03/18/2026
https://www.christianitytoday.com/2026/03/died-john-perkins-evangelicals-racial-reconciliation-mississippi/
“John M. Perkins, a bold evangelical voice who proclaimed the gospel against racism, died on Friday at the age of 95.
Perkins challenged Christians—especially white evangelicals—to repent of safe, narrow, and self-serving interpretations of the message of Jesus. He preached that opposition to racism was not a supplemental or optional activity but was core to living out the truth that would bring renewal and restoration to “the places long devastated” (Isa. 61:4).
“If it’s a holistic biblical ministry,” Perkins said in 1987, “I think that makes a difference between whether or not that church is an action church or whether it’s just become a self-centered worshipping congregation. And I think most churches are sort of self-centered worshipping. They see the church as ‘meeting my need, meeting my need,’ and the church doesn’t have a ministry, and a concept of ministry, and a philosophy of ministry, and a statement of mission to the world.”
