In this special episode, we are taking time to remember the life and legacy of Dr. John M. Perkins, one of the founders of the Christian Community Development movement.

Throughout this episode, you’ll hear from other founding leaders and friends who walked closely with him. These friends include Dr. Mary Nelson, Dr. Barbara Williams-Skinner, Dr. Dolphus Weary, Dr. Wayne Gordon, and Dr. Kathy Dudley. They reflect on his life, his friendship, and how his legacy continues today.

Dr. Perkins showed us what it looks like to follow Christ in community. And as we listen, we are invited to consider what it means for us now, how we carry that witness forward together.

Learn more about CCDA and how you can get involved at ccda.org [http://ccda.org/]. Connect with CCDA on Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/iamccda], Twitter [http://www.twitter.com/iamccda], Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/iamccda], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/christian-community-development-association-ccda-/]. Follow CCDA on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/iamccda].

A Life Well Lived: Founders Remember Dr. John M.Perkins

A Rosa Mani Thomas se le unen Adriana De La Rosa, Clara D. Compean y Chris Ophus para reflexionar sobre sus experiencias como Micah Catalysts y compartir acerca de la Campaña del Testimonio Fiel. Comparten cómo están viendo a Dios obrar en sus comunidades, la belleza que perciben en sus contextos locales y aquello que les infunde esperanza en esta temporada.

Esta conversación se desarrolla íntegramente en español, como un ejercicio de escucha y solidaridad. Las Escrituras nos recuerdan que seguir a Cristo implica acercarse, escuchar y dejarse moldear por aquellas voces que, de otro modo, podríamos pasar por alto. Hemos tomado esta decisión de manera intencional, pues el lenguaje determina la forma en que se narran las historias y qué voces ocupan el centro de atención. Muchas personas en nuestras comunidades se ven obligadas a traducirse a sí mismas constantemente para poder ser comprendidas. Hoy, decidimos bajar el ritmo y escuchar de una manera diferente. Les invitamos a quedarse y acompañarnos, aun si la experiencia les resulta poco familiar. Asimismo, para aquellos a quienes les resulte de utilidad, ponemos a su disposición una transcripción en inglés aquí [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UYfTx1hCtLLdeqRDY3PbNxhTunYe05-3/view?usp=sharing], para que puedan seguir la conversación.

Obtenga más información sobre la Campaña Faithful Witness de CCDA [https://ccda.org/], National Latino Evangelical Coalition [https://www.nalec.org/], World Relief [https://worldrelief.org/], y Undivided [https://undivided.us/] en faithfulwitness.us [https://faithfulwitness.us/].

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Rosa Mani Thomas is joined by Adriana De La Rosa, Clara D. Compean, and Chris Ophus to reflect on their experiences as Micah Catalysts and share about the Faithful Witness Campaign. They share how they are seeing God move in their communities, the beauty they are seeing in their local contexts, and what is giving them hope in this season.

This conversation is entirely in Spanish, as a practice of listening and solidarity. Scripture reminds us that to follow Christ is to draw near, to listen, and to be formed by the voices we might otherwise overlook. We chose this intentionally because language shapes how stories are told and whose voices are centered. Many in our communities are constantly translating themselves to be understood. Today, we’re slowing down and listening in a different way. We invite you to stay, even if it feels unfamiliar. And for those who would benefit, an English transcript is available here [https://drive.google.com/file/d/1UYfTx1hCtLLdeqRDY3PbNxhTunYe05-3/view?usp=sharing] so you can follow along.

Learn more about the Faithful Witness Campaign by CCDA [https://ccda.org/], National Latino Evangelical Coalition [https://www.nalec.org/], World Relief [https://worldrelief.org/], and Undivided [https://undivided.us/] at faithfulwitness.us [https://faithfulwitness.us/].

Learn more about CCDA and how you can get involved at ccda.org [http://ccda.org/]. Connect with CCDA on Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/iamccda], Twitter [http://www.twitter.com/iamccda], Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/iamccda], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/christian-community-development-association-ccda-/]. Follow CCDA on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/iamccda].

Historias de testimonio fiel (Stories of Faithful Witness)

Christina Foor is joined by Pastor Wilber Marenco, who shares his story of detention in the South Florida Detention Facility, also known as Alligator Alcatraz. He shares his story of migration, reflects on his church’s response in this moment, and how this experience of detainment has affected him, his family, and his community.

Learn more about Pastor Wilber’s detention here [https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-us-rebuild-after-detention-legal-battle].

Learn more about The Faithful Witness Campaign [https://faithfulwitness.us/] and how you can get involved. 

April 12-19, 2026 is Locked in Solidarity, as CCDA’s National Awareness & Action Week on Mass Incarceration. We invite you to join us by learning more and loving those affected by incarceration in your community. Then, we encourage you to courageously take a step to host awareness events and advocate for them in your spheres of influence. Learn more at ccda.org/lis [https://ccda.org/justice-initiatives/mass-incarceration/locked-in-solidarity/].

Learn more about CCDA and how you can get involved at ccda.org [http://ccda.org/]. Connect with CCDA on Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/iamccda], Twitter [http://www.twitter.com/iamccda], Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/iamccda], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/christian-community-development-association-ccda-/]. Follow CCDA on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/iamccda].

A Pastor’s Experience in Alligator Alcatraz

Sam Heath is joined by Bianca Tylek of Worth Rises and Rev. Dr. Kevin Riggs of Franklin Community Church to discuss mass incarceration and CCDA’s Locked in Solidarity Week [https://ccda.org/justice-initiatives/mass-incarceration/locked-in-solidarity/]. They discuss the profitability of prisons, stories of people behind bars, and ways that we can get involved in this work.

Bianca Tylek is one of the nation’s leading experts on the prison industry, the author of The Prison Industry: How It Works and Who Profits [https://worthrises.org/theprisonindustry], and the Founder and Executive Director of Worth Rises [https://worthrises.org/aboutus], a national non-profit dismantling the prison industry and ending the exploitation of those it touches.

Rev. Dr. Kevin Riggs (Pastor Kevin) has been the Senior Pastor of Franklin Community Church [http://www.franklincommunitychurch.org/] for more than thirty years. He is also the founder and Executive Director of Franklin Community Development [http://www.franklincommunitydevelopment.com/] and the Williamson County Homeless Alliance [http://www.wilcohomeless.com/]. All three organizations are located in Franklin, TN.

Sam Heath spent ten years teaching high school history before moving into the organizing and advocacy world with Equal Justice USA, a national nonprofit doing work on death penalty repeal, restorative justice, and community safety. He is the founder and Executive Director of The Commonwealth Justice Coalition [https://www.commonwealthjustice.net/]. He and his wife Rachel have three energetic kids and still live in Charlottesville, VA.

Learn more about CCDA’s Locked in Solidarity Week and how you can get involved at ccda.org/lis [https://ccda.org/justice-initiatives/mass-incarceration/locked-in-solidarity/].

References made in the episode:

 * PPI’s Follow the Money article: https://www.prisonpolicy.org/reports/money2026.html
 * Read Today! - The Best Day of My Life [https://www.amazon.com/Today-Best-Day-My-Life/dp/B0DBJNP92T]
 * Learn about the End the Exception campaign [https://endtheexception.com/]

Learn more about CCDA and how you can get involved at ccda.org [http://ccda.org/]. Connect with CCDA on Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/iamccda], Twitter [http://www.twitter.com/iamccda], Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/iamccda], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/christian-community-development-association-ccda-/]. Follow CCDA on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/iamccda].

Profits and Prisons

The Christian Community Development Association began with a group of Christians who shared a common commitment to live out the love of Christ in marginalized communities, not from a distance, but in proximity, and as neighbors. Dr. John M. Perkins has been called the Moses of the movement, living out Christian Community Development before there was an association or a philosophy.

Dr. Perkins passed away on March 13, 2026, at the age of 95. Throughout his life, he encouraged and inspired countless people to live a life of reconciliation, justice, and restoration.

In this episode, we will share audio from a Bible Study that Dr. Perkins led in 2009 about 1 John 2-3. During this session, he encouraged us to receive the grace of God, to love others, and to count it all joy during trials. We hope that you are encouraged and inspired by his call to love God and love our neighbors.

Learn more about the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation at jvmpf.org [http://jvmpf.org/] and read a tribute to Dr. Perkins on the CCDA blog ccda.org/a-tribute-to-dr-john-m-perkins [https://ccda.org/a-tribute-to-dr-john-m-perkins/].

Learn more about CCDA and how you can get involved at ccda.org [http://ccda.org/]. Connect with CCDA on Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/iamccda], Twitter [http://www.twitter.com/iamccda], Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/iamccda], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/christian-community-development-association-ccda-/]. Follow CCDA on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/iamccda].

1 John 2-3 with Dr. John Perkins

Scott Overpeck is joined by Pastor Nathan Walton and Marti Williams to share about Richmond, Virginia. They reflect on how churches and nonprofits are collaborating, the importance of telling the truth, and how God is moving in Metro Richmond.

Nathan Walton (PhD, University of Virginia) is a pastor in the Evangelical Covenant Church and serves at East End Fellowship in Richmond, Virginia. He also hosts the East End Fellowship Podcast and is the author of the forthcoming book, "Embodying God's Multiethnic Kingdom: Live Out the Diversity of Heaven Every Day."  As a graduate of Duke Divinity School and former board chair of the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, Nathan offers consulting, coaching, and trainings for faith-based organizations. He and his wife, Diamond, have two daughters and live in Richmond, Virginia.

Marti Williams has lived in the Metro Richmond, VA area her entire life and moved to Southern Barton Heights in Richmond’s Northside in 2005. Louis joined her as the other half of her pair (See Luke 10:1) after they married in December 2008. Since then, they have lived and served their beloved community in the Northside of Richmond, VA, for 20 years before moving to Midlothian, VA in December 2024. Marti has 20+ years of experience in retail and human resources management in Fortune 50, 100, and 500 companies. She’s the cofounder and president of Into The Neighborhood, a local 501c3 nonprofit, and is certified in Christian Community Development with CCDA, Certified BALM Family Recovery Life Coach and Facilitator, and has her certification with NonProfit Learning Point.

Learn more about the CCDA Conference [https://ccda.org/train-connect/ccda-national-conference/] and CCDA members can register today to secure the lowest rate.

Learn more about CCDA and how you can get involved at ccda.org [http://ccda.org/]. Connect with CCDA on Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/iamccda], Twitter [http://www.twitter.com/iamccda], Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/iamccda], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/christian-community-development-association-ccda-/]. Follow CCDA on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/iamccda].

Community Collaboration in Richmond

Dr. Lorenzo A. Watson is joined by Wayne “Coach” Gordon to reflect on the history of CCDA and the CCD Philosophy. Coach shares his story and how he got involved in CCDA, the history of the CCD Philosophy, and how he’s seeing God move in his neighborhood in North Lawndale.

Wayne Gordon is a graduate of Wheaton College and Northern Baptist Theological Seminary. He received his Doctor of Ministry degree from Eastern Baptist Theological Seminary. In 1975 Wayne moved to North Lawndale, located on Chicago’s Westside. At that time, North Lawndale was the 15th poorest neighborhood in the U.S. He was a teacher and coach at Farragut High School, also located in North Lawndale. Wayne and his wife Anne have raised their three adult children: Angela, a graduate of Taylor University, Married to Nate George, lives in Chicago and is a school teacher; Andrew a graduate of Baylor University and a trader with the Chicago Board of Trade, married to Stacy, and Austin graduate of Azusa Pacific University, living and working in New York City. Wayne and Anne, along with some local high school students, founded the Lawndale Community Church. Today, LCC has over 1000 worshipping families and Wayne continues as Pastor Emeritus.

Dr. Lorenzo A. Watson serves as the CEO/President for the Christian Community Development Association, headquartered in Chicago, IL. He is an experienced community development professional; a leader, teacher, and scholar who has long centered his work at the intersections of wholeness, education, and Biblical justice.

Learn more about CCDA and how you can get involved at ccda.org [http://ccda.org/]. Connect with CCDA on Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/iamccda], Twitter [http://www.twitter.com/iamccda], Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/iamccda], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/christian-community-development-association-ccda-/]. Follow CCDA on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/iamccda].

Reflections on the History of CCDA

Michelle Ferrigno Warren is joined by Joshua Park of Genesis Church of Fayetteville to reflect on their experience in CCDA’s Flourishing Congregations Initiative and how God is moving in the city. They share about what loving mercy and doing justice looks like and how cultivating partnerships in the city helps the church move from doing community outreach to community development.

Learn more about CCDA’s Flourishing Congregations Initiative at ccda.org/fci [http://ccda.org/fci].

Michelle Ferrigno Warren is the President of Virago Strategies, a consulting group which provides strategic engagement and project management support for churches and non-profits stepping more deeply into the work of public justice. She has been working in Christian community development for over 30 years utilizing her skills as an educator, worship leader, non-profit manager, public policy specialist & faith-rooted organizer & activist. She is an adjunct professor at Denver Seminary and a Senior Fellow with The Dietrich Bonhoeffer Institute. She is a fierce advocate for justice and has shared much of her journey toward civic engagement and activism in her books, The Power of Proximity, Moving Beyond Awareness to Action [https://www.ivpress.com/the-power-of-proximity], IVP 2017, and Join the Resistance, Step Into the Good Work of Kingdom Justice [https://www.ivpress.com/join-the-resistance], IVP, 2022.

Joshua Park is the Director of Outreach and Worship at Genesis Church of Fayetteville, where he has served for the past three years helping lead dignity-first, asset-based community development rooted in an Imago Dei theology. In his role, Joshua helps translate conviction into strategic practice—building relational pathways that strengthen neighborhoods through uniting and mobilizing churches, non-profit service providers, and government entities to support people in moving from vulnerability to stability and freedom. Originally from Memphis, Josh earned a B.A. in English from the University of Memphis and spent a number of years living abroad teaching English in multiple countries. His commitment to community development began in college and has taken many forms throughout his life. After battling addiction in his own life for 25 years—and experiencing poverty and homelessness firsthand—Joshua found freedom in Christ and a clear calling to invest in others seeking their own way out.

Learn more about CCDA and how you can get involved at ccda.org [http://ccda.org/]. Connect with CCDA on Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/iamccda], Twitter [http://www.twitter.com/iamccda], Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/iamccda], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/christian-community-development-association-ccda-/]. Follow CCDA on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/iamccda].

Moving from Church Outreach to Community Development

Pastor Artie M. Lindsay, Sr. shares about the 2025 CCDA Conference theme verse, Zechariah 8:12. He unpacks the six sections of this passage, explores some of what Shalom means for us today, and challenges us to continue sowing peace no matter the situation. Be encouraged and inspired by Pastor Artie’s word as you pursue Shalom with and in your community.

This audio is from the first plenary session at the 2025 CCDA Conference. For the full audio from this and other plenary sessions, along with this year’s workshops, visit the CCDA store [https://ccda.org/store/].

Pastor Artie M. Lindsay, Sr, has served Tabernacle Community Church in Grand Rapids, MI, since its inception in 2002, where he is the Pastor of Spiritual Formation and Board President of the Grand Rapids Nehemiah Project, the church's 501 c(3) organization. Since 2023, he has also led the work at the Urban Church Leadership Center, a catalytic hub that unites, trains, and resources faith leaders driving transformative change and fostering community flourishing. Committed to the holistic mission of the church, Pastor Artie is driven by his desire to unite and empower Christian leaders across denominations, ethnic backgrounds, and vocational sectors to live a more integrated life of work, worship, and service for the glory of God. He is married to Raquel and they have three children, Artie Jr., Victoria, and Alysa.

Connect with CCDA on Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/iamccda], Twitter [http://www.twitter.com/iamccda], Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/iamccda], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/christian-community-development-association-ccda-/]. Follow CCDA on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/iamccda].

Zechariah 8:12 and Pursuing Shalom

Welcome to Manna for the Movement, short devotionals from the CCDA community to encourage you to meet with God today, wherever you find yourself on your journey. This series focuses on the theme of Shalom—a concept encompassing wholeness, well-being, justice, development, and harmony. It speaks to a state of right relationship with God, with one another, and with creation, where nothing is missing and nothing is broken.

In this episode, Marie Moy leads us in meditating on Jeremiah 6:13-16b through the practice of Lectio Divina.

Marie Moy serves as the Director of Operations, and is a member of the Restorative Practices training and implementation team at Erie County Restorative Justice Coalition (ECRJC). ECRJC’s mission is to promote racial and social justice through Restorative Practices providing training, coaching, consulting, and restorative responses, including Restorative Justice Conferencing in lieu of traditional punitive measures. Marie grew up in a small town in northern Indiana, where her parents owned a Chinese-American restaurant. As children, she and her sisters attended an independent Baptist church. Marie first learned of Christian Community Development while attending Renovation Church in Buffalo in 2010. She participated in CCDA’s El Camino del Inmigrante in 2016 with approximately 70 others to bring attention to the plight of immigrants. Marie is a graduate of Northeastern Seminary at Roberts Wesleyan College in Rochester, NY with MA in Theology & Social Justice from, and of Indiana University, Bloomington with a BS in Biochemistry. Marie integrates her background in science and theology to bring just practices to the operations of organizations, and is particularly interested in creating spaces without traditional hierarchy that are inclusive and supportive of marginalized communities. As a second-generation Asian American, Marie is passionate about immigration reform in addition to her work with ECRJC to end mass incarceration, and restore relationships and communities Marie is married with two adult children, and a small Cavalier King Charles/poodle mix named Chani. She is a member of the CCDA Board and Leadership Cohort 8, and the John R. Oishei Foundation Karen Lee Spalding Oishei Fellows for Leaders of Color. She is embarking on sabbatical to spend time with God, and exploration of embodied restorative practices after a long season in nonprofit work.

Learn more about CCDA and how you can get involved at ccda.org [http://ccda.org/]. Connect with CCDA on Instagram [http://www.instagram.com/iamccda], Twitter [http://www.twitter.com/iamccda], Facebook [http://www.facebook.com/iamccda], and LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/company/christian-community-development-association-ccda-/]. Follow CCDA on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/user/iamccda].

Manna for the Movement: Jeremiah 6:13-16b

Christian Community Development Association (CCDA) is a network of Christians committed to seeing people and communities experience God’s shalom. This podcast features teaching from our annual conference, interviews, and training courses.

CCDA Podcast