LA CROIX INTERNATIONAL: In the US, churches come to the aid of Americans in debt for their health
In the United States, getting sick is, for many, an unaffordable luxury. Almost one in two Americans is in debt after going to the hospital, for a total amount of nearly $ 200 billion. A colossal weight that some Churches manage to attenuate.
Feature article for La Croix International by special reporter Gilles Biassette.
Read the original article in French (PAYWALL)
MEDIUM: It’s the Year of Jubilee! Church Buys $3.3 Million of Debt — and Cancels It.
"An incredible example of Christ-centered love from this Church: This modest-sized Christian community has punched way above their weight."
"But let’s call it we see it — here is a church community which has grasped the essence of Jesus’ life and teaching and found practical ways to live that out in their local community." BACKYARD CHURCH by Paul Walker.
NORTH CAROLINA CHURCH DEBT JUBILEE RETIRES MILLIONS IN MEDICAL DEBT — CAN VETERANS EVERYWHERE BE NEXT?
Many people are excited about our efforts to abolish medical debt in our area. But did you know that the Veterans Administration does not allow veterans’ debts to be discharged? RIP Medical Debt co-founder Jerry Ashton (a Navy veteran himself) is on a campaign to change that – and he’s using our Jubilee Project as an example!
Read the article in Let's Rethink This
Read more about the effort at Veteran Mission Possible.
CNN: A church is canceling people’s medical debt for pennies on the dollar. It wants others to join in
In March, Trinity Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, made a stunning announcement. For pennies on the dollar, the congregation had bought up $3.3 million of medical debt belonging to 3,355 local families. With bells ringing and confetti flying, the church held a “debt burning” ceremony marking the full forgiveness of these burdens.
READ THE ARTICLE by CNN staff writer A. J. Willingham
WNYC: The Takeaway - The American Medical Debt Crisis
In March, the actions of a local church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina received national attention for all the right reasons. The congregation at Trinity Moravian Church partnered with an organization called R-I-P Medical Debt to cancel 3,000 local residents’ medical debt, to the tune of $3.3 million dollars. They bought that debt for just a little over $15,000 dollars. Rev. John Jackman, the pastor of Trinity Moravian Church held a symbolic “debt burning” ceremony to mark the occasion, with confetti and hymns.
LA CROIX: "Small" Trinity Moravian Church cancels $3 million of medical debt among poor people
Members of the Trinity Moravian Church in the US state of North Carolina purchased over $3 million of some 3,000 local residents' medical debt and bills, canceling it all. This was made possible by a partnership between the Debt Jubilee Project that focuses on paying off the past-due medical bills of residents.
NOTE: La Croix is working on a larger feature article. Reporter Giles Biassette from La Croix came over from Paris to interview Pastor John about the Debt Jubilee. Biassette has also inteviewed the CEO of RIP Medical Debt, and is in the process of doing further research on the impact of medical debt in the US. We will post the feature when available.
INDEPENDENT TRIBUNE: Winston-Salem church buys nearly $3.3 million of outstanding medical debts, easing the burden on people in three counties
Trinity Moravian Church in Winston-Salem has purchased nearly $3.3 million of outstanding medical debt, a move that will forgive those debts for people in Davidson, Davie and Yadkin counties, the church said this week.
THE DISPATCH: Church forgives $3 million in medical debt for Davidson County residents
More than 3,000 Davidson County residents no longer have to worry about being hassled by debt collectors after a local church recently purchased, and forgave, almost $3 million in their medical bills. This is the second year the members of Trinity Moravian Church in Winston-Salem have taken on the Debt Jubilee Project, which focuses on paying off the past-due medical bills of residents in the Triad. Last year the group purchased $1.65 million worth of debt for 1,356 people in Forsyth and Davidson counties.
