Work and Rest

The Stoop Sessions

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” can often push us into overload. The result? A double-edged problem: we idolize rest, dreaming of a utopia of leisure, while also idolizing work, tying our identity to productivity. Neither extreme satisfies—both lead to burnout. Joel and Stephanie reflect on the cultural exhaustion we all feel and take a biblical look at why work is good, why rest is essential, and why both can become broken. Whether you’re a ministry leader feeling stretched thin or just someone trying to live faithfully in a demanding world, this conversation offers hope and a call back to rhythms rooted in creation and grace. 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