Last year, Church of the Cross United Methodist Church in Kettering, Ohio, searched for a creative way to be the hands and feet of Christ and expand what it means to be in ministry to their community.

Member Tiffany Washburn presented the idea of working with RIP Medical Debt to the lead pastor, Rev. Scott Campbell, and the church's leadership team.

RIP Medical Debt is a nonprofit whose mission is to alleviate the burden of unpaid medical bills for those who are experiencing financial hardship.

According to the KFF, formally known as the Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, more than half of U.S. adults report they have experienced debt because of medical or dental bills in the past five years. These expenses are a result of cancer treatment, emergency medical events, or instances of insurance companies not covering care required by the patient.

Campbell and the leadership team agreed to the mission. By fundraising their goal of $10,000, RIP could eliminate $1 million in debt. With an energized congregation, the church exceeded the goal and raised $15,000. By Christmas, 2,600 families in Montgomery, Warren, Miami, Green, and Butler counties received a letter from RIP advising that, thanks to Church of the Cross UMC, their medical debts, totaling $1.9 million, were paid.

“This gives [families] a chance to breathe and know they had some prayers answered,” Campbell said.

In the future, Church of the Cross may revisit debt relief as a mission, as the effort generated much excitement in the congregation. Click here for more information on RIP Medical Debt.

Written by Amy Graham, Freelance Writer