staff

Staff serve the church through full-time or part-time efforts.


  • Joel kurz, lead pastor

    Joel leads The Garden through teaching, vision casting, leadership development, and community involvement.  Prior to working with The Garden, Joel graduated from Spurgeon College in 2003 with a B.A. in Biblical Studies, worked on pastoral staff for five years as a youth pastor at a church in Maryland, and  has lived in Baltimore City since July of 2008 when he founded The Garden.  Joel and his wife, Jess, have four children, Jadyn, Eden, Haddon, and Chapman. Joel is currently pursuing a Masters of Divinity through The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Follow Joel on Twitter

  • Montrel haygood, Assistant pastor, youth work

    Montrel serves the church part-time through leading promoting evangelism and outreach and serving the pastoral team through member care.  Montrel was born and raised in Barnsville, GA.  He attended the University of West Georgia and earned a Bachelors in Sociology.  Montrel joined The Garden in August of 2013. Montrel serves The Garden as pastor of discipleship and oversees outreach, leadership training, and development for youth through college age. Additionally, Montrel is a student at Faith Theological Seminary pursuing a Masters of Divinity.

  • Stephanie LaferrierE, Life coaching

    Stephanie lives in Baltimore and works as a "Life Coach." Stephanie builds relationships with people in the community both in formal and informal settings. She oversees the job readiness-training program, mentorships and jobs network. Stephanie is a recent graduate from The Master’s University and Seminary having received a Masters degree in Biblical Counseling.


elders


  • Montrel haygood

    Montrel has served as an elder since 2016. In addition to his duties as an elder, Montrel leads youth through college discipleship at The Garden Church. He is pursuing a Master of Divinity through Faith Theological Seminary. Montrel lives in the Madison Park neighborhood.


  • Eric Hill

    Eric has served as an elder since 2018.  In addition to his duties at The Garden Church, Eric works as a Physical Therapist Assistant.  Born and raised in Baltimore, Eric lives on the west side with his wife, Aisha, and two children.

  • Joel Kurz

    Joel is Lead Pastor of The Garden and has been serving as an elder since the church began. Joel and Jess live in the Marble Hill neighborhood.

Deacons and officers


  • kwame kutten, deacon of Audio/visuals

    Kwame has served as deacon overseeing the visuals ministry since 2014.

  • Paul newson, deacon of worship services

    Paul has served as deacon overseeing the Sunday morning setup and breakdown teams since 2013.


  • Raymond Chesevant, deacon of finance


  • jess kurz, deacon of children



  • andrew manik, church clerk



  • Kesia Lewis, church treasurer


INTERNS

ONE HOPE Urban Discipleship Interns

  • Marla

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