ONE HOPE Weekender 2026

The ONE HOPE Weekender is an event designed for pastors, lay elders, church planters, and urban church workers. This five-day trip immerses the attendeed in the principles of a healthy church ministry applied in the inner city context. While focused on the urban context and issues, it will be useful for churches everywhere.

Speakers for the weekend include Joel Kurz (The Garden Church), Akin Omisanmi (Southwest Baptist), Jonathan Leeman (9Marks) and others guests from likeminded churches in similar contexts

Ecclesiology :: The Church is the Greatest Display of God’s Glory

Surprisingly, one of the biggest things many overlook in low-income church ministry is the church. The church, as designed by God, is a powerful force in any community.

• Congregationalism
• Membership and Discipline
• Church Leadership

Surprisingly, one of the biggest things many overlook in low-income church ministry is the church. The church, as designed by God, is a powerful force in any community.

Urban Context :: The Greatest Poverty is not the Poverty of the Wallet, but the Poverty of the Word.

Our particular focus is understanding and applying healthy church principles in the inner city.

The context around The Garden Church is a low-income and working class urban neighborhood. ONE HOPE began as a ministry of TGC to help build additional churches in similar contexts. In the best of our healthy church ministry conversations, we don’t want to overlook the poor and neglect the same communities the world has neglected.

• Addiction

• Abuse
• Poverty and Real Help
• Intentional Living

Schedule:

Thursday: 6:00pm - Dinner followed by Elders Meeting (Women will meet with pastors wives)

Friday and Saturday: Seminars and practical conversations on developing healthy churches.

Sunday: Attend service at The Garden Church followed by dinner in member homes and an evening prayer service.

Monday: Raising Up Leaders and Dismiss by 10am.

Cost: $150 (Includes meals)

Weekender attendees are responsible for thier own transportation and lodging. Limited lodging is available through ONE HOPE for $15/night. Interest in ONE HOPE housing is in registration form.

Visit our website at www.onehope.gives/weekender for more information

Registration Deadline: September 1, 2026

About ONE HOPE

ONE HOPE exists to build healthy churches in low-income communities. As a ministry of The Garden Church, ONE HOPE is church-based and believes wholly that the local church is the greatest display of God's glory. Learn more at www.onehope.gives.

About The Garden Church

The Garden Church has served in the Upton neighborhood of Baltimore City for 18 years. In 2008, the work began as an outreach which constituted as a church in 2012. It's a long story, but God was faithful in those early years and steered a struggling little group toward becoming a healthy church. Rooted in historic Baptist principles and seeking to reach a low-income urban commmunity, TGC seeks to maintain a strong neighborhood presence, love the neighbors, and make disciples by proclaiming the extraordinary grace of God in the Gospel throughout ordinary church ministry.

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