Trinity Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, has retired more than $2.2 million in medical debt through its "Debt Jubilee Project," an initiative that unites a politically diverse congregation. By partnering with the nonprofit organization Undue Medical Debt, the church purchases and forgives unpaid medical bills for residents in surrounding Forsyth County for pennies on the dollar.
How Medical Debt Is Retired
The church’s mission relies on the secondary market for medical debt. According to the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt, unpaid medical bills are often sold to debt buyers for a fraction of their original value because the likelihood of collection is low. When a church or donor provides funds to the organization, the group uses those donations to purchase large portfolios of debt. Once purchased, the debt is effectively erased, relieving patients of the financial burden and the potential for credit damage or wage garnishment.
Trinity Moravian Church, a congregation of approximately 200 members, raised over $17,000 during its eighth campaign earlier this year. This effort successfully cleared $2.2 million in debt for local residents. The Rev. John Jackman, who leads the church, describes the project as a way to "fix what we can in the place where we’re planted."
Bridging Political Divides
Despite the polarized nature of national healthcare debates, members of the congregation report that medical debt serves as a rare point of consensus. Participants in the project, including self-identified conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats, have consistently supported the fundraising efforts.
"There isn’t a political divide when it comes to medical debt," says Catherine Coe, a church member and hospital accounting employee. "It all brings us together."
This sentiment is reflected in broader polling data. A 2025 survey conducted for Undue Medical Debt found that approximately 75% of Republicans and 90% of Democrats oppose the use of wage garnishment by collection agencies to recover medical debt. These findings mirror a growing trend of bipartisan state-level legislation aimed at increasing consumer protections against medical debt collection practices.
The Scope of Medical Debt in the U.S.
The issue remains a significant financial strain for millions of Americans. Research from KFF indicates that an estimated 100 million adults in the United States carry some form of healthcare-related debt. More than half of all U.S. adults report having held medical debt at some point in their lives, often stemming from unexpected hospitalizations or procedures that exceed insurance coverage.
For members of Trinity Moravian, the project is a response to these systemic failures. During a recent ceremony, the Rev. Jackman burned a list of 1,631 names representing the individuals whose debt was retired in the latest round of the Jubilee Project.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Debt Jubilee Project?
It is a mission-based initiative at Trinity Moravian Church that collects donations to purchase and forgive medical debt for residents in Forsyth County, North Carolina, through a partnership with the nonprofit Undue Medical Debt.
Why is medical debt so cheap to buy?
Medical debt is often considered "distressed" debt. Because hospitals and collection agencies have often already attempted to collect the funds without success, they sell these portfolios to third-party organizations for pennies on the dollar to recover any portion of the loss.
How widespread is the issue of medical debt?
According to data from KFF, approximately 100 million U.S. adults have some form of medical debt, and over 50% of the adult population has experienced it at some point.