John Perkins on Social Ministry

John Perkins on Social Ministry

Referenced in: Theological and Philosophical Foundations of Social Ministry

Introduction

John Perkins is one of the most widely recognized modern prophets of social justice, community development, and racial reconciliation. He is a scarred veteran of the American civil rights movement of the 1960s, founder of the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA), and the leader of a movement of Christians worldwide who are dedicated to social compassion and social justice ministries. Shane Claiborne once said that John Perkins has fathered “a ragtag and dysfunctional spiritual family as diverse as the kingdom of God.” He is more practitioner and prophet than scholar, but most who work in this area, even academics, look to Perkins for inspiration and wisdom in all matters pertaining to social ministries.

Perkins is known especially for his example of returning love for hate, combining evangelism and social action, pursuing spiritual and economic development, and ministering to the felt needs of marginalized populations. His philosophies of ministry to marginalized populations are woven into most of the literature in this field.

Resources

A few of his most popular volumes are listed below.

• John M. Perkins, Let Justice Roll Down: John Perkins Tells His Own Story
• John M. Perkins, Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development
• John M. Perkins,
• John M. Perkins, Restoring At Risk Communities: Doing It Together and Doing It Right: (Official Handbook of the Christian Community Development Association)