Patton Brings a Wealth of Experience to Help Lead UMI into a New Chapter
(CHICAGO) November 7, 2026 – Urban Ministries, Inc. (UMI), the largest independent, African American-owned-and-operated Christian media company, has announced publishing veteran Katara Washington Patton as its new publisher. In this role, she will publish Christian education resources, including Bible studies, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School curriculum, books, movies, and websites designed for churches and individuals seeking a Christ-centered perspective on faith and life issues. She will also lead the content and design team, collaborating with marketing, sales, and other departments for new product development.
“Katara Patton brings leadership to UMI that includes a history of spiritual commitment, editorial expertise, and a published author’s track record,” says C. Jeffrey Wright, UMI president and CEO. “The church, the community, and the Kingdom will be blessed by her contributions to our mission.”
Patton has worked in the editorial and acquisitions departments of several publishing organizations, including Tyndale, Our Daily Bread, Weekly Reader Corporation, Jet Magazine, McGraw-Hill, The African American Pulpit, and Christian Century Magazine. In roles ranging from contributing writer to editorial director, she has developed a seasoned perspective around amplifying voices of African American Christian writers, strengthening writer-publisher relationships and so much more. Patton has also served on the faculty of ECPA PubU, serving as the Editorial track leader the last three years.
“I’m extremely excited and proud to return to UMI, where I began my journey in Christian publishing nearly 30 years ago,” said Patton. “Christian education has been my calling even before I realized it. I grew up in a family where my mom, the Sunday School superintendent, and my father, the head deacon and teacher, were committed to not only teaching God’s Word but living it out faithfully at home and in our community. I am honored to be given the opportunity and challenge to continue the legacy begun by Dr. Melvin Banks and carried out by many others. I look forward to continuing the work of helping God’s people know God, love God, and serve God’s people.”
A summa cum laude graduate of Dillard University, Patton earned a bachelor of arts degree in mass communications and English. She holds a Master of Journalism from the Medill School of Journalism at Northwestern University and a Master of Divinity from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, where she received the Outstanding Preaching Award.
A native of Thibodaux, Louisiana, Patton lives on the South Side of Chicago with her husband, Derrick, and their teenage daughter. She is also the author of nine Christian living and devotional books, including her forthcoming release, Faith of Our Teen Girls: Passing Belief from Mother to Daughter (Whitaker House, 2027).
INTERVIEW OPPORTUNITIES
The following are available for interviews:
- Katara Washington Patton, UMI publisher
- C. Jeffrey Wright, UMI president and CEO
ABOUT URBAN MINISTRIES, INC.
UMI (Urban Ministries, Inc.) was founded in 1970 by Dr. Melvin Banks, Sr., to fill the void in Christian education media and resources for African Americans. Led by CEO C. Jeffrey Wright, today UMI is the largest independent, African American-owned-and-operated Christian media company. UMI publishes Christian education resources, including Bible studies, Sunday School and Vacation Bible School curriculum, books, movies, and websites designed for African American churches and individuals seeking a Christ-centered perspective on faith and life issues. The vision of UMI is to see the growing global church in the African diaspora have culturally relevant resources to evangelize, disciple, and equip people for Kingdom impact. www.urbanministries.com
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Kayla Tucker Adams, KTA Media Group, info@kaylatuckeradams.com, 214-403-9852
Daryn Borders, KTA Media Group, darin@kaylatuckeradams.com, 443-286-2463
