John M. Perkins facts for kids

Quick facts for kids John M. Perkins
Born	(1930-06-16) June 16, 1930 (age 95) Lawrence County, Mississippi

John M. Perkins (born June 16, 1930) is an American Christian minister, civil rights activist, and author. He is known for his work in helping communities and fighting for fairness. He started the John & Vera Mae Perkins Foundation with his wife, Vera Mae Perkins. He also helped create the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA).

Early Life and Challenges

John M. Perkins was born in 1930 in New Hebron, Mississippi. His mother passed away when he was only seven months old. His father left him, so his grandmother and other family members raised him. They worked as sharecroppers, meaning they farmed land owned by someone else and shared the crops.

John left school after third grade. In 1947, he moved to southern California. His family wanted him to leave Mississippi because they worried he was in danger. This was after his brother, Clyde, was shot and killed by a police officer.

In 1951, John married Vera Mae Buckley. That same year, he joined the U.S. Armed Forces and served in Okinawa during the Korean War. In 1957, his son Spencer invited him to church, and John became a Christian.

Working for Change

In 1960, John Perkins moved back to Mississippi with his family. They settled in Mendenhall, near his childhood home. In 1964, he started the Voice of Calvary Bible Institute there.

His wife, Vera Mae, began a day-care center in their home. From 1966 to 1968, it became part of the Head Start Program, which helps young children from low-income families.

John Perkins also worked for civil rights. In 1965, he helped people register to vote in Simpson County. In 1967, he became involved in ending school segregation. He enrolled his son Spencer in Mendenhall High School, which had only been for white students before.

In 1969, Perkins led a boycott of white-owned stores in Mendenhall. On February 7, 1970, he was arrested after students protested. He was treated very badly by white police officers while in Brandon Jail.

His Ideas and Organizations

In 1976, John Perkins wrote a book called A Quiet Revolution. In this book, he shared his ideas about helping people. He focused on what he called the "three Rs":

• Relocation: This means living in the community you want to help.
• Redistribution: This means sharing resources and opportunities with those who need them.
• Reconciliation: This means bringing people together, especially those from different backgrounds, to heal divisions.

By the mid-1970s, the Voice of Calvary Ministries in Jackson and Mendenhall were doing a lot of good work. They ran thrift stores, health clinics, and housing programs. They also offered Bible and theology classes. John Perkins became a popular speaker at churches and colleges across the country.

In 1982, the Perkins family moved back to California. There, they started the Harambee Christian Family Center in Pasadena, which is now called Harambee Ministries.

In 1989, Perkins founded the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA). This group connects Christian churches and organizations that work in poor city areas. CCDA encouraged Christians to get involved in social justice and civil rights.

After his son Spencer passed away in 1998, John Perkins created the Spencer Perkins Center. This is the youth part of the John M. Perkins Foundation. It offers programs for young people, like after-school tutoring, summer arts camp, and a Bible club. The foundation also helps provide affordable housing for families, especially single mothers.

On September 17, 2016, John Perkins became President Emeritus of the John & Vera Mae Perkins Foundation. His three daughters, Elizabeth, Priscilla, and Deborah, became co-presidents of the organization.

Recognition and Awards

John M. Perkins has received many honors for his important work:

• In 2012, Calvin College started the John M. Perkins Leadership Fellows program for students interested in community fairness.
• In 2004, Seattle Pacific University opened the John Perkins Center for Reconciliation, Leadership Training, and Community Development.
• In 2009, the band Switchfoot released a song called "The Sound (John M. Perkins' Blues)". This song was inspired by Perkins' book Let Justice Roll Down.

Honorary Doctorates

John M. Perkins has received honorary doctorates from many universities, recognizing his contributions:

• 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

John M. Perkins Fellows & Legacy Programs

Several institutions have programs named after John M. Perkins, continuing his legacy:

• 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

John M. Perkins has received many awards for his dedication and 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 M. Perkins has written many books sharing his experiences and ideas:

• 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.

See also

In Spanish: John M. Perkins para niños