John M. Perkins

John M. Perkins (June 16, 1930 – March 13, 2026) was an American Christian minister, civil rights activist and author. He was the founder and president of the John & Vera Mae Perkins Foundation with his wife, Vera Mae Perkins. Perkins was also co-founder of the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA).

Early life John M. Perkins was born on June 16, 1930, in New Hebron, Mississippi. His mother died of pellagra when he was just seven months old. In 1947, he moved away from Mississippi at the urging of his family, who worried that he might be in danger following the fatal shooting of his brother, Clyde, by a police officer. In 1957, Perkins's son, Spencer, invited him to church and Perkins converted to Christianity. There, in 1964, he established Voice of Calvary Bible Institute.

In Mendenhall, Vera Mae started running a day-care center from their home that from 1966 to 1968 became part of the federally funded Head Start Program.

In 1965, Perkins supported voter registration efforts in Simpson County, and in 1967 he became involved in school desegregation when he enrolled his son Spencer in the previously all-white Mendenhall High School.

In the fall of 1969, Perkins became the leader in an economic boycott of white-owned stores in Mendenhall. On February 7, 1970, following the arrest of students who had taken part in a protest march in Mendenhall, Perkins was arrested and tortured by white police officers in Brandon Jail.

In 1976, he published a book, A Quiet Revolution: The Christian response to human need, a strategy for today, which outlined his religious philosophy, revolving around the "three Rs": relocation, redistribution and reconciliation.

By the mid-seventies, Voice of Calvary, Jackson and Mendenhall Ministries were operating thrift stores, health clinics, a housing cooperative, and classes in Bible and theology. Perkins was in demand as a speaker in evangelical churches, colleges, and conventions across the country. CCDA sought to invite evangelicals into social justice and civil rights.

After the death of his son Spencer in 1998, Perkins 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.

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

Death and memorials Perkins died under hospice care at his home in Jackson, Mississippi, on March 13, 2026, at the age of 95. On March 20, 2026, Perkins would lie in state at Jackson City Hall. Later that day, was transferred to New Horizon Church International in Jackson, where a wake was held.

In 2004, Seattle Pacific University opened the John Perkins Center for Reconciliation, Leadership Training, and Community Development.

In 2009, the band Switchfoot released the song "The Sound (John M. Perkins' Blues)". The song was inspired by Perkins's book Let Justice Roll Down.

Honorary doctorates

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

Calvin University Moody Bible Institute New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary Northern Seminary of Illinois 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 Let Justice Roll Down. Regal Books, 1976 . A Quiet Revolution: The Christian Response to Human Need, a Strategy for Today. Word Books, 1976. . With Justice for All. Regal Books, 1982 . Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development. Baker Books, 1993. . He's My Brother: Former Racial Foes Offer Strategy for Reconciliation. Baker Books, 1994. . Resurrecting Hope. Regal, 1995. . Restoring At-Risk Communities: Doing It Together and Doing It Right. Baker Books, 1996 . Linking Arms, Linking Lives: How Urban-Suburban Partnerships Can Transform Communities. Baker Books, 2008. . Follow Me to Freedom: Leading as an Ordinary Radical. Regal Books, 2009. . Welcoming Justice: God's Movement Toward Beloved Community. Intervarsity Press, 2009. . Leadership Revolution: Developing the Vision & Practice of Freedom & Justice. Regal, 2012. Making Neighborhoods Whole: A Handbook for Christian Community Development. Intervarsity Press, 2013 . Dream with Me: Race, Love, and the Struggle We Must Win. Baker Books, 2017. . One Blood: Parting Words to the Church on Race. Moody Publishers, 2018. . He Calls Me Friend: The Healing Power of Friendship in a Lonely World. Moody Publishers, 2019. . Count It All Joy: The Ridiculous Paradox of Suffering. Moody Publishers, 2021. . Go and Do: Nine Axioms on Peacemaking and Transformation From the Life of John Perkins, 2022. .