Through the gospel this process requires breaking down every racial, ethnic, or economic barrier to opportunity, such that as Christians people can come together to solve the problems of their shared community. Perkins believes in the importance of economic development and the redistribution of resources. But this commitment does not mean the heavy hand of government taking from one member of a community to give to another. We need to let children know in kindergarten that their education is preparing them for the day when they will have jobs. We need to explain to them that they are developing their skills and their work habits, that what they are learning now will influence the quality of their adult lives.
Economic development begins with developing skills and work habits in people.
You then teach them that economic development is managing what you own. What you own first is yourself, so you need to turn yourself into an asset that is valuable to others. So economic development then becomes asset management. Asset management finally grows into developing an enterprise that you own. Perkins has lived and worked in communities around the country, doing his own part to live out the gospel message and revive urban communities.