In Senegal, where over 90% of the population is Muslim, following Jesus often comes at a cost. But for Lucien Paul Nangui, it all began with a small booklet tucked inside a gift box.
Lucien was only six when his father passed. The loss left a deep pain in his heart, and by the age of ten, he had moved away from his mother and brother to live with his uncle. Life was difficult. Poverty was constant, and the absence of his father weighed heavily on his daily life.
One Sunday in Mbour, Lucien went with his uncle to an Assemblies of God church. It felt different from the Catholic services he had known, with no candles and no robes, yet the moment the congregation began to sing, he felt peace for the first time since losing his father.
As Lucien continued attending the Assemblies of God church in Mbour, his love for God grew week by week. He looked forward to Sunday school, where he found joy in learning Scripture and being part of a community that felt like family. Then, one unforgettable Sunday in 2003, something extraordinary happened. Samaritan’s Purse delivered their very first Operation Christmas Child shoeboxes to Senegal, and Lucien was among the children who received one. Inside, alongside small gifts and necessities, was a booklet titled The Greatest Gift. As he read, Lucien encountered the story of Jesus in a way he had never known before. It was a special and personal experience, the feeling was unprecedented.
That day, he prayed from the heart, asking Jesus to be his friend and Father. “All my brokenness felt renewed,” he says. Almost immediately, he began sharing what he had learned, encouraging his cousins to read the booklet and follow Jesus too.
Over the years, Lucien’s faith deepened. He excelled in school, waking early for prayer and Bible reading. At 17, he began discipleship training, sensing God’s call to serve. He led children’s clubs, reached out to Muslim and Catholic families, and helped launch Senegal’s first kids’ camps. His vision grew to see children and youth come to know Christ, even in the most challenging places.
Lucien first heard of OneHope in 2018, when the ministry was introduced in Senegal. The vision resonated deeply. It matched the burden God had placed on his heart years earlier to help young people to know Christ. He began as a volunteer trainer, later receiving mentorship from national and regional leaders who recognized his potential. In 2022, he was invited to step into national leadership. It wasn’t an easy decision—personal challenges and doubts loomed large—but through prayer, Lucien accepted the call.
Today, Lucien serves as both National Director for OneHope Senegal and Regional Trainer for the Sahel region. His role combines strategy, mentorship, and field ministry. He trains children’s and youth workers, equips pastors, and oversees programs in the field.
Under Lucien’s leadership, more than two million children across Senegal and the Africa Sahel region have been reached with the message of hope through OneHope and the various children’s and youth ministries he has been part of since 2009. Additionally, at least 90 churches have been planted as part of the Lumiere initiative. Lumiere is an initiative of OneHope in Africa to plant churches that will focus on reaching children and youth. Lucien has continued to invest in emerging leaders, modeling the same mentorship that shaped his own journey.
Today, Lucien’s leadership extends far beyond his own story. Together with his team, he is intentionally developing a new generation of leaders through discipleship and training programs such as SPARK, Lumière, Cultivate, and various kids’ and youth camps. Through these initiatives, they mentor church leaders, equip youth workers, and inspire young people to live out their faith with confidence and purpose. “Leadership development is crucial,” Lucien says. “Children and young people need models—people they can follow as they walk in faith. If we prepare this generation, they will stand strong.”
From a 10-year-old boy opening a shoebox to a leader shaping ministry across nations, Lucien’s story is proof that one small seed planted in a child’s heart can grow into a big tree whose fruit impacts an entire region.
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OneHope Team
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