African American fellowship’s Greg Perkins explores ‘perversion of proximity’

EATONVILLE, Fla. (BP) – Proximity to those in power is not necessarily a good thing, National African American Fellowship (NAAF) President Greg Perkins said in NAAF’s annual sermon June 8, cautioning pastors to submit to God rather than pursue closeness to perceived power.

Annsy Vanoukia, pastor of worship, arts and guest relations at The View Church in Menifee, Calif., leads worship alongside the choir singing “Trust in God” by Elevation Worship, during the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention’s “Evening of Worship” at Macedonia Baptist Church in Eatonville, Fla. Photo by Elijah Hickman

“There is something deeply human about wanting to be near what matters, near where influence is domiciled,” Perkins, pastor of the View Church in Menifee, Calif., said in one of his final sermons as NAAF president, presenting it as a teaching moment. “Proximity promises access. Proximity whispers in your ear that you are significant. Proximity convinces you that if I can just get close enough, I will finally become good enough. But beloved, there is a difference between proximity and transformation.”

Perkins drew his lesson – “The Perversion of Proximity” – from Mark 10:35-45, when James and John witnessed the transfiguration and asked to sit at Jesus’ right and left hands.

“This moment unfolds not in a vacuum, but in the shadow of the cross. Consider this. Jesus had just foretold His suffering, His rejection, His death,” Perkins said. “Here they are angling for status. While He is embracing suffering, they are negotiating seating assignments.

“This is a perversion of proximity,” he said, “when proximity to power replaces conformity to Christ.”

Many in the Church who seek proximity to power surrender to a false, manufactured image of God, Perkins said, cautioning that he and other NAAF pastors must examine themselves.

Rochelle Moss, a member of Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, lifts her voice in worship during the National African American Fellowship’s “Evening of Worship” at Macedonia Baptist Church in Eatonville, Fla. Photo by Elijah Hickman

“Any version of Jesus that ignores justice, minimizes suffering or sanctifies inequality is not the Jesus of the Gospel,” Perkins said, describing what he called a “distorted theology” that many might unwittingly internalize. “When we prioritize access over authenticity, when we silence conviction to maintain proximity, we participate in that distortion.

“There are spaces where Jesus is presented as a symbol of power, rather than a savior who suffered,” Perkins said. “Jesus is not wrapped up in the American flag, and Jesus is neither an elephant nor a donkey. Faith is aligned falsely with dominance rather than humility, where the Gospel is shaped to fit cultural comfort rather than divine truth.”

At the service hosted by Willie C. Barnes, senior pastor of Macedonia Missionary Baptist Church in Eatonville (non-SBC), fellow NAAF pastors and members of Perkins’ pastorate took the occasion to also congratulate Perkins on his three years of leadership as NAAF president. In attendance were more than 40 members of Perkin’s California pastorate, including several staff ministers.

Quintell Hill, International Mission Board Black and multi-ethnic network strategist, celebrates Gregory L. Perkins, president of the National African American Fellowship (NAAF) and senior pastor of The View Church in Menifee, Calif., during the National African American Fellowship of the Southern Baptist Convention’s “Evening of Worship” at Macedonia Baptist Church in Eatonville, Fla. Photo by Elijah Hickman

Among those commending Perkins were Quintell Hill, Black and multiethnic catalyst for the International Mission Board; incoming NAAF President Jerome Coleman, pastor of First Baptist Church of Crestmont in Willow Grove, Pa.; Mark Croston, national director of Black Church Ministries with Lifeway Christian Resources, and Laverne Gray Davis, Mother’s Circle leader at Perkins’ pastorate.

Hill commended Perkins for mobilizing pastors to participate in IMB vision trips to the global mission field.

“Because of your leadership in this way, you are a rope holder,” Hill said. “You are a rope holder for more people to say yes to the Gospel, more African American missionaries to say yes, to say we are going to spend our lives to reach the people that are lost and dying and going to hell.

“This past year, we mobilized the most African American churches across the country with pastors that went on vision trips,” Hill said, “because The View Church, Pastor Perkins, led and charged in that way.”

The name Perkins means “rock,” Croston said, referencing an AI search.

“So I’m grateful for Pastor Perkins for being these past three years like the rock that we have needed,” Croston said. “You have been a player, and what that means is you have been willing to get in the game, roll your sleeves up in order to get something done.”

Mark Croston, National Director of Black Church Ministries at Lifeway Christian Resources, celebrates the tenure of outgoing NAAF president Gregory L. Perkins. Photo by Elijah Hickman

Croston also cherished Perkins as a prayer and a payer, someone who seeks God’s guidance and is willing to endure hardship and persecution inherent in leadership.

Davis praised Perkins for being a diligent pastor who has survived five bouts of cancer, but continues to teach Wednesday night Bible study, men’s Bible study on Saturday mornings, and to preach three sermons on Sundays.

Perkins is “the man who comforts you when your loved ones transitions, the man who raises his voice at you sometimes and ends up saying, ‘I’m not upset,’ the man who loves the Lord,” Davis said. He is “the man who tells you obedience is better than sacrifice; the man who is better to you than he is to himself; … and lastly, the man who pleads, ‘Come my brother, my sister, to Christ.”

Perkins is currently battling his sixth cancer diagnosis, he has announced, but did not specify his specific diagnosis.

Coleman, elected NAAF president at the June 8^th business meeting the Monday following the annual service, commended Perkins for persevering in service and leadership.

Jerome Coleman, incoming president of National African American Fellowship, recognizes the service of outgoing NAAF president Gregory L. Perkins. Photo by Elijah Hickman

“Persevering in the New Testament is the idea of constancy, steadfastness. It is a commitment to a deliberate purpose, that no matter what trials and tribulations come, a person is determined to carry out and complete their assignment “You, Gregory Perkins, have done just that,” Coleman said, noting Perkins’ faithfulness to God, his humility and a desire to see others improve.

“So brother, I just want to say thank you for raising the bar, because in raising the bar,” Coleman said, “that means for the next three years, we’ve got to take it even higher.”

The annual worship service kicked off a weekend of three NAAF events, including the annual business meeting and the SBC Black Collective George Liele Missions Banquet — held in concert with other ethnic fellowships from the African diaspora — June 8 at the Orange County Convention Center.