By Heather Hedlund

When the BelPres Justice & Racial Reconciliation Team formed in 2016, one of our first activities was a book discussion of Let Justice Roll Down by John Perkins. This book has set the tone for the work we've been doing ever since. Dr. Perkins went home to Jesus on March 13, 2026, at the age of 95. As I've been reflecting on his legacy, I'd like to share some of the reasons his life and work have been so important to me.

Let Justice Roll Down is the story of how Dr. Perkins dedicated his life to biblical justice and racial reconciliation through the transformative power of Jesus despite enduring unimaginable racial oppression. In a time when churches seemed to be divided between those that proclaimed Jesus and those that sought justice, Dr. Perkins saw no such division.

He was effusive in his evangelism, sharing the good news of Jesus constantly. At the same time, he understood that when Jesus changes your heart, that should also change how you live. At his Celebration of Life, his daughter Elizabeth said, "Daddy understood that reconciliation is not a side issue. It's a doorway. Because when God reconciles hearts, justice is no longer something we talk about from a distance. It becomes something we pursue (3:56:44)."

Dr. Perkins may be best known as a founder of the Christian Community Development Association. Building on the economic empowerment ministries he founded in Mississippi and California, CCDA has taken his core principles of relocation, reconciliation, and redistribution nationwide. Local organization and BelPres partner Urban Impact, was an early adopter of this model.

God has also used Dr. Perkins to inspire and mentor other Christian leaders, some through personal relationships, and many others, including me, through his speeches and books. Several speakers at his memorial shared how an encounter with Dr. Perkins proved pivotal in their calling. Bryan Stevenson shared about hearing him speak on his college campus. "He talked about justice being a priority for people of faith. And for the first time in my life, I felt like it was possible to think about doing justice work and serving God (2:54:41)."

I never got to meet Dr. Perkins in person, but a few years ago, I had the privilege of being part of a zoom call he did with a local church. One of the things I most remember was how the Bible flowed out of him. Everything he said was peppered with Scripture. He was known for his 5:30 am weekly Bible study, and many Christian leaders got up early to sit in his presence and learn about Jesus.

Dr. Perkins served God and inspired others right up to the end of his 95 years. May we all be so faithful.

Link to Memorial Service (Video-March 21, 2026)

Link to Memorial Program/Obituary (PDF)