For Chaplains
The purpose of Marc & Friends is to make the fullness of Christ known amid death and grief. Below are resources to help you care for families in their time of need.
A Family Guide and Professional Development
Families get better outcomes when they receive guidance before contacting a funeral director:- A Family Guide about Funerals, Cremations and Burials
- Professional Development: equipping you to guide families when a loved one passes away
Biblical Comfort
- Comfort from the Psalms
- GriefShare grief and loss support groups
- Christian books on grief and hope
Specific Pastoral Issues
- Suicide Prevention and Bereavement
- Unplanned Pregnancy and those hurting from previous abortions
Suggesting Marc & Friends to families
- For families needing Funeral Cost Support
- For all families
A Family Guide about Funerals, Cremations and Burials
When families face loss, they're vulnerable — emotionally and through inexperience. Many funeral directors are caring, but commercial pressures don't always serve families well.
This guide takes a different approach. It equips families with honest information before they encounter sales pressure, helping them understand their options and protect their budget when they're most vulnerable.
It draws on family heritage in funeral service, international insight, and personal loss.
Professional Development: advising families before they contact a funeral director
Most families receive their first funeral advice from someone with a commercial interest. We train chaplains to offer sound, independent guidance before families enter that sales environment—equipping you to protect and serve them in one of life's most vulnerable moments.
Comfort from the Psalms
The Psalms have long brought comfort to the grieving, yet many Christians don't draw deeply from their wisdom. We've selected passages from 11 Psalms that may help in your ministry, each with a link to an article, sermon, or song.
GriefShare
A GriefShare support group is a safe, welcoming place where people understand the difficult emotions of grief. Through this 13-week group, families will discover what to expect in the days ahead and what's "normal" in grief. Since there are no neat, orderly stages of grief, they'll learn helpful ways of coping with grief, in all its unpredictability — and gain solid support each step of the way.
GriefShare is a video-led course featuring Nancy Guthrie and her husband, with contributions from Joni Eareckson Tada and Paul David Tripp. Sessions are facilitated by churches, and sometimes in retirement villages and aged care facilities. GriefShare has helped over 1 million people in more than 25 years.
👉 Read an article about it👉 Find out more or start a group where you are chaplain or in your church
Christian books on grief and hope
Marc has personally found these books helpful in ministering to the grieving and in his own loss:
The Doors of the Ocean by John O'Callaghan
"The gentle pace of the poetry and the elegant, peaceful photographs invite you to slow down and rest."
👉 Purchase link
Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy: Discovering the Grace of Lament by Mark Vroegop
"Drawing on examples from the Bible and his own story of loss, Pastor Vroegop walks through steps of lament (Turn, Complain, Ask, and Trust)."
👉 Purchase link
The Book of Common Courage by K.J. Ramsey
Based on Psalm 23, it is "a collection of prayers, poems, and blessings to help you find a flicker of strength in the small and hard moments of life."
👉 Purchase link
We receive no commission from links on this page.
Suicide Prevention and Bereavement
Suicide Prevention for Seniors Program - Anglicare
QIP accredited training for those working with older people, meeting Suicide Prevention Australia standards. CPD points available.
👉 Learn more
Additional resources
For links to suicide prevention and bereavement support organizations:
👉 Suicide Prevention and Bereavement resources
If someone is in crisis:
Immediate danger: Call Triple Zero (000) for an ambulance
24/7 confidential counselling:
- Lifeline: 13 11 14 or chat online at lifeline.org.au
- Suicide Call Back Service: 1300 659 467 or suicidecallbackservice.org.au
No problem is too big or small.
House of Refuge
House of Refuge is a new movement, associated with Love Sydney. It empowers churches to support those facing unplanned or crisis pregnancy, guide those hurting from previous abortions toward healing, and protect the unborn in their community.A House of Refuge isn't a building — it's a local church where someone can go in crisis, a safe place where the body of Christ ministers to those in need.
👉 Hear an interview about it
👉 Find out more or start a group in your church
Suggesting Marc & Friends to families
Below are two brochures you're welcome to print or share with families. Alternatively, if you would like us to post you copies, please let us know.
For families needing Funeral Cost Support
This brochure is specifically for families with limited financial means.
👉 Download Email Version (PDF)
👉 Download Printable Version (PDF)
For all families
Our general brochure explains our services and mentions that we assist some families with funeral costs. Most families choose our standard fees—their choice makes it possible for us to quietly help others in hardship.