Beyond Charity: The Call to Christian Community Development

by John M. Perkins

A powerful call to action to bring reconciliation and restoration to broken communities.

Genres: Christian, Theology, Social Justice, Christianity, Faith, Justice, Poverty

192 pages, Paperback

First published July 1, 1993

About the author

Dr. John M. Perkins is the founder and president emeritus of the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation and cofounder of Christian Community Development Association. He has served in advisory roles under five U.S. presidents, is one of the leading evangelical voices to come out of the American civil rights movement, and is an author and international speaker on issues of reconciliation, leadership, and community development. For his tireless work he has received 14 honorary doctorates. One Blood, along with Dr. Perkins other books, provides an enduring legacy for a man who continues to leave his mark on American culture.

Reviews

[Will Osgood · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love love love, 10/10 recommended

Dr. John Perkins is a living legend. He's the closest thing there is to an expert in Christian Community Development. This book is centered on the Gospel & our response to it. What a blessing it is to hear from this Godly man.

[Luke Burnham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Go read it. It’s a dangerous book, but you won’t regret it. It’s made me ask a lot of questions of myself that’s for sure.

[Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Call to Christian Community Development. “It’s time for the whole church, yes, the whole church, to take a whole gospel on a whole mission to the whole world… It is time for us to prove that the purpose of the gospel is to reconcile alienated people to God and to each other, across racial, cultural, social, and economic barriers.” Not everyone is called to move to the inner city to minister there, but everyone is called to have a heart for its hurting people. This book shows us how to be sensitive to our brothers and sisters, come up w/ innovated and effective ministries, and count the cost. “It is much easier to build a new prison or enact a new welfare law or give someone a handout than it is to develop the person. So far we’ve settled for the impersonal and the bureaucratic.” “…W/out our hands, w/out our feet, God has no way to touch the world of need.”

[Peyton Welch · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perhaps the most impressive part of this book is that it was first published in 1993. Without constantly remembering that date, the content would lead me to believe that it was written this year. The concepts are timeless and clear. Twenty-five years later, the material in this book is as needed as ever.

John Perkins is the father of the Christian Community Development movement, and in a way, this book is its constitution. It will prove to be useful to anyone seeking to serve the urban poor in an effective, biblical way.

Another book that has been instrumental in CCDA is Compassion, Justice and the Christian Life: Rethinking Ministry to the Poor.

[Clara Roberts · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very good book to tell the Christian how to put feet to their Christianity. My only problem with the book was that he did not stress that good works does not assure the believer a place in heaven. Salvation is for the believer who accepts the work Jesus did on the cross and not any good works that a person does.This is a good book to tell the social gospel story. I could not go live in a ghetto to share the gospel with unbelievers but I admire those who make this choice.

[Dave Mankin · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite quote from this book is: "take the risk, swallow doubt, and move forward."

[Rick Mcgarry]

John Perkins finds four obstacles to solving the problems of the urban poor:

A charity mentality that fails to connect with them personally

Racial polarization, which prevents the church from working together

Consciousness of victimization, which prevents the urban poor from helping themselves

Government programs,which have destroyed the black family

These obstacles prevent us from meeting three needs in the urban community. They are the need to belong, the need to feel significant and important, and the need for a reasonable amount of security. Authentic churches have the power to meet these needs. They meet these needs by absorbing pain, proclaiming love, pointing to God’s authority, bringing people together, investing lavishly in the needy. reflecting God’s character, and protecting the vulnerable. We cannot do God’s work unless we are transformed by his love. The love of God is a localized love, meeting specific needs in specific places. God’s love is manifested when it provokes us to action. God’s love cannot be scripted; it can only be improvised. We must demonstrate that we are the people of God by our concern for the poor and oppressed of our society. Separating what we do from what we believe destroys our credibility. There has been no presentation of the gospel until we corroborate our words with deeds.

The central goal of Christian community development is the restoration of moral, economic and spiritual leadership among the urban poor. This can be done through indigenous leadership development and relocation of committed Christian families into needy neighborhoods. Christian development that does not evangelize is a soulless body. We evangelize because the gospel restores people to right relationship with God and liberates them from the devil. Jesus never thought to choose between evangelism and social action, and neither should we. True restoration and liberation must affect every aspect of our lives, public as well as private. It is impossible to construct a perfect society, but we must be salt and light, caring for widows and orphans. Christian community development should try to address the following aspects of the urban environment: dignity, power, education, employment, health, security, recreation and beauty. Christian community development addresses these issues by empowering people to take responsibility for their own lives, aware of their own dignity and worth.

Economic development means developing people. Education should connect with employment. Christian community development starts local enterprises that meet local needs and employ local people. Home ownership programs are crucial to developing an economic base in poor communities. The most important stage of economic development is starting local enterprises. Christians can use their wealth and expertise to advance God’s kingdom and bring about justice and development.

There are many challenges to serving the urban poor. Those who serve will need to learn God’s will and hear his call. God’s will is for us to love and worship him, nd love and liberate out neighbors. God’s call is a summons to do God’s will in a particular situation in accordance with the way he has gifted and provisioned me. Culture shock, loss of security, and emotional pain are some of the challenges those who serve the urban poor will face. They will need to be able to grow from caseworkers to converts to comrades. They will need to learn to develop trust relationships with those they serve, and support local leaders. Many will relocate to better serve a particular neighborhood. They will face suffering, brokenness, failure, loneliness and rejection. They will overcome these through prayer, faith, and hope.

[Joshua Hedlund · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow! I must admit, even though I like John Perkins, I judged this book by its cover, expecting it to be outdated and not saying much I hadn't already heard in the "how Christians should help the poor" genre. Boy, was I wrong! First, the distance of thirty years made it interesting to see how much things have changed (and haven't changed) with urban issues and the discussions and debates around them. But more importantly, besides the good theology, this book was full of fresh wisdom and practical ideas that I didn't remember reading in many of the books that came after. While many others focus on programs and services, Perkins relentlessly focuses on the actual people of the community - on responding to their expressed needs, on honoring their dignity, on developing and empowering indigenous leadership, on local economic development through indigenous businesses, etc. The insights are obviously borne out of a depth of practical experience and accomplishment. (It's not vacuous inspiration, either - How many books bluntly say they "want to take a little of the romance out" of moving into the inner-city... that "your possessions will get stolen.") With a clear heart of compassion for both insiders and outsiders, with nuanced takes on all the political and racial elements that intersect these discussions, Perkins simply but passionately explains "The Call to Christian Community Development." As someone who has had time to get a little jaded and despairing about successful ministry, this book refreshed me with new inspiration.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a compelling guidebook to community development centered on empowering people and communities from within. In addition to learning more about the practical aspects of doing this kind of work, I was also reminded about the centrality of prayer in all ministries and in all aspects of life, something I constantly need to be reminded of.

[Chasen Robbins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Astounding Sobriety, Clarity, and Practicality

Perkins offers a concise call to Christian development. Basing his view of development in love, he urges people to encounter God’s love so they can transform others.
Pastoral and practical with anecdotes that don’t overwhelm the text but enlighten it, Perkins is masterful in crafting a form of Christian Community Development.

[Ruan Bezuidenhout · Rating 4 out of 5]

Phenomenal view on going beyond just growth-hampering charity, but “teaching a man to fish”.

[Adam Colter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Can't believe how relevant this still is! Practical, engaging and true.

[Ryan and Sara Wendt · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible book about how to incarnate the gospel through Christian Community Development! A must-read!

[Juliana Meding · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredible book for those learning about Christian community development. This book was written 30 years ago and I was shocked at the relevancy of some of the issues. This is a must-read.

[Richard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book. Although 20 years old, this book's recommendations are fresh and relevant. Dr. Perkins is a Christian dedicated to helping the urban poor. He has long experience and much wisdom to share. Inspiring.

[Karina Cortes · Rating 5 out of 5]

A must read for all who do ministry among the urban poor. He talks about leadership, wholistic care, economic development, and pursuing justice. He also talks about the journey of moving into the City and the hardships and costs. It was written in the 90's so it's a little dated- but not by much. The same issues are still prevalent.

Some favorite quotes:

"Jesus did not absorb pain from a distance and neither can the church"
"The authentic church spends lavishly on the needy"
Today’s mainstream church, rather than protecting the powerless, has generally sold out to the powerful."
"How is an unbelieving world to know who the real people of God are? We must demonstrate that we are the people of God by our actions, by our concern for the poor and the oppressed of our society."

That's just a taste of the goodness that this book has to offer!

[Adam Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

John Perkins was horrifically beaten during the civil rights era and left for dead. Now he works as a laborer for racial reconciliation, and is a leader of the modern urban community development movement. This wasn't his best book, but it was in some ways helpful. He rightly criticizes private charity as something appealed to mostly for the sake of the giver, something to appease the conscience while preventing more radical economic and structural changes from taking place that would actually help the poor over the long term. Some of his proposals are better than others, but his call to radical hospitality, radical relocation to the places of pain and hurt in the world, and radical Christian living are appreciated.

[Joel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perkins does it again. His simple prose and transparent nature come through his pages and speak to your soul. He clearly lays out more in depth ideas and practices of Christian community development and social justice. He has the ability to be both radical and conservative without being purely either one at any given time. His encouragement in this book is, as the title says, to go beyond charity and continually commit yourself to assistance, not simple drive-by charity. He beckons the reader, as in all his books I've read thus far, to fully know and understand the communities needs before you decide how to help. His calls this knowing the "felt needs" of the community.

[Timothy Hoiland · Rating 4 out of 5]

I appreciated this book so much I did a five-part series of blog posts on it.

Part 1: http://tjhoiland.com/wordpress/2011/0...
Part 2: http://tjhoiland.com/wordpress/2011/0...
Part 3: http://tjhoiland.com/wordpress/2011/0...
Part 4: http://tjhoiland.com/wordpress/2011/0...
Part 5: http://tjhoiland.com/wordpress/2011/0...

[Brian · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perkins opens this book by recalling the aftermath of the acquittal of four white officers after the beating of Rodney King in LA. The year was 1992. Fast forward to 2015. We as a nation have been watching Ferguson, MO as people have responded to the acquittal of a white officer who killed a young black male named Michael Brown. Perkins believe these are spiritual issues that need spiritual solutions. Perkins words are just as timely today as they were in 1993.

[Quincy · Rating 4 out of 5]

A must read for all Christians, especially those concerned with confronting poverty and serving and developing under-served communities.

Challenges conventional notions of giving ("charity") and replaces ineffective, self-aggrandizing, and marginalizing practices with a more genuine investment, personal involvement and holistic solutions.

For theological conservatives concerned with a so-called "social gospel", Perkins provides a balanced theological approach to social action.

[Jed · Rating 4 out of 5]

Almost done. This book is a real challenge to the complacency, hippocracy and indolence of the American Church. Perkins points out many of the problems and legacies that the Church has to deal with in order to be an effective positive force in our society. If you find yourself reflexively disagreeing it may be because you are scared of the implications if Perkins is right.

[Corey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great book about moving from charity to empowerment from a guy who knows what he's talking about. Make sure you read it all the way through to get to the part about all the adversity Perkins has endured in his work...it will leave you in awe at his enduring sense of hope. This book has a little more abstract theology than I was expecting, but it all applies to the topic.

[Beth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly to the point and clear on the heart of those in urban ministry and knowing if you're called to it. Puts feet to Jesus

[RF]

A classic work in the field of community development -my husband's field.

[Nathan · Rating 4 out of 5]

mission year book

[Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

loved it loved it loved it - about how and why we can and should build back up our forgotten communities

[David Bennett · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a great book for understanding community development and the real need to give of yourself and your pocketbook.