While visiting the southern countries of Africa earlier this year, SIM missionary Eldon Howard observed that many of the pastors in SIM-related churches are overwhelmed by funerals for members of their congregations. They have so many funerals to perform, along with the related visiting and counseling, that they do not have enough time to prepare their sermons or even to deliver them on the weekend. And the emotional toll it takes, with so many of their church members sick and dying, is indescribable.
Many people attend four funerals a week for friends.
In another country, the government has banned weekday funerals, limiting them to weekends in an attempt to keep them from disrupting business and industry.