Higher Vision Church in Valencia participated in a nationwide fundraiser during Easter Sunday services, wiping out $1.6 million in medical debt.

Higher Vision was among more than a dozen churches nationwide that raised millions to donate to RIP Medical Debt, a nonprofit organization that arranges such debt payoffs, according to Craig Antico, the nonprofit’s co-founder.

“RIP Medical Debt is extremely grateful to partner with any donor or campaigner interested in relieving medical debt for Americans in need,” Antico said. “We’ve found faith-based organizations to be especially aligned with our goals. Considering that acts of charity/community empowerment are fundamental to many faiths, it’s no surprise our work with churches has been so impactful.”

The charity helps groups of individuals and families by buying large portfolios of debt from medical providers and debt sellers on the debt market, for pennies on the dollar, and forgiving it, according to officials.

As little as $1 donated to RIP can alleviate $100 of medical debt. The debt is removed from credit reports and can no longer be collected on, according to RIP Medical Deby officials.

In a drive at Higher Vision Church, attended by 8,000 people, the church raised $16,000 – wiping out $1.6 million in medical debt, according to church officials.

“This is the biggest medical debt abolishment in the history of the United States,” Antico said.

Higher Vision Church posted about the drive on its Facebook page with a video that opens with a prayer, which asks God “to forgive our debts, as we forgive our debtors.”

One in five people living in the U.S. are grappling with medical debt, with nearly 50 percent of all credit card debt in the US is from medical debt, according to the nonprofit.

Medical debt contributes to 60 percent of all bankruptcies in America and more than 40 percent of Americans are not able to cover an emergency expense of $400, RIP Medical Dept officials said.

“Thirteen percent of California is in medical debt. According to medical debt on credit reports, it adds up to $7.2 billion,” the video said. “What if we mobilize the church to abolish the debt of the sin, and crippling medical costs for others?”

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