The Perkins Center welcomes Rev. Sandra Maria Van Opstal for the 2024 Perkins Lecture Series, April 23. This is an annual time of community gathering that creates space for mutual learning and reflection with students, staff, faculty and community.
The JPC has become an embodiment of this idea of "living into the legacy". The Center is part of the legacy of Dr. John Perkins that continues the work of justice, reconciliation and community development. This year earmarks our 20 year partnership with the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation. We will have Elizabeth Perkins and Priscilla Perkins joining us.
We look forward to hosting pastor, activist, and author Sandra Van Opstal as she challenges, as well as, helps us dream within the theme of Justice and Spirituality. She is executive director of Chasing Justice and author of The Next Worship and Forty Days of Being An Eight. A leading voice on the intersection of faith and justice.
Tuesday, April 23
Chapel with Elizabeth Perkins
11:10 a.m., FFMC, across from SPU Campus
All-University Chapel
CCDA Pacific Northwest Network Lunch
12:30–3 p.m. Registration required, coming soon.
SPU JPC 20th Anniversary Reception
6:00 p.m., Upper Gwinn, SPU Campus
18th Perkins Lecture with Rev. Sandra Van Opstal
7:00 p.m., Upper Gwinn, SPU Campus
Meet the speakers
Rev. Sandra Marie Van Opstal
Sandra Maria Van Opstal is a second-generation Latina pastor, activist, author, and a powerful leading voice on the intersection of faith and justice. She is executive director of Chasing Justice, a BIPOC-led movement that mobilizes the next generation of Christians to live justly. Sandra’s distinctiveness comes from working in both local and global contexts as a practitioner and academic, which has solidified her calling to disrupt oppressive systems within the church and center marginalized voices. She served as executive pastor at Grace and Peace Church on Chicago’s west side and as an activist in her community. She holds a Masters of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School and is currently pursuing doctoral work in Urban Leadership and Transformation. Sandra is the author of The Next Worship, Forty Days on Being An Eight, as well as contributor to the New York Times bestselling book A Rhythm of Prayer.
Elizabeth Perkins
Elizabeth Perkins is co-president of the John and Vera Mae Perkins Foundation and program and mission director, where she coordinates efforts for the foundation on mission teams, internship opportunities, children/adult programs, summer arts camp, and Perkins Justice Pilgrimages. She has spent time in Africa ministering and serving with the Navigators. Her goal is simple yet profound: Helping next generations encounter and follow Jesus to bless a broken world.
Elizabeth brings passion and purpose, whether she is guiding you through the intricacies of establishing and managing your foundation or helping you establish a youth ministry or mentoring program. When she shares her excitement for God’s call on her life, she says, “Looking back over my life, I see how God’s hand has brought me to this time and place. This represents not only where we are in our own lives, but where we want to take others as well.”
Posted: Friday, March 22, 2024