Churches team up to abolish medical debt for Western Oklahomans

Five million dollars of medical debt has been abolished for the western half of the state of Oklahoma, including Oklahoma County. And it all began with paying off the church mortgage.

In January of 2023, Kingfisher First United Methodist Church celebrated their burning of the mortgage just three and a half years after completing construction. As they looked ahead to the future, dreams of a new big kid playground, a storage building with room for the church van, and even phase two of the building were lifted up.

“But all of these things were focusing on the church building,” observed Rev. Dr. Jennifer Long, pastor of Kingfisher First United Methodist Church. “We knew we needed to also look at how to make a difference in the community and beyond.”

Dr. Long had seen an article about RIP Medical Debt, a non-profit that purchases medical debt from the secondary debt market and health care providers in bundled portfolios to help relieve debt for thousands of individuals at once. They abolish debt for those who are either earning at or less than four times the federal poverty level or have debts that are five percent or more of their annual income. She contacted RIP and found out they could purchase five million dollars of medical debt for Western Oklahoma for $27,000.

The church jumped on board and the “Do All the Good You Can” campaign began. Large and small donations started coming in, the children raised money during Vacation Bible School, but then the campaign stalled. Dr. Long didn’t know if they would make it.

Rev. Trina Bose North of Crown Heights United Methodist Church in Oklahoma City had seen Dr. Long’s post about the campaign and her church wanted to be a part of it. “This is what makes the connection great,” said Rev. Bose North. “We work together to do more than we can ever do alone!” Crown Heights focused their mission giving during the summer months toward the campaign as both pastors talked about a pulpit exchange to celebrate.

With the donations from Crown Heights UMC, anonymous donations online, and the money raised from Kingfisher First UMC, they met, and even surpassed, their goal.

Letters will soon go out to households letting them know their debt has been erased. “This is grace. Beautiful, tangible grace,” proclaimed Dr. Long. “And it wouldn’t have been possible without everyone who shared what they had to help their neighbor.”

For more information about RIP Medical Debt or to start your own campaign, go to ripmedicaldebt.org.