Ecclesiology in the Inner City

The Stoop Sessions

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