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

Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions, where we have casual, down-to-earth conversations about ministry—straight from a Baltimore stoop. In each episode, Joel Kurz, Stephanie Greer, and a guest unpack topics around healthy church ministry in the inner city.

In this episode, we’re joined by James Choi, pastor of New Covenant Baptist Church in Rockville, MD, and a PhD candidate at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, focusing on Charles Spurgeon’s theology of conversion.

We dig into a critical issue facing churches today: ministry that’s become professionalized, leaving many congregations as passive spectators rather than active Gospel workers. James shares about his recent visit to the Metropolitan Tabernacle in London, offering a glimpse of Spurgeon’s legacy of a working church—a church where every member plays a part in the mission. Together we explore how pastors can equip their people not just to attend but to engage fully in the life-giving work of the local church.

Learn more about James' ministry at newcovbap.church.

In addition to their work with ONE HOPE, Joel serves as lead pastor at The Garden Church and where Stephanie also serves on staff. Visit thegardenbaltimore.com to learn more.

Learn more about ONE HOPE and how you can help build churches in the inner city: www.onehope.gives

Support the show: www.onehope.gives/donate

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.