Oscar Tshiebwe discusses how faith helped him become more of a servant, public speaker at Kentucky

Since arriving in Lexington one summer ago, Oscar Tshiebwe has captured the hearts of Big Blue Nation and will go down as one of the most beloved – and dominant – players in Kentucky basketball history.

In an interview with SEC Network color commentator Tom Hart during halftime of UK’s exhibition against the Bahamas’ National Team, the reigning Wooden Award winner discussed how he has changed his lifestyle since transferring into the program.

“I feel like right now I’m doing a lot of great things because I want to really submit on serving people and spending time with God,” Tshiebwe said. “I think right now, I’m serving people, and spending more time with God. And I want people to know that God is everything. I want people to know that God has changed my life, he can change their life too.

“At West Virginia, I was more into basketball and my personal life, but like right now, at Kentucky since I transferred because I went through a lot, God humbled me and I just want to serve Him and stay busy doing the work of God.”

That new lifestyle translated directly to the court, which has in-turn made him become a local celebrity in Lexington. What other nationally-prominent athlete leads their school’s Christian fellowship group? The answer – not many – and he’s doing all for the love of his faith; nothing more, nothing less.

“I feel like it wasn’t a low point because I was just focusing on me, not to serve,” Tshiebwe said about his faith during his time at WVU. “So right now, I feel like I’m focusing more about serving others, because the Bible say the greatest among you should be a servant. I just want to be a servant, to serve artists to give people the hope So they can believe that they can achieve their dreams.”

Now that he’s a nationally-acclaimed basketball star, he’s using his platform to spread his faith in any way that he can. Tshiebwe now goes around local churches throughout the Commonwealth and beyond, speaking to various crowds about the word of God.

“I used to get nervous all the time. But the more I do it, I just keep getting comfortable. I’m comfortable right now,” Tshiebwe told Hart. “Every time I go preach, I get so excited because I know people love my story people, they love about where I came from, they just loving from the beginning again, that really gave me hope. And I feel good I don’t really get nervous anymore, except when God is giving me some crazy message to go speak. So, I just kind of get nervous, but I just need the Holy Spirit to lead me.”

Heading into his senior season at Kentucky, Tshiebwe has made his mark on Lexington by rewriting the record books and making a home in the hearts of Big Blue Nation. Being such a real, down-to-earth guy plays a big role in his relatability, and in turn, his popularity.