Bill Text: MS SC668 | 2010 | Regular Session | Enrolled
Bill Title: Recognize Drs. John M. and Vera Mae Perkins upon occasion of 50th Anniversary of the Perkins Foundation.
Spectrum: Bipartisan Bill
Status: (Passed) 2010-03-25 - Enrolled Bill Signed [SC668 Detail]
Download: Mississippi-2010-SC668-Enrolled.html
MISSISSIPPI LEGISLATURE
2010 Regular Session
To: Rules
By: Senator(s) Lee (35th), Butler, Fillingane, Frazier, Horhn
Senate Concurrent Resolution 668
(As Adopted by Senate and House)
A CONCURRENT RESOLUTION RECOGNIZING DR. JOHN M. AND DR. VERA MAE PERKINS AS THE FOUNDERS OF THE JOHN AND VERA MAE PERKINS FOUNDATION ON THE OCCASION OF THE FOUNDATION'S 50TH ANNIVERSARY.
WHEREAS, for 50 years, Dr. John M. and Dr. Vera Mae Perkins have devoted their lives to the ministry, a notable effort that will be commemorated with a Golden Anniversary celebration on June 11-12, 2010, in conjunction with the occasion of Dr. John Perkins' 80th birthday; and
WHEREAS, Dr. John M. Perkins, a sharecropper's son who grew up in New Hebron, Mississippi, after converting to Christianity in 1960 returned to the South at the peak of the Civil Rights Movement; and
WHEREAS, in the communities in which they settled after their June 14, 1951, marriage, the Perkins were not only known as ministers of the gospel but as social activists and civil rights leaders, and they founded the John M. Perkins Foundation for Racial Reconciliation and Christian Community Development in 1983, which was later renamed the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation; and
WHEREAS, in 1972, Dr. John M. and Dr. Vera Mae Perkins founded Voice of Calvary Ministries in Mendenhall, Mississippi, which also led to the development of a church, health center, leadership development program, thrift store, low-income housing development and training center, and even grew to include other development projects in the satellite communities of Canton, New Hebron and Edwards; and
WHEREAS, after returning to California in 1982, the Perkins founded Harambee Christian Family Center in Northwest Pasadena, a neighborhood that had one of the highest daytime crime rates in California, which today continues to operate by running numerous programs including after-school tutoring, Good News Bible Clubs, an award-winning technology center, summer day-camp, youth internship programs and a college scholarship program; and
WHEREAS, in 1989, Dr. John M. Perkins called together a nationwide group of Christian leaders to work in America's poor communities at the grass-roots level, leading to the formation of the Christian Community Development Association, which has grown from 37 founding members to 6,800 individuals and 600 churches, ministries, institutions and businesses in more than 100 cities; and
WHEREAS, in the fall of 1995, Dr. John founded the Harambee Preparatory School, an elementary school to provide a proper academic program for the children living in poverty-stricken homes to receive quality academic training in a secure and loving environment; and
WHEREAS, a veteran of the Korean War, Dr. John Perkins served in Okinawa from 1951-1953, has been awarded nine honorary doctorates from Wheaton College, Gordon College, Huntington College, Spring Arbor University, Geneva College, Northpark College, Whitworth College, Belhaven University and Nyack College; and
WHEREAS, Dr. Vera Mae Perkins also received her honorary doctorate from Spring Arbor University; and
WHEREAS, Dr. John Perkins served on 19 or more boards including the Board of Directors for World Vision, Prison Fellowship, National Association of Evangelicals (NAE) and Spring Arbor University, and is a published author, with nine books to his literary credit, including: A Quiet Revolution, Let Justice Roll Down, With Justice For All, Beyond Charity, He's My Brother, Resurrecting Hope, and A Time to Heal, and continues to serve as an international speaker and a teacher on issues of racial reconciliation, leadership development and community development; and
WHEREAS, Seattle Pacific University has created the John Perkins Center for Reconciliation Leadership Training and Community Development and Patten University in Oakland, California, and has established a John Perkins Center for Christian Community Transformation to recognize Dr. Perkins' success; and
WHEREAS, the Perkins are the proud parents of eight children, Spencer (deceased), Joanie, Phillip, Derick, Deborah, Wayne, Priscilla and Elizabeth; 13 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren; and
WHEREAS, it is with pride that we recognize the selfless commitment of these inspirational individuals whose ministry has brought honor to their organization, community and to the State of Mississippi:
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES CONCURRING THEREIN, That we do hereby recognize Dr. John M. and Dr. Vera Mae Perkins as the founders of the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation on the occasion of the Foundation's 50th anniversary and Dr. John Perkins' 80th birthday, to be celebrated June 11-12, 2010, and extend our best wishes on this auspicious occasion.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be presented to Dr. John M. and Dr. Vera Mae Perkins, made available to the Board of Directors of the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.
