AFRICAN-AMERICAN MINISTRIES

Meet the Director

Danté Upshaw, Director of African-American Ministries

In 1994, Danté followed the Lord's leading to Chicago to study pastoral youth ministry at Moody Bible Institute and to continue working as a radio announcer for Moody Broadcasting.  Upon graduating in 1997, he was called to serve as youth pastor and youth director at Rock of Our Salvation EFC and Circle Urban Ministries on Chicago's West Side. 

In the fall of 1999, Danté began working at Wheaton College as an admissions recruiter and counselor for Black, Hispanic, and Asian-American students.  In the fall of 2001, he was appointed as the assistant director in the Office of Christian Outreach.  In this role, he served as a bridge between Wheaton College and the urban community. 

In January of 2004 Danté came on board with the EFCA as the Director of African-American Ministries.  He serves as a bridge for existing and emerging black leaders in the EFCA movement and his mission is to recruit, retain, resource and reproduce healthy black leaders in the EFCA.  Danté travels across the U.S. and internationally, preaching and teaching about the radical life-changing message of Jesus Christ and new life in the Holy Spirit. 

Danté, his wife Beverly, and their three children currently live in Minneapolis, MN, and attend New Hope Church.  They continue to live out their calling as "Urban Ambassadors" with a heart to love and serve the poor and oppressed through reconciliation and community development.