WINSTON-SALEM — Trinity Moravian Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, completed its eighth medical debt relief campaign in early 2026. This latest effort raised more than $17,000, retiring over $2.2 million in medical debt for residents in the local community.

The church initiated its mission to alleviate medical debt for Winston-Salem area residents four years prior to June 2026. The Rev. John Jackman, leader of Trinity Moravian Church, conceived the idea for the medical debt campaign during the pandemic. He noted the ease of fundraising for the cause. "This is the easiest money I've ever raised," Jackman said. "All I do is tell people what we're doing, and they write me a check."

Trinity Moravian Church, which has approximately 200 members, conducted its first medical debt campaign in 2022. That initial campaign aimed to raise $5,000 to retire about $500,000 in unpaid medical bills owed by residents of Forsyth County. The church reached this fundraising goal within six weeks, primarily through donations of less than $50. Rev. Jackman, who has served as a pastor for more than 40 years, articulated the church's approach to local issues. "One of our ideas is that we cannot fix everything, but we have to fix what we can in the place where we're planted," he said.

Church member Catherine Coe, who works in the accounting department of a hospital system, described the pervasive nature of medical debt. "I see people going into debt every minute of every day," Coe said. Coe identifies as a conservative and voted for Donald Trump. She stated, "There isn't a political divide when it comes to medical debt."

Terri Mabe, a 70-year-old member who has been with Trinity Moravian Church for decades and previously worked in the construction industry, spoke about the financial struggles associated with medical expenses. She described situations where individuals might be without work between projects. "In between projects you are a lot of times without a job," Mabe said. "Then you get sick. Next thing you know, you owe $5,000, $10,000 that you cannot pay."

Why It Matters

Trinity Moravian Church's ongoing efforts to retire medical debt address a financial burden for many individuals. More than half of U.S. adults have experienced healthcare debt at some point in their lives, with an estimated 100 million adults nationwide currently holding some form of medical debt. The church partners with Undue Medical Debt, a nonprofit organization that purchases unpaid medical bills from hospitals and debt collectors to then forgive them.

The initiative also demonstrates a point of unity across political perspectives within the church and the broader community. The congregation includes conservative Republicans and liberal Democrats. A 2025 survey for Undue Medical Debt found that approximately 75% of Republicans and 90% of Democrats believe collection agencies should not be permitted to garnish patients' wages for medical debt. This aligns with bipartisan measures to expand protections from medical debt that have been adopted in various states.