Let Justice Roll Down concludes with Dr. Perkins’ renewed vision for reconciliation between Blacks and Whites and the ongoing saga of community development ministry in Mississippi. It’s interesting to me that the story concludes in 1975 (LJRD was originally published in 1976), when so much of the work for which Dr. Perkins is known took place after that time. A few Perkins historical highlights in the interim:
1982
· With Justice for All published, introducing the 3 Rs of Christian Community Development.
· Perkins establishes the Harambee Christian Family Center ministry in Pasadena, California.
1989
1993
· Beyond Charity published.
1996
· Perkins moves back to Jackson, Mississippi.
2002
· Dr. Eaton and Tali Hairston visit the Perkins Foundation in Jackson with a group of SPU students. This encounter initiates the development of SPU’s Perkins Center. (Read that story here).
2004
· John Perkins Center established at SPU.
2007
· SPU Campus Ministries is reorganized; Latreia, UI and SPRINT officially join the Perkins Center.
One quote caught my attention this week:
“To develop the Christian community as a group which could show love within itself and to the world would be creating a new entity that was more than the sum of the individual Christians. The community’s existence itself, as a structure, would open up so many new channels of strength and witness” (208).
It’s neat when individuals rise up as heroes and accomplish great things. It’s even greater when a community works together for transformation, internally and in the world around them. I hope we can be that kind of community this year – one that does great things in our world, but is also dedicated to real, transformative relationships with Jesus and each other. There are fun times ahead!
What do you think?
What do you hope to leave as your legacy this June?
What benchmarks might we set for ourselves to measure our progress toward being the kind of transforming community Perkins talks about in the quote above?
