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

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 continue a conversation on ecclesiology in the inner city. They turn to the topic of preaching.

In a culture of entertainment, where the task of preaching becomes nothing more than religious self-help, churches must maintain and grow in expositional preaching. Why does preaching matter? What is the difference between expositional preaching versus mere entertainment? How do pastors prepare to preach and how can church members be most ready for the Word?

Together, they make the case that preaching is not an optional ornament in an otherwise successful ministry—it’s the fountain from which spiritual life flows through the church. 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.

📍 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

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 unpack topics around healthy church ministry in the inner city.

In today’s culture, everything is on the move—always running, always grinding, always reaching for more. But where’s it all going? There’s no finish line, just an endless chase for greatness. Sadly, pastors, ministry leaders, and church members often get caught in the same cycle. Even in the midst of doing great things for God, many are running on empty—exhausted, burned out, and wondering if this is how it’s supposed to be.

In this episode, we explore how pride can quietly fuel our exhaustion. Joel and Stephanie discuss how pride in place, planning, and purpose often leads to spiritual—and even physical—burnout. But there is a remedy: humility. In humility, we learn to rest—not by striving, but by trusting. This episode calls us to a deeper dependent trust in God, the only true source of rest.

In addition to their work with ONE HOPE, Joel serves as lead pastor at The Garden Church, 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