Debbie Fortnum
Worship Leader / Songwriter
Debbie is a Wife, a Mother-of-Three-Teens, Women’s Speaker, an Award-winning Singer, Songwriter, Worship Leader and Pianist. She weaves her spoken messages, testimony, stories and worshipful music into a well-received gift of real – and Biblical — refreshment to audiences of all ages and stages.
Debbie has shared the stage with numerous Canadian Speakers, Artists and Worship Leaders including her personal friend and worship song writing mentor, Brian Doerksen, Lianna Klassen and Mark Masri. She was also one of the guest worship leaders for the first Canadian Women’s Conference to host Beth Moorein Surrey, BC, June of 2004.
Debbie’s unique ministry has also been utilized within other ministries / organizations such as Women Alive Canada (where she was the Keynote Speaker for their 40th Anniversary in 2013), Dr. Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, Food for the Hungry Canada, the Christian & Missionary Alliance, MOMS Canada, Canada’s National Day of Prayer, Northwest Christian Speakers Bureau Women’s Conferences USA, the Canadian Gospel Music Association, and some of the largest — and smallest — churches in Canada. Her first full length Nashville CD was produced by Dick and Melodie Tunney (Dove-Award winning songwriters for Grammy Award winning artists Sandi Patty, Larnelle Harris and Steve Green.) Her subsequent vocal and piano CDs were produced by Chris Janz, multi-talented Singer/Songwriter/Producer and son of Canadian legend, Paul Janz.
With eight Independent albums to her credit “Oasis of Thirst” (FAMC, 1999) and “To Love and to Be Loved” (FAMC, 2005), “The Christmas Piano” (FAMC, 2006) “The Beautiful Piano” (Easter 2007) “The Healing Piano” (Spring 2008) “Join the Party” (April 2009) and “reCOLLECTION” (nominated for Compilation Album of the Year, 2011) her music is receiving many awards, nominations and traveling through the airwaves, TV stations, churches, camps, women’s ministries, and word of mouth, in several countries throughout North America, Europe and Africa. She has received 20+ Awards &/or Nominations for her music and humanitarian work so far including a Canadian Maja Award for Inspirational Album of the Year (“To Love and to be Loved”), whose title track hit #1 on European Inspirational Radio charts in 2006, staying on the TOP 20 charts for 6 months!) Her latest CD showcases her talented piano-playing and worship – “The Heavenly Piano”.
She sang a powerful duet (Holy, Holy, Holy) with Brian Doerksen on his Award-winning CD, “Holy God” (Integrity, November 2006). She also performed with him at the 2007 CGMA Covenant Awards Ceremonies in Calgary, AB.
Brian Doerksen (INTERNATIONAL ARTIST / WORSHIP LEADER / SONGWRITER)
Debbie is a woman of character, strongly anchored in her own family and church, plus she is active in ministry to the broader Church. One of the main things I love about Debbie and her ministry is that she is an ‘intergenerational’ worship leader and artist, with a strong appeal for those who are young moms and older. I have a sense that she is a “lifer”; that writing, singing and ministering is what she is called to do. I also believe that the time is coming for more women worship leaders and songwriters to be given a platform and I want to do my part in encouraging women in worship!
Dr. Ravi Zacharias, INTERNATIONAL EVANGELIST, CONFERENCE SPEAKER, USA
Her music has an unusual impact on the audience because it combines a beautiful voice with a gentle spirit lifted to the glory of God!
