Dr. John M. Perkins

Dr. John M. Perkins became a member of Shepherding the Next Generation in 2016. He is an American Christian minister, civil rights activist, Bible teacher, philosopher and community developer. Today, Dr. Perkins is president of the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation of Jackson, Mississippi. He is one of the leading evangelical voices to come out of the American civil rights movement. He is also an internationally known author, speaker, and teacher on issues of racial reconciliation and Christian community development.

Despite dropping out of school in the third grade, Dr. Perkins is an international speaker and teacher on issues of racial reconciliation, leadership, and community development. For his tireless work, he received honorary doctorates from Wheaton College, Gordon College, Huntington College, Geneva College, Spring Arbor University, North Park College, and Belhaven College.

He is the author of nine books including A Quiet Revolution, Let Justice Roll Down, With Justice For All, Beyond Charity, He’s My Brother and Resurrecting Hope. John Perkins formally served on the board of directors of World Vision, Prison Fellowship, National Association of Evangelicals, Christian Community Development Association (CCDA), as well as 15 other boards. The CCDA is a network of Christians committed to seeing people and communities holistically restored. We believe that God wants to restore us not only to right relationship with Himself but also with our own true selves, our families and our communities.

After the death of his son Spencer in 1998, Perkins returned to Mississippi, and bought the property once owned by his son and his Antioch Community and established the Spencer Perkins Center, the youth arm of the John M. Perkins Foundation. It has developed youth programs such as After School Tutoring, Summer Arts Camp, Junior and College Internship Program, Good News Bible Club, Young Life and Jubilee Youth Garden. The foundation also has a housing arm, Zechariah 8, providing affordable housing for low-to moderate-income families with a focus on single mothers.