The fact that rapper, writer, publisher, and pastor Tommy “Urban D.” Kyllonen feels called to minister to the inner city is no great surprise—“urban” is literally his middle name, after all. What is surprising, however, is the number of ways in which he’s managed to do it. Whether serving as lead pastor for Tampa’s multi-ethnic, multi-generational Crossover Church, performing hip-hop and spoken word concerts around the world, or writing books like Un.orthodox or ReBuild, Kyllonen has spent the last 20 years in ministry venture after ministry venture, bringing the gospel into every available nook and cranny of the city he calls home. But for someone who’s so keen on serving in neighborhoods where many churches won’t go, there are still some lines Urban D. won’t cross. For instance, while he’s been at the forefront of cultivating a hip-hop-friendly culture at Crossover, he’s also learned the hard way that when a church copies the world’s culture rather than creating one of its own, it can lead to confusion over what that church is really all about. If that tension sounds familiar, you’re not alone. Join us this week on The Calling, as CT managing editor Richard Clark chats with Urban D. about his brief stint as a Bible college rebel, how he used basketball to build a youth group, and what two decades of urban ministry have taught him about the church’s crucial role in America’s metropolitan future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices