The Stoop Sessions

ONE HOPE

Welcome to The Stoop Sessions. Join Stephanie, Joel, and Eric for candid conversations about life and ministry from the stoop in Baltimore, MD. All ministry is hard. Inner city work has its unique challenges. That's what this podcast is all about. ONE HOPE exists to build healthy churches in the inner city.

  1. Ecclesiology in the Inner City: Doctrine

    5D AGO

    Ecclesiology in the Inner City: Doctrine

    Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions—where we gather for honest, down-to-earth conversations about ministry and the life of the church, straight from a Baltimore stoop. In this episode, Joel, Akin, and Stephanie sit on the stoop of the ONE HOPE Mission House in Baltimore, Maryland to talk about the importance of doctrine in the life of the church—especially in the inner city. In communities often shaped by a lack of theological training and constant exposure to shallow or false teaching, doctrine is not a luxury; it is a necessity. Why does doctrine matter for everyday believers? How does sound doctrine shape the health, worship, and mission of the church? And how do pastors and congregations alike receive, guard, and pass on good doctrine? Together, they discuss the real challenges facing this community, the danger of drifting from biblical truth, and the urgent call to combat false doctrine with the life-giving doctrine of Scripture. This conversation makes the case that doctrine is not cold or abstract—it is deeply pastoral, profoundly practical, and essential for faithfulness and endurance. Joel Kurz is the Lead Pastor at The Garden Church and Director of ONE HOPE. Akin Omisanmi serves as Pastor at Southwest Baptist Church, a ONE HOPE church. Stephanie serves alongside ONE HOPE, laboring for healthy churches and rooted discipleship in the city. 📍 Learn more about The Garden Church: thegardenbaltimore.com 📍 Learn more about Southwest Baptist Church: swbcbaltimore.com 🌱 Learn more about ONE HOPE: onehope.gives ❤️ Support the show: onehope.gives/donate

  2. AUG 13

    Finishing Well Without Ruining Your Life

    Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions, where we have casual, down-to-earth conversations about ministry—straight from a Baltimore stoop. Each episode unpacks topics around healthy church ministry in the inner city. In this episode, Joel and Akin are joined by Pastor Zach Schlegel of First Baptist Church of Upper Marlboro. Together, they open 1 Timothy 4:16 and explore a sobering and hopeful theme: You don’t want to ruin your life—stay faithful until the end. Zach unpacks what it means to “keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching,” and why this command is essential for every pastor and church member. The conversation moves from the role of the conscience in keeping us on track, to how watching your life and doctrine protects both you and your church. They discuss the devastating ripple effects when a pastor falls, and offer practical helps for guarding the soul, persevering in the faith, and finishing the race well. Together, they make the case that finishing well is not an accident—it’s the fruit of intentional watchfulness, gospel-centered endurance, and God’s sustaining grace. Joel is the Lead Pastor at The Garden Church and director of ONE HOPE. Akin serves as Pastor at Southwest Baptist Church, a ONE HOPE church. Zach serves as Pastor at First Baptist Church of Upper Marlboro. 📍 Learn more about FBC Upper Marlboro: fbcum.org 📍 Learn more about The Garden Church: thegardenbaltimore.com 📍 Learn more about Southwest Baptist Church: swbcbaltimore.com 📍 Learn more about First Baptist Church of Upper Marlboro: fbcum.org 🌱 Learn more about ONE HOPE: onehope.gives ❤️ Support the show: onehope.gives/donate

  3. JUL 17

    Ecclesiology in the Inner City

    Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions, where we have casual, down-to-earth conversations about ministry—straight from a Baltimore stoop. Each episode unpacks topics around healthy church ministry in the inner city. In this episode, we're joined by Pastor Akin Omisanmi of Southwest Baptist Church in Baltimore, MD—a faithful church that has experienced new life through revitalization. While many are drawn to the excitement of church planting, Akin shares why he chose the slower, harder, but deeply rewarding work of revitalizing an existing church in the inner city. The conversation turns toward ecclesiology—what the church is, how it functions, and why it matters deeply in places like Southwest Baltimore. Akin reflects on how a biblical vision of the local church shapes everything: from evangelism, to discipleship, to caring for the poor. He also addresses common questions: Can Biblical ecclesiology work in the inner city? Is it relevant to struggling neighborhoods? What does a healthy church actually do for the community? Together, they make the case that good ecclesiology is not just theological—it’s deeply practical, evangelistic, and essential to long-term neighborhood transformation. Joel is the Lead Pastor at The Garden Church and director of ONE HOPE. Akin serves as pastor at Southwest Baptist Church, a ONE HOPE church, where he’s leading a quiet but powerful work of renewal. 📍 Learn more about The Garden Church: thegardenbaltimore.com
 📍 Learn more about Southwest Baptist Church: swbcbaltimore.com
 🌱 Learn more about ONE HOPE: www.onehope.gives 
❤️ Support the show: www.onehope.gives/donate

4.9
out of 5
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About

Welcome to The Stoop Sessions. Join Stephanie, Joel, and Eric for candid conversations about life and ministry from the stoop in Baltimore, MD. All ministry is hard. Inner city work has its unique challenges. That's what this podcast is all about. ONE HOPE exists to build healthy churches in the inner city.

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