In this episode, Dr. John Perkins shares reflections gleaned from a lifetime seeking justice and mercy. He highlights how community helped bring him through pain and trials, the importance of the local church, and value of intentional discipleship with Christ-hearted friends.
In this episode, we'll explore:
The importance of grace, bold faith and discipleship in a journey of justice and mercy
The pursuit of justice as stewardship
Hearing God’s voice in community
The essential quality of forgiveness
Key Quotes
“That’s looking in the face of each other and seeing the dignity and the decency of humanity. We need to enter into their pain, and the best way to enter into that is through discipling people, bringing them to Jesus and discipling them.”
Dr. Perkins
“I think friendship is the greatest human to human gift that God can give to a human being, the gift of friendship.”
Dr. Perkins
Resources and Guests
Dr. Perkins
Dr. John M. Perkins is an American Christian minister, civil rights activist, Bible teacher, author, philosopher and community developer. He is Founder & President Emeritus of John & Vera Mae Perkins Foundation with his wife Dr. Vera Mae (also known as “Grandma”). Perkins has received 13 Honorary Doctorate degrees from Belhaven University, Lynchburg University, Wheaton College, Gordon College, Taylor University among others. He has served on the Board of Directors for World Vision and Prison Fellowship.
Jedd Medefind, Host
Jedd Medefind loves journeying life with his wife, Rachel. He relishes wrestling matches with his five children—Siena, Marin, Eden, Lincoln, and Phoebe. Most of all, he desires to reflect the heart of Jesus Christ in all of life.
Jedd has seen (and experienced!) that lives are turned upside-down when Christians begin to reflect God’s heart through adoption, foster care and service to orphans worldwide. This kind of love transforms not only vulnerable children, but also those who open hearts and homes to them. Churches begin to look different, too, as the entire community pulls together for children who’ve known great hurt. Finally, the change touches even onlookers, who encounter the Gospel not only in words, but made visible before their eyes.
Desiring to spur this kind of transformation through the Church, Jedd serves as President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans.
Through CAFO, more than 225 respected organizations unite in shared initiatives, along with a wide network of churches. CAFO’s membership works in tandem to inspire and equip families, churches and organizations for effective service to vulnerable children and families — from adoption and US foster care, to aid and empowerment programs worldwide.
Prior to his this role, Jedd served in the White House as a Special Assistant to President George W. Bush, leading the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives. In this post, he oversaw reform efforts across the government to make community- and faith-based groups central partners in all Federal efforts to aid the needy, from prisoner reentry to global AIDS. As described by the Harvard Political Review, these reforms “fundamentally changed the government’s strategy for improving the lives of the downtrodden…”
Previously, Jedd held a range of posts in the California State Legislature. He also helped establish the California Community Renewal Project, which strengthens nonprofits in some of the state’s most challenged communities. He has worked, studied and served in more than thirty countries, with organizations ranging from Price-Waterhouse in Moscow to Christian Life Bangladesh.
Books written by Jedd include Upended and Four Souls. He also writes articles and op-eds for publications ranging from the Wall Street Journal and Washington Post to Comment Magazine, and engages radio interviews with both faith-based and mainstream outlets, from NPR and Al Jazeera to Moody Radio. Jedd’s most recent book, Becoming Home, offers a brief-yet-rich exploration of how families and communities can embrace vulnerable children with wisdom and love through adoption, foster care, mentoring and more.
