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 Bethany Baptist Church in Bellflower, CA near Los Angelos.

As the conversation begins, P.J. shares his background and experience in church ministry. Listen as P.J. explains how he debated once debated R.C. Sproul on the meaning of John Piper’s book Desiring God; How his love for the local church led to an internship at Capital Hill Baptist Church with Mark Dever; and to Bethany Baptist Church as senior pastor. As P.J. arrived at Bethany, the church was dying and in need of revitalization. P.J. defines what it means to revitalize a church and why we shouldn’t just let dying churches die. He also shares his approach in discipling others along with practical and Biblical lessons on helping dying churches live. Listen and be encouraged to love those around you and help them grow in their love for Christ.

Joel Kurz serves as the pastor of The Garden Church and director of ONE HOPE. Stephanie Greer is a Gospel Worker funded through ONE HOPE serving with The Garden Church.

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Learn more about P.J. Tibayan and Bethany Baptist Church at https://bethanybaptist.church

When Christians devour one another, the Holy Spirit is grieved. This undercuts our power in ministry. In this episode, we sit down with Kevin Smith and discuss divisiveness and unity in the church today. The church’s divisions reflect the divisions of the world. Kevin Smith is the former Executive Director for the Baptist Convention of Maryland/Delaware, professor at Southern Seminary, and now transitioning back into the pastorate at Family Church in West Palm Beach, Florida. Kevin laments the divisiveness in the church and believes that Christians must pursue unity. Listen in as we discuss Kevin Smith’s heart for the local church, racial unity, and justice. We also discuss Kevin’s own story and background, raised in Maryland, discipled in ministry at Main Street Baptist Church under Elder DJ Ward, his love for his wife, his distaste for political tribalism, and his transition back into the pastorate.

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Listen to this conversation with Joseph Dicks, church planting catalyst for North American Mission Board in Washington DC,, on the necessity of discipleship and a holistic view. The gospel not just on Sunday mornings, but the framework for every aspect of your life. Joseph shares his experience of growing up in church, scared into baptism and knowing what to say “yes” to, but without the freedom that only saving grace can bring. He also talks about 1-on-1 discipleship, pursuing the gospel community, the presence of prejudices amongst diversity, and initiating new church works in unchurched areas.

This episode is part of our summer series: stoop conversations with friends.

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Alejandro Molero pastors Iglesia Bíblica Sublime Gracia, a Spanish speaking church in the Washington D.C. neighborhood of Colombia Heights. Alejandro shares how God shepherded him from his Catholic upbringing in Venezuela to becoming a full-time pastor in the States. Listen in as Stephanie, Joel, and Eric discuss with Alejandro the challenges of ministry among undocumented and illegal immigrants. Alejandro’s congregation and ministry context are filled with those often vulnerable to exploitation, overwork, and underpaid jobs. What is the Biblical approach to caring for those who might be undocumented, running from the law, or running for their lives? What does church planting among immigrant communities in America look like and how should we think of supporting Spanish-speaking churches? Come on the Stoop and join the conversation.

*Additional Resource - Read Alejandro’s latest piece on Pastoring Undocumented Immigrants:

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In continuation of last week’s episode, director of the Edmiston Center in Atlanta, Karen Ellis, shares ways Christians are to be a completely different community to the world, belonging to a God who renders diverse people as the same by the blood of Christ. Stephanie, Eric, and Joel chat with Karen regarding her concerns for the current church in America. If it’s not about Christian nationalism, not about social justice, what is the church to be about? In a world hostile towards Christianity, Ellis discusses a need for the basics: how to pray under pressure for kingdom advance, moving forward on your knees; not your will, but His be done. Listen as Karen offers hope for a divided church in despair.

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Born in Baltimore, Karen Ellis’ love for theater took her from Broadway to places throughout the U.S. and internationally. Although her experience growing up included directing church choirs, it was not until she studied at Yale that she came to know Christ as her Savior. Today, she is the director of The Edmiston Center in Atlanta, devoted to studying the priorities, presence, and practices of Christians enduring on the margins of society. Ellis sees marginalized Christians throughout history and around the world. Her work has focused on commonalities between these communities. In this episode, the Stoop crew calls her up and discusses what we can glean from the rich history of these believers as they display God’s kingdoms from worldly disadvantage and oppression. Additionally, Karen shares resources for learning more from voices often overlooked.

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