We’re excited to share a beautiful new music video created by longtime Bethesda friend Brian Doerksen. Brian reached out with the idea of featuring people we support in his song Shelter—a piece that speaks to the universal need for love, respect, dignity, and the deep human desire to be truly seen.
Brian’s family is part of Bethesda, and both of his sons attend Tapestry Community Inclusion. Inviting people from Bethesda’s community felt like a natural fit. In part, he says, it’s because “they are rubbing shoulders day by day with our two sons.”
Dawna Braun, who coordinated involvement from people in our Chilliwack community, shared how deeply the experience resonated. She described Bethesda’s participation in the recording as “incredibly valuable and meaningful,” noting how closely the lyrics aligned with the heart of our ministry. “People felt seen, valued, and most importantly, part of something truly special,” she said. “For many, the joy it created has continued for months as they recall and talk about the experience.”
Gwen Anderson, Tapestry’s manager, echoed that impact. When the video was shown during Tapestry’s devotion time, she remembers faces lighting up as people recognized themselves and others on screen: “I know her! I know him!” Watching the video herself, Gwen shared, “It gave me goosebumps. You could see that need for friendship and love in their hearts, just like the song says.”
As the video begins, people appear one by one. They are all people from Tapestry Community Inclusion and several Bethesda services in Chilliwack. Each person smiles, sways, and dances, and their excitement is apparent as they step into the moment. From the first frame to the very end, the joy of being included is written across their faces.
This project holds special meaning for Brian. As he explains, “Shelter feels like one of those ‘life songs’ for me. Ever since we realized our oldest son Benjamin had Fragile X syndrome and would require support for life, followed by his younger brother Isaiah a few years later, we knew our lives would be woven together with the special-needs community. It took a few years of lived experience, with joys and struggles, to be ready to write this song. But when it started tumbling out of me last year, I knew this was what I wanted to write about.”
What made the video especially powerful was the intentional care Brian and videographer Luke Vandevert brought to every interaction. Each line of the song was paired with a new person embodying its message. They took time to honor each person’s strengths, encourage them, and create an atmosphere of dignity and respect. As Dawna observed, their “sincere respect, kindness, encouragement, and deep love for the people we support” left a lasting impression. It was beautifully captured in the words of one participant: “I will remember this day forever.”
Perhaps the greatest impact was felt by the songwriter himself. “I was deeply impacted by being in the presence of Bethesda clients as we filmed it,” Brian reflected. “It was like the lyrics of the song came alive in ways I hadn’t even imagined.” As he watched their faces, visibly overjoyed, while they sang the words “Everybody needs respect and dignity, everybody needs love, real love,” the meaning of Shelter took on new depth.
In total, eleven people from various Chilliwack services and nine from Tapestry participated, bringing the song’s message to life with unfiltered joy, honest longing, and heartfelt expression.
We are deeply grateful to Brian and Luke for creating this meaningful work and for portraying a timeless truth so beautifully: when we love God and love people, love becomes shelter. In that shelter, healing grows and community comes alive. Watch the video here.
