Bob Arrington, president/founder of Arrington Funeral Directors (Jackson) and past president of NFDA, and Ron Hale, head of ministry and church outreach at the firm, released a new book, Victory Over Death: Funeral Messages of Hope and Healing. A pastoral resource for ministers at every age and stage of ministry, this 176-page book is a compilation of funeral messages from local church pastors/ministers and leaders such as Dr. Adrian Rogers, Dr. Ronnie Floyd and Dr. Logan Hampton.

The first three chapters include practical information written by the funeral home’s staff. Arrington opens the book with a chapter on death and grief, explaining how every person deals with grief in a unique way. Hale offers a step-by-step guide to help a pastor work with both the family and the funeral director. Joseph Lane, a funeral director and certified crematory operator, writes a chapter offering valuable advice to pastors based on his many years of directing funerals. The book ends with two chapters on how to conduct a meaningful committal service and leading a church in an annual remembrance service.

Younger pastors and those new to church ministry will find the chapters on “Death and Grief,” “The Pastor’s Response When a Church Member Dies” and “Advice From a Funeral Director to Those Leading the Funeral Service” extremely helpful and practical. With more lay leaders asked to speak at funerals, this book will serve as a valuable resource. Available through Amazon.