In a vibrant fellowship in Nigeria, Femi Oke learned a faith of radical dependence on God. But in one of North Carolina’s fastest growing cities, he saw that erode for others as they prioritized new pursuits. Now a church planter, Oke wants to find those drifting from their faith and remind them that our true sustenance is found in Christ alone.

For most of his life, church planting was never on Femi Oke’s radar. He didn’t even have language for it.

Growing up in Nigeria, Oke experienced a Christianity marked by what he calls “robustness of trust.” The prayer “give us our daily bread” was a lived reality of radical dependence on God’s provision. That’s the kind of faith he was immersed in.

“There’s a sense that if you’re sick, you pray first before you think about actually trying to go to the hospital. If you’re in need, you pray first before you think about, ‘How much savings do we have?'” Oke said. “I know that all I have, if He has supplied this, then He will keep sustaining me.”

But when Oke came to the United States in 2016 and began serving in ministry, he noticed a particular challenge. Some members stopped coming to a men’s group he led. And he would learn that their reasons were often related to pressures of work, new responsibilities and “the pursuit of the American Dream.” Back in Nigeria, these same believers were active members of a vibrant fellowship.

“I began to question what’s happening,” Oke said. “When we get to this side of the Atlantic, there’s a sense that we begin to lose what our faith means.”

The burden grew into a calling. 

An ‘Esther’ calling

By 2020, Oke was finishing seminary and meeting with mentors about his next steps. He had envisioned serving as a discipleship pastor or counseling. Church planting wasn’t on the list.

But the burden persisted, and soon he sensed what he described as an “Esther and Mordecai calling. 

“Maybe I’m here for a time like this,” he thought. “I’ve been trained in seminary, I’m part of a local church. Maybe I’m supposed to step in that space to go find these people that are walking away from their faith.”

Manna House began to take shape out of that calling.

The name itself carries the mission. 

“Manna is God’s provision for people on their journey,” Oke said. “How do we remind them that our true manna is Jesus? He is our true bread.”

The initial vision focused on creating space where immigrants could find a home and community. But as the group grew, so did the mission field.

“Everyone is on a spiritual journey. Our true provision should be Christ, and our true hope should come from Him rather than just in the pursuit of our own dreams.”

Salt and light in Dilworth

In September 2025, Manna House launched Sunday worship services. They meet at 10 a.m. in an old Baptist church building in Dilworth, in a predominantly white, upper-class Charlotte neighborhood.

The contrast opened a new door to reach their neighbors. Manna’s congregation is diverse: 60% of African descent, with Caribbeans, white Americans and South Asians.

“How can we be faithful to the community God has called us to?” Oke said. “Even though we are this unique, largely immigrant group with diverse people … we want to be faithful to reach those God has placed us around.”

The neighborhood is primarily unchurched, presenting a significant gospel opportunity and harvest. 

One of Manna House’s ministries is their Host Family Program, designed to connect with international students in their community. The program provides a support system by reaching out to college campuses and connecting with international student organizations. They found some willing partners among other local churches in the city over the past year.

Manna House partnered with one local church to support a student from Ghana. Members from that church volunteered to meet with the student regularly and provide rides.

Now the student attends Manna House and runs their media every Sunday.

“It’s been a joy to see how the Lord can use our efforts and also to see collaboration from churches in the city,” Oke said. “We can do this together, to help reach these people.”

SendNC: A ‘moving vehicle’

When Oke began exploring church-planting partnerships, he learned about SendNC through Antoine Lassiter, a church-planting strategist with SendNC, and Eric Mullis, a Great Commission catalyst.

He found a family and a network where he didn’t need to try to communicate a new vision or convince them of it.

“SendNC was already on the path and committed to seeing the vision of the gospel reaching all the ends of the earth,” he said. “It felt like I was joining an already moving vehicle.”

The partnership offers more than financial support. 

“I have relational support I can lean on,” Oke said. When Manna House needed a meeting space, the SendNC team was instrumental in helping them find it.

Lassiter said working with Oke gave him a front-row seat to obedience. 

“What began as a burden in his heart became a calling he could not ignore. I’ve watched him wrestle, pray and step forward with courage. He doesn’t plant out of ambition but out of conviction that people drifting from faith deserve someone to go find them,” Lassiter said.

He saw Oke carry out a vision rooted in dependence on God.

“To see that vision take shape has been a joy,” said Lassiter. “Manna House reminds us that when we join what God is already doing, we become part of something far bigger than ourselves.”

The localized network of support has also been valuable. Other SendNC church planters in the area have a unique understanding of the city.

“We’re not competing. They get to provide very customized or relevant support because they’re there with you. They understand the landscape of the city, they know how the city’s moving. I think it goes a long way.”

For Oke, spiritual health depends on that local accessibility. 

“There are things we can do together. We are part of the same body. … We have a whole lot more in common than [with] a church on the coast.”

As Manna House continues to grow, Oke remains committed to the faith he learned in Nigeria.

In a culture that prizes pragmatism and self-sufficiency, he wants the people of Manna House to continue emphasizing total reliance on God.

“There is something good about trusting the Lord,” he said. “He never disappoints.”

Discover how North Carolina Baptists are planting churches everywhere, for everyone. Learn more at sendnc.org. 

By Liz Tablazon, N.C. Baptist contributing writer