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

The church is weakened when its mission is unclear. Is the mission of the church simply to make disciples? Or is it also expanding or ushering in God’s kingdom? How does community transformation relate to our mission? Is it the church’s mission to paint every fence and feed every belly? If not, should the church do these things anyway? It is easy to confuse the church’s mission, and start acting as if we are God, instead of relying on God. In this episode, the Joel, Eric, and Stephanie discuss the primary mission of the church, as well as, the nuanced role it plays in the community. As the church makes disciples, disciples “love their neighbor.” And things change. Listen in and join the conversation!

In scripture, elders are addressed as a plurality, not as a role to be served by a single individual. Joel and Eric, both pastors at The Garden Church, share insight into the importance of having both paid and lay (unpaid) elders serving the inner city church. What does it look like for an elder to have full-time secular work, but still hold the same authority as the senior Pastor? Listen in as we discuss various challenges and dangers from the lack of a plurality of elders, to unchecked authority and the weight of ministry. God’s grace remains necessary in equipping all elders.