John M. Perkins facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Quick facts for kids John M. Perkins

Born	(1930-06-16)June 16, 1930 New Hebron, Mississippi, U.S.
Died	March 13, 2026(2026-03-13) (aged 95)
Occupation	Minister civil rights activist author
Spouse(s)	Vera Mae Buckley (m. 1951)
Children	5

John M. Perkins (June 16, 1930 – March 13, 2026) was an important American leader. He was a Christian minister, a civil rights activist, and an author. He worked to bring fairness and help to communities. With his wife, Vera Mae Perkins, he started the John & Vera Mae Perkins Foundation. He also helped create the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA).

John M. Perkins: A Life of Service and Justice
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John M. Perkins: A Life of Service and Justice

Early Life and Beginnings

Growing Up in Mississippi

John M. Perkins was born on June 16, 1930. This was in a place called New Hebron, Mississippi. When he was very young, his mother passed away. His father left, so his grandmother raised him. His family worked as sharecroppers. This meant they farmed land owned by others and shared the crops. John only went to school for a few years.

Moving to California and Finding Faith

In 1947, something sad happened. His brother was killed. His family worried about John's safety. They encouraged him to leave Mississippi. He moved far away to southern California. In June 1951, John married Vera Mae Buckley. He also joined the U.S. Armed Forces that year. He served in Okinawa during the Korean War. In 1957, his son Spencer invited him to church. This led John to become a Christian.

Working for Change: His Career and Activism

Starting Ministries in Mississippi

In 1960, John, Vera Mae, and their children moved back. They went from California to Mendenhall, Mississippi. This town was near where John grew up. In 1964, he started the Voice of Calvary Bible Institute there.

Vera Mae also began helping the community. She ran a day-care center from their home. From 1966 to 1968, it became part of the federally funded Head Start Program. This program helps young children get ready for school.

Fighting for Equal Rights

John Perkins worked for equal rights. In 1965, he helped people register to vote. This was in Simpson County. In 1967, he worked to make schools fair for everyone. He enrolled his son Spencer in Mendenhall High School. Before this, only white students went there.

In 1969, John led a protest. People stopped buying from certain stores. This was to protest unfair treatment. On February 7, 1970, John was arrested. He faced harsh treatment from police officers in Brandon Jail.

The "Three Rs" Philosophy

In 1976, he wrote a book. It was called A Quiet Revolution. In this book, he shared his ideas for helping people. He talked about "three Rs":

Relocation: Living in the communities you want to help.
Redistribution: Sharing resources and opportunities fairly.
Reconciliation: Bringing people together to heal differences.

Expanding His Work and Moving West

By the mid-1970s, his ministries grew. Voice of Calvary, Jackson, and Mendenhall Ministries offered many services. They had thrift stores and health clinics. They also ran housing cooperatives. They taught Bible and theology classes. John became a popular speaker. He traveled to churches and colleges across the country.

In 1982, the Perkins family moved again. They left Voice of Calvary Ministries. They returned to California. There, they started Harambee Christian Family Center. It is now called Harambee Ministries. It is in Pasadena.

Founding the CCDA and Youth Programs

In 1989, John Perkins founded the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA). This group connects churches and organizations. They work in cities to help people in need. CCDA encouraged Christians to work for social justice and civil rights.

After his son Spencer passed away in 1998, John started a special center. It was named the Spencer Perkins Center. This center focuses on youth programs. It offers after-school tutoring and summer arts camps. It also has internship programs and Bible clubs. The foundation also helps families find affordable homes. They especially focus on single mothers.

On September 17, 2016, John Perkins took on a new role. He became President Emeritus of his foundation. His three daughters, Elizabeth, Priscilla, and Deborah, became co-presidents.

John M. Perkins' Legacy and Recognition

A Lasting Impact

John M. Perkins passed away on March 13, 2026, at the age of 95. His work continues to inspire many.

Many institutions recognized his contributions. In 2012, Calvin College started a program. It is called the John M. Perkins Leadership Fellows. This program helps students learn about community fairness. In 2004, Seattle Pacific University opened a center. It is the John Perkins Center. It focuses on bringing people together and training leaders. The band Switchfoot released a song in 2009. It was called "The Sound (John M. Perkins' Blues)". This song was inspired by John's book Let Justice Roll Down.

Honorary Doctorates

John M. Perkins received many special degrees. These were from different universities. They honored his lifetime of work.

Belhaven University
Covenant College
Geneva College
Gordon College
Huntington University
King University
Millsaps College
North Park University
Northern Seminary
Nyack College
Seattle Pacific University
Spring Arbor University
Taylor University
Virginia University of Lynchburg
Wheaton College
Whitworth University
Wesley Biblical Seminary
Jackson State University

John M. Perkins Fellows & Legacy Programs

Several universities have programs named after him. They continue his work and teachings.

Calvin University
Wesley Seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University
Jackson State University
Moody Bible Institute
New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary
Northern Seminary
Seattle Pacific University
University of Virginia, Charlottesville
Wake Forest School of Divinity

Awards and Honors

John M. Perkins received many awards. These recognized his dedication to service.

1972 Ford Foundation Fellow
1978-1980 Distinguished Black American
1980 Mississippi Religious Leadership Man of the Year
1980 Who's Who of International Intellectuals
1980 John W. Dixon Outstanding Community Service Award
1984 Black Business Association of Pasadena/Altadena Humanitarian of the Year
1986 NAACP's Ruby McKnight Williams Award
1988 American Biographical Institute
1988 Personalities of America, 4th ed., Richmond Barthè Historical Society
2005 Mighty Men of Valor Lifetime Achievement Award
2008 Jordon Lifetime Achievement Award, Evangelical Christian Publishers Association
2010 Mississippi Medal of Service Award
2016 Beautiful are the Feet Award, Samuel Dewitt Proctor Conference
2016 Spirit of Healing Award, Los Angeles Christian Health Centers
2017 Game Changer Agent Award, The Forge for Families, Houston, TX
2017 For My People Award, Jackson State University
2017 The Gospel Coalition Book Awards Finalist
2018 Brooks Hays Award, Second Baptist Church, Little Rock, AR
2019 Living Legend Award, New Hope Baptist Church, Jackson, MS
2019 Chuck Colson Conviction & Courage Award, Biola University
2019 Abraham Kuyper Prize, Calvin College
2019 Emma Elzy Award, The United Methodist Church, MS
2019 John & Vera Mae Perkins Co-Laborer with Christ Award, Indiana Wesley Seminary
2020 World Magazine's Daniel of the Year

Books by John M. Perkins

John Perkins wrote many books. They share his ideas on faith and justice.

Let Justice Roll Down. Regal Books, 1976. ISBN: 978-0-8307-4307-0.
A Quiet Revolution: The Christian Response to Human Need, a Strategy for Today. Word Books, 1976. ISBN: 978-0-87680-793-4.
With Justice for All. Regal Books, 1982. ISBN: 978-0-8307-0754-6.
Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development. Baker Books, 1993. ISBN: 978-0-8010-7122-5.
He's My Brother: Former Racial Foes Offer Strategy for Reconciliation. Baker Books, 1994. ISBN: 978-0-8007-9214-5.
Resurrecting Hope. Regal, 1995. ISBN: 978-0-8307-1810-8.
Restoring At-Risk Communities: Doing It Together and Doing It Right. Baker Books, 1996. ISBN: 978-0-8010-5463-1.
Linking Arms, Linking Lives: How Urban-Suburban Partnerships Can Transform Communities. Baker Books, 2008. ISBN: 978-0-8010-7083-9.
Follow Me to Freedom: Leading as an Ordinary Radical. Regal Books, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-8307-5120-4.
Welcoming Justice: God's Movement Toward Beloved Community. Intervarsity Press, 2009. ISBN: 978-0-8308-3453-2.
Leadership Revolution: Developing the Vision & Practice of Freedom & Justice. Regal, 2012. ISBN: 978-0-8010-1817-6
Making Neighborhoods Whole: A Handbook for Christian Community Development. Intervarsity Press, 2013. ISBN: 978-0-8308-3756-4.
Dream with Me: Race, Love, and the Struggle We Must Win. Baker Books, 2017. ISBN: 978-0-8010-0778-1.
One Blood: Parting Words to the Church on Race. Moody Publishers, 2018. ISBN: 978-0-8024-1801-2.
He Calls Me Friend: The Healing Power of Friendship in a Lonely World. Moody Publishers, 2019. ISBN: 978-0-8024-1936-1.
Count It All Joy: The Ridiculous Paradox of Suffering. Moody Publishers, 2021. ISBN: 978-0-8024-2175-3.
Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins, 2022. ISBN: 978-1-7252-9936-8.