Following Gurgthock is really following the mob at the bottom of the Inferno.

Getting empowered is (almost ridiculously) easy. But only to a level that gives you some nice stuff, but definitely not the full skill set. For a healer, for instance, I'd give them empowerment up to sanc and mass heal, but no rejuv. So it's possible for them to get through Hell, but highly unlikely.

In short, it's not a route I'd recommend. It does have it's viable avenues, however. Murdershaman, for instance. If you don't mind not having wither and rot.

All of the above said, if you've been praying for Gurg and I've missed it, I'm sorry, that's my bad.