‘Demonstration of God’s love’: An Indiana church paid off over R100 million ($7.8 million) in medical debt for 5,940 families.
Indiana, United States of America – This past weekend, the Northview Church congregation of more than 10,000 people learned about the updated numbers for medical debt elimination for an estimated 5,940 families in their communities.
Northview Church, a church with locations throughout Central Indiana, is paying off a total of R100 million ($7.8 million) in medical debt for approximately 5,940 families who live in the 10 communities where Northview Church sites are located. These communities include Indianapolis, Anderson, Carmel, Fishers, Flora, Kokomo, Lafayette, northern Putnam County, Peru and Westfield.
In June 2019, the church originally announced they were abolishing R29 million ($2 million) in medical debt for 2,500 families in these communities. Since then, additional donations came in from Northview attendees who wanted to continue the movement. Those recent donations have more than doubled the effect on these communities – in some cases, wiping out medical debt for entire cities.
Recipients are not necessarily connected with Northview Church and will be surprised to receive beneficiary letters in the mail in the coming few weeks, communicating about the cancelled debt.
After Northview’s original announcement about debt elimination in June, Northview’s partnership with RIP Medical Debt had a ripple effect on other churches wanting to get involved.
“This is a great example of churches meeting people’s needs in practical ways as a demonstration of God’s love,” Northview’s Senior Pastor Steve Poe said.
Northview Church is partnering with RIP Medical Debt, a New York-based charity, to erase the medical debt. RIP Medical Debt takes donations – like the ones from Northview Church – to purchase debt at pennies on the dollar.
“The debt is then paid off forever, with no adverse consequences to those who benefit,” Northview wrote in a statement.
What an incredible story which gives us all a sense of true hope over the festive season and we know this is an international story but imagine if South African churches did the same thing.
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