Senior Pastor Patrice Hien,

Exectuvie Director

I serve on the Board of Directors and as the Executive Director of Shattering Darkness. I also am a senior pastor at our village church in Burkina Faso and an associate pastor in all (20+) Shattering Darkness churches. My wife Celine and I have 4 sons and 2 daughters. Celine is the principal of our elementary school.

I am from a family who were idol worshipers. After my father’s death and my mother’s illness, my family could not pay school fees. I loved school and was very angry with God and everybody because I could not attend school. As a rebellious boy I started living with bad friends. I was lost and far from Christ on a very bad path.

 At this time in my life, God in His grace sent a missionary, Lynn Kennedy (who became my mother) to preach the Gospel in my village. I asked hard questions many times, trying to cause Lynn to leave my village in spiritual darkness. But Lynn Kennedy answered all of my questions and more than that, she explained about life, God and His love and Jesus and His sacrifice for me. She explained how a sinner can be forgiven and have eternal life. The Holy Spirit convinced me of my sins and I asked Jesus to forgive me and come into my life. I was baptized in 2001 and my heart immediately felt God was calling me and giving me a gift to preach. For all of these years God has given me a zeal to know His Word and to share His good news. I gave myself completely to the work of God, studying to become a pastor and leader. God opened the door for me to attend university and achieve a Master’s Degree.

 With the participation of people throughout the world, we have been able to establish a Christian school, grades 1-9 (so far). About 300 children hear the word of God each week throughout their school year. Our school has been named the best school in our area for several year. We also have a Bible college where more the 20 pastors were trained and are in the ministry serving as pastors. We also train men and women serving as leaders in their churches. Together with other pastors/leaders and with your help and support, we are taking the gospel farther and deeper in our country through evangelism and training.