COLUMBUS, Ind. – As part of its 200th anniversary celebration, First Presbyterian Church of Columbus has taken an extraordinary step to serve its neighbors. With a $10,000 gift from a generous church family, the congregation partnered with Undue Medical Debt to purchase and abolish just over $1.78 million in medical debt for 1,488 individuals across south-central Indiana.
“This is about bringing hope and healing in a very practical way,” said Rev. Dr. Felipe N. Martínez, pastor of First Presbyterian Church. “Our bicentennial is not only a time to look back with gratitude but also to look forward with compassion.”
The initiative was inspired by a family in the congregation who wished to remain anonymous. Other families in the church have added to that initial gift. Their donations were multiplied through Undue Medical Debt’s model, which converts every $1 contributed into an average of $100 in debt relief.
Medical debt is the leading cause of bankruptcy in the United States and often prevents families from seeking further care. Those who qualify for debt relief through Undue Medical Debt typically earn less than four times the federal poverty level or have debts that exceed 5% of their annual income.
Individuals whose debt is being abolished will soon receive letters directly from Undue Medical Debt. These letters are not a scam—they carry the good news that their debt has been fully eliminated and, importantly, that this debt will also be removed from their credit reports. Recipients are strongly encouraged to open these letters upon receipt.
The impact reaches deep into the community:
- Bartholomew County: $1.03 million relieved for 916 individuals
- Brown County: $237,000 relieved for 225 individuals
- Jackson County: $507,000 relieved for 347 individuals
First Presbyterian Church has an additional $10,000 in donated funds reserved to abolish more debt when the next purchase becomes available, extending the impact of this effort even further.
While this is not a fundraising campaign, church leaders hope their example will inspire other faith communities and nonprofit organizations to consider how they, too, might stand alongside families struggling with medical debt.
