If you have recently lost a loved one, please accept our heartfelt condolences. We are here for you and your family during this difficult time, offering comfort found in Christ and guiding you through the necessary funeral arrangements.
"The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit." (Psalm 34:18 NIV)
The following steps may help guide you.
Navigating the Days After Loss
Confirm the passing
- If death occurs in a hospital, the attending doctor will certify the death.
- If the death occurs at home or elsewhere, call an ambulance (999). The medical team will certify the death. Get the details of the medical personnel, mobile number and ambulance number plate.
Make a police report
- A family representative should make a police report after the death has been certified by the medical personnel.
- Bring along the deceased's original identification card and medical documents.
Contact a funeral service provider
- A funeral service provider can help with transporting and preparing the body, arranging the casket and wake, handling cremation or burial, as well as assisting with documentation and obituaries.
Register the death
- To obtain the official Death Certificate, the death must be registered with the National Registration Department (NRD). Bring the deceased's medical certificate of cause of death, their original identification card, the relevant police report and the informant's original identification card.
- Your funeral service provider can assist with this process.
Inform the church
- The church can support you with prayer, pastoral care, wake and funeral service arrangements.
Plan the wake and funeral
- You may discuss with the pastor in charge of bereavement the location, date and time of the wake and funeral services, as well as burial or cremation arrangements and obituary announcements.
Funeral service and final committal
- A Christian funeral service typically includes prayers for the family, worship songs, scripture readings, a message of hope in Christ, family tributes or eulogies.
- The final committal may be by cremation at the crematorium or a burial at the cemetery.
We pray for God's comfort and peace for your family.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."
(Matthew 5:4 NIV)
