Last night by a vote of 219-212 the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR3590, which was previously passed by the Senate on Christmas Eve.  They passed the bill without amendment so it now goes to President Obama’s desk.  He is expected to sign the bill on Tuesday.

The bill contains in individual mandate to purchase health insurance, but it also includes an exemption from the penalty for members of health care sharing ministries.  We are thankful for this island of freedom that remains in the legislation for pro-life Christians, and encourage people of faith to seek out information on these ministries and consider joining.

The individual and employer mandates do not take effect until 2014.

Both of our member ministries were featured in a recent news broadcast in Charlotte, NC.  You can watch the video here.

The usual push on regulation is included in the news story, but it’s a good look into how the ministries work as a flyover view.

This time in Dallas:

Bob and Paula Singleton still have the heartfelt, prayer-filled letters that came with payment for Mr. Singleton’s melanoma surgery last year.

“It is so warm and friendlier than an insurance check,” Mrs. Singleton said while reading a well-wish that read “our prayers are with yours that the cancer is totally gone.”

It wasn’t an insurance company at all that covered every last cent of his medical costs, but Christians from all over the country. It was all part of a Christian health care sharing program called Samaritan Ministries.

Read or watch the whole story here.