Over $1M In Medical Debt Erased For DeKalb Families By Church

DEKALB COUNTY, GA — A donation from a DeKalb church cleared $1.3 million in medical debt for more than 1,200 south DeKalb residents, reports WSB. The church’s senior pastor, Rev. Jamal Harrison Bryant directed the donation to families living in the 20028 zip code, which includes Stonecrest and Lithonia.

They received it just before the New Year. New Birth Missionary Baptist Church partners with the nonprofit RIP Medical Debt, which takes donations from organizations and buys medical debt at a huge discount.

Bryant said he hopes it helps families get a better start in 2020.

“We are blessed to be a blessing and this effort has truly helped families start the new year without the stress, worry and concern that often accompanies looming medical bills and calls from debt collectors,” Bryant tells WSB. “When a medical issue occurs, the subsequent bills can wreak havoc on a family’s finances, leading some down a path of bad credit, or left with reservations about even seeking medical attention for fear of the costs for services.”

The church wasn’t the only one to partner with RIP Medical Debt. Atlanta Hawks player Trae Young did too this month, erasing more than $1 million in medical debt for Atlanta families.