Manny was born and raised in the Jacob Riis Housing Projects in the Lower East Side of Manhattan in New York City. His nationality is of Puerto Rican descent. He’s currently serving as the Metro Director for FCA in New York City. He’s passionate about Jesus, Sports, and New York City. 

He came to faith in Christ when he was 9 years old, at a Christian Camp called Camp Hope and Joy, where a camp counselor led him to Christ. On that day there was a seed of hope that God planted in his heart. While at the camp he won a shootout competition and received a certificate and at the bottom was a Scripture verse that read, I am the vine, and you are the branch and apart from me you can do nothing. (John 15:5). Unbeknownst to him that word would come to life as he moved through life. 

Manny has always had a passion for sports because of his involvement with the Boys Club of NY. It was here where he met mentors and was introduced to intramural sports on all levels. As a result, he received a scholarship to St. Andrews School and did a post Graduate year at Northfield Mount Hermon School. From there he went to Connecticut College where he was challenged academically and began to question whether college was for him. He began to hang out with the wrong crowd and thought he could get fast money and open up a business. It was in this season his mom became a follower of Christ and he saw a change in her that really challenged his way of life. She would invite him to church and while there the Holy Spirit was convicting him of the sin in his life which led him to genuine repentance in Christ. 

While attending church he began to sense God speaking to him about his passions for basketball, the Gospel, and using them to share his faith in Christ. It was here that the ministry Chosen NYC Basketball was birthed, and he would share the Gospel through basketball. He sensed that God could be calling him to full time ministry especially after meeting the executive Director at New Life of NYC, a youth ministry in the heart of his community, the Lower East Side. A ministry dedicated to preaching the Gospel and 1 on 1 discipleship. 

During this time Manny’s leadership was being developed and sharpened. One of the tools that God used to develop him as a leader was a FCA resource called 3-Dimensional Coaching. Pastor Frank Reynoso walked him through this tool along with his team. While building a deeper relationship with Pastor Frank, God was divinely connecting them through the tool. During his transition at New Life, Pastor Frank asked Manny a question, would you consider FCA? Manny and his wife wrestled with this decision but sensed that God was in this, and it has been the best decision that has impacted his life. The rest of the story is still being written. God is up to something greater than him in NYC. Thank you Jesus! 

He’s happily married to Drusilla, his wife of 20 years, and loves their three handsome boys Manny, Roman, and Levi.