We are called of God to create, produce, and distribute quality Christian education products; to deliver exemplary customer service; and to provide quality Christian educational services, which will empower God’s people, especially within the Black community, to evangelize, disciple, and equip people for serving Christ, His kingdom, and church.
Our Mission
Key Executives
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr.: Founder and Chairman
Dr. Melvin E. Banks, Sr. is the founder and chairman of UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.). Under his direction, UMI has grown to be a leading publisher of Christian education resources for churches in the African American community.
At the age of 12, Dr. Banks was inspired by a man quoting Hosea 4:6 to dedicate himself to addressing the spiritual needs within Black communities throughout the country. In 1955, he graduated from the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago and married Olive Perkins. He went on to Wheaton College, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Theology and a Master of Arts and Biblical Studies degree. He received an honorary Doctorate of Literature from Wheaton College in 1992. In 2008, Moody honored him as its Alumnus of the Year.
Dr. Banks is the author and editor of a number of books and Bible studies. In addition to his leadership at UMI, Dr. Banks is the founder of the Urban Outreach Foundation, an elder in his local church, and a member of the boards of trustees of Wheaton College and the Circle Y Ranch. He lives in South Holland, Illinois with his wife Olive. They have three children.
C. Jeffrey Wright: CEO
Jeff Wright’s background includes over 15 years in the companies Johnson & Johnson and Bristol-Myers Squibb, where his last position was vice president of corporate development (mergers, acquisitions and strategic alliances) for its consumer businesses. Jeff is a minister, a lawyer, a graduate of Georgetown University Law Center, and is admitted to the Pennsylvania bar and the U.S. Supreme Court bar. He has an MBA in finance from Columbia University Graduate School of Business and graduated with honors from Fisk University. He completed additional study in the Harvard Law School Program of Instruction for Lawyers, as well as at the Wharton School in business development, and taught jurisprudence and ethics at the graduate level in Indiana at the University of Evansville for four years.