The opening pages of this story began some thirty years ago with a husband and wife raising their five children in northern Haiti. Convinced that education was the key to a successful future, they resolved to provide each of their children with schooling. At times, they were ridiculed by neighbors who did not understand their priorities, yet their commitment never wavered.

As a child, their eldest son, Rony, watched closely. He saw his parents rise early, work tirelessly, and make sacrifices in order to keep their children in school. At the same time, he observed other families in the community who simply could not make ends meet—families forced to choose between a daily meal and their children’s education.

In that tension, a seed was planted deep within his heart. And alongside it grew a compassion for those who longed for opportunity but lacked access to it.

After completing high school and while attending business college in Port-au-Prince, Rony found himself at the epicenter of the 2010 earthquake in Haiti effecting an estimated 3 million people. In response, he began to minister to abandoned children he found on the streets, his long-formed compassion for those lacking opportunity now stirred into action as he carried with him the lessons of sacrifice and the value of education he had learned from his parents.

In the aftermath of the earthquake, many were compelled to come and serve in Haiti. Rony met one such gentleman who would eventually take a trip to Rony's hometown of Pignon. There, he would listen to Rony's growing concerns over the poor education available in the neighborhood and the heartbreaking predicament of so many families trapped in poverty. And together, they would embark on the journey of building a Christian school.

While Rony Bernard is considered the founder and chief visionary of Pignon Christian Academy, this story is full of many different people who have each played a role in the great work that God is doing.

Pignon Christian Academy officially opened it's doors in September 2023 and is currently in it's third year of educating the next generation of leaders for Christ. Together, Rony and his wife, Lauren, guide the direction of Pignon Christian Academy and ensure that the students are taught in a Christ-centered, student-focused learning environment where the staff, teachers, students, and families are valued and honored.