4 of 4

"It's amazing, the overpowering number of young people [who are trying to follow CCDA principles]," Perkins says. "It's very inspiring to me. It humbles me. I don't read much of their stuff. I don't go to their movies. It just amazes me that [I can influence them] with my old-fashioned reading of the Bible. I see it as my responsibility to keep that message before the people."

"The wonderful thing about John Perkins is that he grows and grows," Mary Nelson says. None of Perkins's community development efforts in Mississippi or California has been a knockdown success. They have made differences in many lives, but it would be hard to attribute large-scale transformation to them. The same could be said of most members of CCDA: Theirs are small-scale attempts to overcome large-scale problems of depleted economies, disintegrating families, and substandard education.

The key to Perkins's legacy, and the legacy of CCDA, will surely be replication. There are community development programs in almost every large city now. Can idealistic young people, drawn to the vision of justice and love, stick it out for the long haul, as Perkins and other veterans have? Will their churches, schools, housing projects, and medical clinics endure? Will the CCDA philosophy spread?

"I decided a few years ago that I didn't want to seek my legacy in buildings or institutions," Perkins says. "I wanted to raise up people." He has managed to relate to whites without alienating them, yet he has remained authentically, unquestionably rooted in African American culture. He also says, "I have kept a pretty good relationship with the gospel-preaching Left and the gospel-preaching Right." Both sides chronically worry that Perkins has gone over to the other side.

Like a grandparent, Perkins is old enough to roll with the tide. He doesn't seem worried when people go off in one direction or another, so long as they stick to the Bible and to the poor.

Shane Claiborne, who leads the Simple Way in Philadelphia, writes in the introduction to a re-release of Perkins's Let Justice Roll Down that "Papa John has fathered a ragtag and dysfunctional spiritual family as diverse as the kingdom of God." Of course, he didn't really father them. Many began working with poor communities before they ever heard of John Perkins. But Perkins's spirit drew them together, and a new generation has joined in. His passion for the poor has spread.

"What we wanted CCDA to be," Perkins says, "is first of all Christian, believing the Bible is the Word of God, but also practical for living. The Christian church is meant to be the continuation of the life of Jesus on earth. Unfortunately, I see it more [often] as a continuation of American individualism, need, and greed.

"Serving the poor is not some do-good thing. CCDA is living with a purpose, to live out the love of God. We get our orders from the Word of God. The message that we are bringing to the poor is that they have been loved by a holy God."

Tim Stafford is a CT senior writer.

Copyright © 2007 Christianity Today. Click for reprint information.

John Perkins, according to The John Perkins Center at Seattle Pacific University, is president of John M. Perkins Foundation for Reconciliation and Development, the founder of Christian Community Development Association, Mendenhall Ministries, Voice of Calvary Ministries, Harambee Christian Family Center, Harambee Preparatory School, co-founder and chairman of the Christian Community Development Association, and publisher of Urban Family magazine.

Dr. John Perkins is the author of numerous books, including, Let Justice Roll Down, an autobiography.

Perkins also wrote the article "Who Speaks for the Black Community?'

Charles Marsh told CT that Perkins was " the most influential African American church leader since Dr. King."

Edward Gilbreath's review of The Beloved Community mentions Perkins' work.

first page |  4 of 4

share this page

March 2007, Vol. 51, No. 3