When Medical Debt Keeps a Patient From Going Home

The second phase of our Kinshasa mission brought us to Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Renaissance (CHUR), formerly known as Mama Yemo.

There, we encountered a reality that deeply affected us: patients who had completed their medical treatment and were medically ready for discharge but remained at the hospital because they were unable to pay their outstanding medical bills.

God placed it on our hearts to serve.

We covered outstanding medical bills in full for patients so they could be discharged and return home to their families. We were also able to help reduce other medical debts and support the hospital’s nutrition department.

But our time at CHUR went far beyond paying bills.

The hospital team took us through the wards, from newer construction to the older areas of the hospital. We met patients and families, listened to their stories, prayed with them, and witnessed firsthand what limited access to healthcare resources can mean.

There were deeply humbling moments: seeing serious wounds progress because treatment was financially out of reach, or seeing the complications of diabetes threaten a person’s limb. Behind every condition was a person, a family, and a story.

Those encounters reminded us that service is not simply about what we can give. Sometimes it begins with being willing to see, listen, pray, and respond to the person in front of us.

We are deeply grateful to Dr. Sarah, who served as our liaison; Dr. Trésor, Director of CHUR; Dr. Moses, who worked alongside us; Prophet Rhema, Prophet Patient, Prophet Osée, Pastor Grace, and the entire CHUR team who welcomed us and helped us move throughout the hospital to meet and serve patients and their families.

It was a humbling and powerful experience, and we remain grateful for the privilege of serving alongside them.