John Perkins - One Blood: Parting Words to the Church on Race and Love

I am so thankful that John Perkins has written One Blood. It is a must-read for all people. John carefully and powerfully weaves Scripture, his personal story, illustrations of true reconciliation with an encouraging style that brings hope. I loved reading it and so will you.

WAYNE GORDON

Founding Pastor of Lawndale Community Church
Chairman of Christian Community Development Association

John Perkinss new book, One Blood, is an open invitation for the body of Christwhether a church, denomination, or individualto take inventory of our progress. Are we living by Christs standards, or have we succumbed to those of the world? While the latest research reveals that the average church is stagnant at best, Christ has challenged His church to stay in the race and get His work done! John Perkinss book poses some tough questions and offers practical advice for doing just that.

TONY EVANS

Senior Pastor, Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship

President, The Urban Alternative

This is a powerful, prophetic appeal to people of faith to address our nations tragic history of racial injustice. Like Daniel, Amos, and Micah, John Perkins has profound insight on the health of our nation and the sin of racial bigotry that has burdened us for too long. One Blood is an altar call for justice to which we should all respond.

BRYAN STEVENSON

Founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, clinical professor at New York University School of Law, and author of Just Mercy

Im not quite sure where to begin with Dr. John Perkinss latest and, perhaps, final book, One Blood. I think the best way to capture the heart of this book is that, ultimately, this is a love letter to the church. By this, Im not suggesting that this is a nebulous or fluffy invitation to a feel good, pop psychology about the injustice of racism. Rather, its both fierce and tender, pastoral and prophetic, lamenting and hopeful. Dr. Perkinsboth through his words and corroborated by a life faithfully livedinvites us to a deeper love for God and for neighborincluding and especially those that dont look like us, think like us, or feel like us. And in a world today of so much pain, fear, and division, we need to desperately be reminded of Gods reconciling truth, grace, and love.

EUGENE CHO

Pastor, humanitarian, and author of Overrated: Are We More in Love with the Idea of Changing the World Than Actually Changing the World?

One Blood is indeed, in Dr. Perkinss own words, a manifesto and the culmination of his lifes work and calling to realize biblical reconciliation. Theres a clear sense of urgency and candor about the days ahead for the church, the all-important role of the gospel message, and the baton that has to pass to the next generation.

I often say Dr. Perkins is a true national treasure. Here he has written his very heart and soula history and biographyin One Blood, and has poured all of himself out in beautiful, selfless love. This book is a must-read for any and all who share the burden for this ongoing fight.

JUDAH SMITH

Lead Pastor, Churchome (formerly The City Church)

New York Times bestselling author, Jesus Is ________.

John Perkins has been giving me a transfusion of reconciling love for forty years. We may be one, but John has always had the better blood, more of Christs healing and renewing love. So over and over, both for me and for so many, John has infused us with fresh vision and bold passion for Gods reconciling love and justice. This wise book testifies that that same blood is still vital and pumping hard!

MARK LABBERTON

President, Fuller Theological Seminary

2018 by JOHN PERKINS

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without permission in writing from the publisher, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles or reviews.

All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the New American Standard Bible, Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.Lockman.org)

Scripture quotations marked NLT are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked KJV are taken from the King James Version.

Scripture quotations marked NIV are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version, NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com. The NIV and New International Version are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked ISV are taken from The Holy Bible: International Standard Version. Release 2.0, Build 2015.02.09. Copyright 1995-2014 by ISV Foundation. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED INTERNATIONALLY. Used by permission of Davidson Press, LLC.

Scripture quotations marked NCV are taken from the New Century Version. Copyright 2005 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

Scripture quotations marked CEV are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.

Edited by Elizabeth Cody Newenhuyse
Interior and cover design: Erik M. Peterson
Author photo: Will Sterling, Sterling Photography

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Names: Perkins, John, 1930- author.

Title: One blood : parting words to the church on race and love / John Perkins.

Other titles: Parting words to the church on race

Description: Chicago : Moody Publishers, 2018. | Includes bibliographical references.

Identifiers: LCCN 2017056585 (print) | LCCN 2018016301 (ebook) | ISBN 9780802495501 (ebook) | ISBN 9780802418012

Subjects: LCSH: United StatesRace relations. | Racism--United States--Psychological aspects. | Racism--Religious aspects--Christianity. | Civil rights--Religious aspects--Christianity. | Race relations--Religious aspects--Christianity. | Reconciliation. | Church and social problems--United States.

Classification: LCC E185.615 (ebook) | LCC E185.615 .P424 2018 (print) | DDC 305.800973--dc23

LC record available at https://lccn.loc.gov/2017056585

ISBN 978-0-8024-1801-2

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To my soulmate, Vera Mae, whose love has inspired and sustained me; and to my grandchildren (Johnathan Spencer, Rebekah Jubilee, April Joy, Varah Aleya, Karah Spencer, Toneasha Slater, John Phillip, David Wilson, Peydria Alene, John Michael, Shelby Karyssa, John Wayne, and Ashley) and great-grandchildren (Khalil Parker, John Phillip Jr., Sarah Patrice, Jonathan Carey, DaSean Quincy, Charli Eden, Kynli Nichole, and Eva), who must take up the mantle and run your own race. May you always seek His good pleasure.