Excerpt
According to the National Center for Health Statistics, there are roughly 2,398,343 deaths in the United States every year as of their 2004 findings . The current population of the US is around 300 million (302,923,496 people, as of September 20, 2007), according to the US Census , so roughly 0.79% of Americans die every year. While that is a small percentage, there is still a real impact in terms of people left behind. And this is a yearly number—that means that a similar amount of people die every year adding to the impact of death among us.

Just looking at the US deaths per year, this means that if everyone had at least five relatives or friends who cared about them that roughly 11,991,715 people will loose someone they love every year in the States! Within five years, this number increases to 59,958,575 people with survive a loved one’s death. While some may repeat loosing a loved one, many will be acquainted with death for the first time. Within a little over 25 years, with all things being constant, everyone in the US population will survive a death! Of course, not all things will be held constant, but this was merely for illustrate purposes that most people, if they live long enough, will survive someone’s death be it a parent, sibling, spouse or child. We, as the church body, need to be ready to bring comfort and support to everyone who has lost someone significant in their life.