The concert also features internationally acclaimed Abbotsford songwriter, composer, recording artist and songwriting instructor Brian Doerksen, along with his father, Harry Doerksen.
Brian’s songs are known and sung internationally, including Come Now is the Time to Worship, Hope of The Nations, The River and Grateful.
RELATED: Singer-songwriter Brian Doerksen holds concert in Abbotsford
His accolades include an award from the Gospel Music Association of America; six Covenant Awards (Canada’s Gospel Music Association) including for artist, album and song of the year for Holy God; and a Juno Award for Contemporary Christian/Gospel Album of the Year for Holy God.
The event also features brief interviews of Mennonites who fled from communist Ukraine before 1945, along with one featuring the Zolotaryovs.
The concerts take place Saturday, April 27 at 7 p.m. at Chilliwack Alliance Church and Sunday, April 28 at 2:30 and 6:30 p.m. at Central Heights Church in Abbotsford.
Admission is free, but donations will be accepted.
The Fraser Valley Festival of Praise is produced by local faith leaders and co-chairs Herb Neufeld and John H. Redekop, assisted by Fred Ekkert, Hans Kruger, Henry Martens, Linda Neufeld Esau and Karen Heidebrecht Thiessen.
The event is supported by other volunteers, as well as donors and sponsors. Donations are processed by the Mennonite Central Committee.
