Cincinnati church pays off $46.5 million in medical debt for 45,000 families
Crossroads Church and RIP Medical Debt provided monumental medical debt relief for families in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana.
A megachurch in Cincinnati announced Sunday that it is paying off $46.5 million in medical debt for more than 45,000 families.
Crossroads Church partnered with RIP Medical Debt, a medical debt relief nonprofit, to wipe out debts for people in Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee and Indiana. They will receive bright yellow envelopes this week letting them know the good news.
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"Churches are at our best when we are a blessing to real people in our communities," Senior Pastor Brian Tome told Fox News Thursday. "We're not here to just have big Sunday meetings."
Crossroads Church Pastor Brian Tome made a big announcement Sunday, helping thousands in the tri-state area wipe out $45.6 million in medical debt. (Courtesy of Crossroads Church)
Tome told his congregation about the "opportunity to multiply our impact" during a Nov. 23 sermon, "They'll get a letter that says, 'Congratulations, your debt has been paid because someone loves you and there is a God that has not forgotten about you.'"
On Sunday, the pastor read aloud a message from one of the lucky beneficiaries.
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"I received this piece of mail in this bright yellow envelope and started to throw it away," the pastor read. "But when I saw that it said your medical debt has been paid, I thought, 'seriously, wait a minute.' When I read it I got emotional – the person continued – because I have been so needing a break with getting my credit together. I really appreciate the gift."
The church wiped out debt for 41,233 households in Ohio for a total of $42.8 million, 2,974 Kentucky households abolishing $1.9 million in debt, 503 Tennessee households for $1.5 million, and 136 Indiana homes for $200,000, FOX 19 reports.
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For every $100 donated to RIP Medical Debt, $10,000 in medical debt is wiped out, according to the New York-based organization.
Crossroads Church's recent deed constitutes the largest amount of medical debt eliminated in the nonprofit's history.
