Bio
Someone told me I had to write this. Here goes...
Jack Urban is one of the Lord’s kids who writes about how the beauty he finds in little things fuels his courage to face the big stuff.
Urban's works span a diverse range from the whimsical Brill: The Tale of a Reluctant Donkey, an illustrated children's book, to the contemplative prayer devotionals, Small Talks with God and 40 Days with Jesus; two books of prayer art, Through a Glass Dimly and Everyday Grace; and the adventurous memoir Backward down the Mountain. His poetry, songs, and short stories have found various homes, including the Vineyard Church of Elgin and the Everyday Amazed substack, and have been featured in several Rez Arts festivals.
He's thrilled to announce his upcoming novel Gathering Clalots, a time-traveling fantasy tale about a complacent New York agnostic magically transported against his will to a sixteenth-century Silk Road town, tasked with delivering people from an undisclosed crisis. Along the way, he meets friends and villains and encounters puzzles, plots, a talking stone, and ghosts in a treasure hunt to end all treasure hunts. Amid the twists and turns, he can’t help but notice the meaning behind each adventure and is slowly awakened to a new understanding of faith.
Urban's life is a testament to his commitment to service. As a worship leader, youth and prison minister, and founder of Warm Feet Warm Hearts and Eyes of the Wind, he has made a difference where needed. His teachings, shared through workshops like Karitos Worship and Arts Conference and Sharpen Your Sword, have inspired creative audiences. He earned his MA from Wheaton College in 2019, and when he's not engaged in ministry or creative pursuits, he works as a traveling fix-it man.
Some samples of Jack's work can be found at:
Brill: The Tale of a Reluctant Donkey
Bibliography and Discography
“Kaahhali” – Folk Rock, single, 1986
“Waiting on a Miracle” – Pop Rock, single, 1988
Quies – Instrumental Music, 1989
Wellsprings – Instrumental Music, 1993
The Crack of Silence – Eclectic Rock with Eyes of the Wind, 1996
Manna – Instrumental Music, 2000
Butterflies in Snow – Instrumental Music, 2004
Wellsprings: Joyful – Instrumental Music, 2006
Through a Glass Dimly – Graphic Art, 2009
Backward down the Mountain – Memoir, 2013
Small Talks with God – Devotional, 2019
Brill: The Tale of a Reluctant Donkey – Illustrated Children’s, 2021
40 Days with Jesus – Devotional, 2021
Wellsprings: Hidden Glory – Instrumental Music, 2023
Everyday Grace – Prayer and Nature Photography, 2023
Everyday Amazed – Blog, 2024