The Stoop Sessions

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 Kurz sits down with Duce (William "Duce" Branch), founding member of the legendary Christian hip-hop group Cross Movement, to trace the remarkable story of how God used hip-hop to shape one of the most influenti...

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 sh...

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 be...

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: Yo...

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 dr...

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, jus...

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 this episode, we explore a tension every one of us feels: the balance between work and rest. Our culture runs at a frantic pace, and “just one more thing”...

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 Th...

After a hiatus, The Stoop Sessions is back, coming to you from an (actual) stoop in Baltimore. Join Joel, Stephanie, and guests as we discuss all things related to healthy church ministry in the inner city. This episode is just a quick hello. New episodes to come soon. Like, subscribe, share, and do whatever you do. It helps!

Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions where we have casual conversations about ministry on the Baltimore stoop. In each episode, Joel, Stephanie, and Eric talk through different topics and occasionally bring on a friend. In this episode, Matt Martens join us on the stoop. Matt is trial lawyer and partner at an international law firm in Washington, DC. Over the past 25 years, he has practiced criminal...

Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions where we have casual conversations about ministry on the Baltimore stoop. In each episode, Joel, Stephanie, and Eric talk through different topics and occasionally bring on a friend. In this episode, the Stoop crew wraps up a conversation on evangelism on the topic of church confirmation. Practically speaking, what do we do when someone makes a profession of fait...

Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions where we have casual conversations about ministry on the Baltimore stoop. In each episode, Joel, Stephanie, and Eric talk through different topics and occasionally bring on a friend. In this episode, we bring on a friend! Stephanie and Eric invite Lisa LeGeorge to the stoop for a chat on evangelism. Lisa has traveled the globe and has a passion for unreached area...

Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions where we have casual conversations about ministry on the Baltimore stoop. In each episode, Joel, Stephanie, and Eric talk through different topics and occasionally bring on a friend. In the last two episodes, we’ve highlighted “personal evangelism”—the individual Christian’s role and work in taking the Gospel to the lost. This episode asks the question: How does...

Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions where we have casual conversations about ministry on the Baltimore stoop. In each episode, Joel, Stephanie, and Eric talk through different topics and occasionally bring on a friend. As the Stoop crew continues their focus on personal evangelism, we offer Eric’s testimony as an example of how the Lord uses people, sometimes without their knowing, to lead another...

Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions where we have casual conversations about ministry on the Baltimore stoop. In each episode, Joel, Stephanie, and Eric talk through different topics and occasionally bring on a friend. This episode begins a conversation on evangelism. We get it—life is busy, you have tried to share Jesus with those you know, it hasn't seemed to “work,” and you don’t have time to de...

Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions where we have casual conversations about ministry on the Baltimore stoop. In each episode, Joel, Stephanie, and Eric talk through different topics and occasionally bring on a friend. Today, while Eric is unable to join, we visit a friend. Join Joel and Stephanie as they meet with P.J. Tibayan and discuss new life for dying churches. P.J. serves as pastor at Betha...

Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions where we have casual conversations about ministry on the Baltimore stoop. In each episode, Joel, Stephanie, and Eric talk through different topics and occasionally bring on a friend. Today, Bobby Scott joins the conversation. Bobby is serves as pastor at Community of Faith Bible Church. In this episode, Stephanie and Joel meet with Bobby Scott in California. The...

Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions where we have casual conversations about ministry on the Baltimore stoop. In each episode, Joel, Stephanie, and Eric talk through different topics and occasionally bring on a friend. This episode rounds out a 3-part conversation on the topic of wealth. As the crew has discussed, the topic of wealth is one that affects everyone, whether rich or poor. Money is need...

Welcome back to The Stoop Sessions, a ONE HOPE podcast bringing you conversations about urban ministry from the stoops of Baltimore. Today, our hosts, Eric, Stephanie, and Joel, continue a discussion on the topic of wealth. Talking about wealth should not only the topic of the wealthy. In our own context, money comes up. Those who come from little, at times, fall prey to the love of money. Wealth...

The love of money is not just a problem of the rich, it can also grip the poor and working class. Many who grew up with little desire much. And we get it. Poverty hurts. It’s not what we want for our kids. But how should we think of having and pursuing wealth?. The stoop crew first defines wealth. On one hand, wealth is defined as having more than you need. In this sense, most every American is “w...

Listen to this message from Thabiti Anyabwile at a previous ONE HOPE Conference in 2017. The ONE HOPE Conference focuses on applying theology to urban ministry. As we anticipate our next ONE HOPE Conference on March 5, 2022, here’s a gem from year’s past. In this episode, we present Thabiti’s message for your edification and enjoyment. Join us for the ONE HOPE Conference: Faith Alone on March 5, 2...

On one hand, the world increasingly disregards the Bible. God’s Word is not believed. On the other hand, Christians often minimize the necessity of Scripture in preaching, missions, and evangelism. Is the Bible needed? The ONE HOPE Conference focuses on applying theology to urban ministry. As we anticipate our next ONE HOPE Conference on March 5, 2022, here’s a gem from year’s past. Shai Linne pre...

Is addiction a disease? If so, is it unloving to exercise church discipline for someone who is in unrepentant drug use? Are we lacking understanding and compassion? If addiction is not a disease, why does drug addiction feel so hopeless and consuming. In this episode, the Stoop crew talk addiction. Listen as Joel, Stephanie, and Eric work through these questions and more. The word “addiction” need...

As 2021 comes to a close, we reflect on God’s work through the local church. What’s going on? Listen as Stephanie, Eric, and Joel discuss a year in review. In this episode, the Stoop crew talks about the need for church planting in low-income communities, baptisms at The Garden Church, leading workshops and seminars, training church planters, as well as hopes for 2022. ONE HOPE is a ministry which...

Trauma is real in inner city ministry. In this episode, we talk about it. How do you respond to trauma? Is it a word that evokes a compassionate heart or a decisive mind to fix it? Is it something to hide? Is it a label of shame or dismiss as pop-psychology? Joining us for the chat is Dr. Diane Langberg, a psychologist who has decades of specialized experience working with trauma survivors. She de...