Outloved: The Life of John Perkins
The life of John M. Perkins—told through a visual story of faith, justice, and radical love.
“What I love most about John Perkins' story is how he brings together civil rights and Christian leadership—two areas that are so often treated separately. He beautifully united them into a message that has truly stood the test of time. Despite experiencing immense hardship and hate, his commitment to finding common ground is a powerful testament to the Spirit of God working through him. That’s why I felt it was only right to bring his two causes together into something new.” - Wade McComas, Illustrator
In 1999 I met Dr. John Perkins for the first time.
I had heard about his work on the Three R’s for years — Relocation, Reconciliation, and Redistribution. In the “theology of place” circles I traveled in, his work in Mendenhall was legendary.
I snuck in the back of the room in the Washington Hilton, late as I often am, and found myself standing next to him.
There he was in the flesh, about to receive one of the first William Wilberforce Awards given by the Wilberforce Forum, which at that time was still overseen by Chuck Colson himself.
Dr. Perkins turned to me and while the speaker was still introducing him, introduced himself to me with a loud greeting and began a conversation as if it was just the two of us.
I was to learn that this was vintage John Perkins: to be present with you, to talk about the Lord with enthusiasm and to become your fast friend as if you were the only person in the room.
We kept in touch regularly, and I did my best to expose policy makers and other DC influencers to his work.
It was logical, therefore, when we started an annual gathering of Christians leaders in 2010 named after Wilberforce’s two Great Objects, that he would be invited as our clean-up hitter. He would offer the prophetic “last word” to sum up our 24 hours together.
His prophetic role at our gatherings continued for over a decade, including at several U2 shows, one of which also included Howard Ahmanson, whose friendship with Dr. Perkins is the subject of a recent book by Paul Marshall entitled Called to Be Friends.
Dr. Perkins was a man who walked the talk, and talked his walk. He grew up hard, had a hard life before and after his conversion, but never lost his faith in God’s redemptive work through his life and through His church.
I heard Dr. Perkins preach in Pittsburgh in a Black Church, and saw how he was the same there as he had been a few days earlier in a largely white, affluent gathering. He didn’t code. He was just a truth teller that lived his faith on his sleeve in love.
It was this ability to travel in so many different circles, to befriend people of all walks of life, to be alone with you in a crowded room and to tell the truth in love that made Dr. Perkins particularly salty.
I’ve kept messages from two people to remember their voices; my father and Dr. Perkins.
“Hey mark, this is John. I think I am returning your call. John Perkins. I’m home pretty much all the time, with exception of Sunday morning. I still go to one service. Give me a call sometime. John Perkins.”
Dr. Perkins was an encouragement to many people like me through his writing, his entrepreneurship and his personal connectivity. In the spirit of his influence on so many others, we have invited a few of his friends to reflect on their relationship with him. Our short comic will do its best to tell his life story, but it really is through the lives and work of others that Dr. Perkins’ story is more fully told.
In this twilight of his life, we have also invited him, through his daughter Priscilla, to share a prophetic “last word” for us.
We hope and pray that this approach honors him, and that the redemptive work that he started will continue through those of us with whom he walked and talked truth in love.
May you be alone in the room with him as you enjoy this series of reflections.
Thank you for reading Salt and Light stories– tune in next Wednesday for the first page of this new series!