My Brother on TNT/NBA Playoffs

This coming Mother's Day(May 11th) my brother from another mother will join Ernie Johnson, Kenny "The Jet" Smith, and Sir Charles on the set of NBA on TNT during the Hornets/Spurs game. Rev. Emmanuel "Manny" Ohonme is the founder and president of Samaritan's Feet, a ministry based out of Charlotte, NC. Ernie, Kenny, and Charles will be doing the show barefoot to provide a context for Manny to share about Samaritan Feet's Vision.

According to their website Samaritans Feet's mission is to "bring shoes to the ends of the earth in the Name of Christ who changes lives." Samaritans Feet has a goal of taking 10 million shoes to 10 million impoverished children in 10 years. I believe they are now in year 3 or 4 of this process. Samaritans Feet provides and organizes mission trips for groups to then go and use shoes as a tool and vehicle to share the GOSPEL OF JESUS CHRIST. Friends this is not the "social gospel". I can testify to the vision of this organization as they go and wash feet and give new shoes to children around the world. The ministry of Samaritans Feet doesn't stop there (for if it would this ministry would be just another good thing). Samaritans Feet then challenges and shares the message of hope in Jesus Christ with every person that they give a new pair of shoes to. Raising awareness and shoes is a good thing, but Samaritans Feet makes it their goal to point to something magnificent, the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

This story is especially special to me personally as Manny lived with my family when I was a kid. Manny came to America on a basketball scholarship to Lake Region State College in Devils Lake, ND. One Sunday we were driving home from church and a tall Nigerian dude had just gotten off the bus and was walking towards the college. It was a day that was literally freezing (if I remember correctly the temp was -5 to 0 that January day). We stopped as a family and picked Manny up and said we'd give him a ride to the college. We proceeded to find that the college was closed that day and Manny would have to wait until that evening to check in. We proceeded to invite him over for Sunday dinner (which he ate like no one I had ever seen, because at 6'4" 220 - athletes need to eat). During that meal we found out that Manny got off the bus that day and prayed for God to take care of him this cold day. We also found out that Manny was a passionate follower of Jesus Christ. The relationship between my parents, brothers, and I grew from there and still continues today. The following years Manny was in our home a lot. He even spent some summers with us. We now have the joy of watching him proclaim Jesus to this world!

I encourage you to check out TNT's coverage on May 11th. CP3(Chris Paul) and the Hornets should continue their dominance over the aging (Bob Horry, T Duncan, and definitely Jacque Vaughn) Spurs. You can learn more about Samaritans at their website