some John Perkins quotes from ccda 2011

John Perkins' spiritual authority and leadership keep Christian Community Development Association on the solid rock of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In his prophetic way, he spoke powerfully through the conference in Indianapolis this past week. His theme was discipleship, and here are just a few JP quotes:

- "We got people trying to be Christians without being disciples. People are calling themselves Christians and then trying to act right."

- "We've got so much freedom that we've reduced Christianity to our self."

- "We must unshackle the Gospel. Release Jesus in our community."

- "We could get rid of all this racism stuff if we believed every human being is created in the image of God and has inherent dignity."

-"We have to first be born again- come into the knowledge that we're sinners. If you've got too much religion, it's hard to come to the truth of yourself. We got too much pride."

- "We need to be reproducing the character of Jesus, the ways of Jesus, the mission of Jesus. We need to be pouring into the next generation and teaching people to be disciples."

- "Leaders are called and commissioned, but they first have to be discipled."

- "Christian Community Development without a youth component is not Christian Community Development. We must be discipling our young people."

- "There is no reconciliation until you recognize the dignity of the other, until you see their view- you have to enter into the pain of the people. You've got to feel their need."

- "The biggest thing about reconciliation is that we have to see the sinfulness of our sin. We have to become aware of our sin."

- "We're talking about authentic Christianity- The Kingdom of God. Not this black-white thing. We have to acknowledge our failure and use this light of God's reconciling love. Get serious about tearing down these walls. Racism contributes nothing but hate, violence, death in our world."

- "The mission of the Church is to demonstrate God's love to the world- not only through words but deeds."

- "On our way of discipleship, we must be disciplined."

- "A servant leader's greatest concern is for the people. We can evaluate the leader by the growth of the people being led. We need to be discipling so there is growth."

- "We've got trouble. People are being called Christians without being discipled and then we're putting them in leadership without being discipled first."

- "We have to live a life of confession and repentance. God pours out his love and power when we confess and repent of our sin. We hear God speak to us clearer when we confess our sin. He calls us to repentance."

- "Leaders are called by God to work with God to solve the problems of the world and enter into the felt needs and pain of the people."