Current Faces and New Ventures with Dhati and Daniel Episode #4: Urban is No Longer What You Think For some, urban church planting was code for starting churches in the inner-city, and usually in order to reach communities of color. However, these overly simplistic—and perhaps expiring definitions—of what is urban is boxes in the kind of training and support networks need to provide to the next generation of church planters. Join Dhati and Daniel as they unpack better ways to think about “urban” and how minority-led networks are positioned to help lead the conversation towards the future.

Dhati Lewis

Dhati Lewis is the Lead Pastor of Blueprint Church in Atlanta, Georgia and the President of Send Network with the North American Mission Board. He was born and raised in California and later moved to Texas where he completed his undergraduate studies from the University of North Texas. He later earned his master’s degree from Dallas Theological Seminary and his Doctorate of Ministry in Great Commission Mobilization from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. During his time in Texas, he started a college ministry, served as a chaplain to UNTs football team, coached high-school football, became a college pastor, and eventually planted a church. In all these years of ministry, Dhati became increasingly burdened to see healthy disciple-making churches in the city. This burden grew until the Lord gave Dhati a clear vision to plant a church-planting church in Atlanta, Georgia. In 2009, Dhati, along with twenty-five others, moved to Atlanta with the goal to become the last generation of believers who have to leave the urban context in search of sound discipleship. Dhati is is most passionate about making disciples, equipping urban leaders, and loving his family. On any given day you might find Dhati changing a plan, coaching his kids in basketball, or strategizing on a whiteboard. Dhati has seven beautiful children and is married to Angie, a discerning woman who empowers and encourages him to live fully in his identity in Christ. He is the author of both the Bible Study and book, Among Wolves: Disciple Making in the City and Advocates: The Narrow Path to Racial Reconciliation.