The Wesson Family | Missionaries to the Dominican Republic

Current Field Report & Prayer Letter

Summer Ministries, Bible Schools, Deaf Evangelism & Annual Church Camp • June – July 2026

View Original Printable Newsletter (PDF)

Dear Praying Friends,

As I write to you from the Dominican Republic, we are in the full swing of our summer ministries. This is always a busy but exciting season, and we are grateful for the opportunities the Lord gives us to share the Gospel.

Francisco and Megan Mendez with their two young daughters — Francisco & Megan Mendez (BIMI #1725), serving alongside our family in the Dominican Republic.

It has been a special blessing to have Francisco Mendez and his precious wife, Megan, here with us for a few weeks, serving alongside our family. Francisco has been a tremendous encouragement to us in the years following Josh’s passing, faithfully serving with a sacrificial spirit and a willing heart. He and Megan were recently approved with Baptist International Missions and are now on deputation, raising support to plant churches in the northern part of the island. I know the Lord is going to use them in a great way, and I can wholeheartedly recommend them if you are looking for a solid young missionary couple to support.

Joy Wesson sharing the Gospel with a group of young girls during Vacation Bible School — Sharing the Gospel with a precious group of young girls during our recent Bible School.

During our recent Bible School, I had the privilege of sharing the Gospel with a precious group of young girls, several of whom trusted Christ as their Savior. Currently, we are preparing to travel and assist a missions team that will be conducting a Bible School in another city. We pray that the Lord will give much fruit and that those serving on the team will also be impacted as they experience firsthand what God is doing on the mission field.

Joy Wesson presenting 28-year-old deaf convert Felix with his own Bible alongside a deaf ministry worker — Presenting Felix, a 28-year-old new believer in our deaf ministry, with his own Bible.

It is a joy to serve the Lord and see His blessings on our labor as we continue to share Christ and disciple new believers. In our deaf ministry, one of our newest converts is a 28-year-old young man named Felix. I had the privilege of leading him to Christ recently, and this Sunday was able to present him with his own Bible. Please pray for his continued spiritual growth as he takes some important first steps in his Christian life.

Our final summer event is our annual church camp. My deaf workers and I are enthusiastically preparing for this exciting week of ministry. We are especially grateful for those who have already given toward this project. If you would like to help sponsor one or more of our deaf campers, the cost is approximately $50 per person. You may contact me at: joy@wessons.net. We covet your prayers for this endeavor.

Joy Wesson, deaf ministry workers, and deaf youth gathered together at annual church camp in the Dominican Republic — Our deaf ministry workers and campers gathered for a week of preaching, fellowship, and spiritual growth at annual church camp.

Thank you for your continued prayers and faithful financial support of our family as we serve the Lord here in the Dominican Republic.

Joy Wesson and family

“I thank my God upon every remembrance of you,” Phil 1:3

Summer Ministry Need

Sponsor a Deaf Camper ($50)

Our deaf workers and I are preparing for our annual summer church camp. Many deaf youth and adults in Santo Domingo cannot afford the registration cost on their own. Approximately $50 per person sponsors a deaf camper for the week.

✉ Email joy@wessons.net to Sponsor

Discipleship & Evangelism

Pray for Felix & VBS Fruit

Please pray for Felix, a 28-year-old deaf young man who recently trusted Christ and received his first Bible, as well as the young girls saved during our Vacation Bible School and the upcoming Bible School outreach in a neighboring city.

Learn About the Deaf Ministry

Next-Generation Church Planting

Francisco & Megan Mendez

Saved and discipled through the Dominican Republic ministry, Francisco & Megan Mendez are approved with BIMI (Account #1725) and raising support to plant churches in the northern Dominican Republic.

View BIMI Profile (#1725) ↗

✝ In Loving Memory • May 1, 1974 – August 7, 2015

Pastor Joshua Stephen Wesson

For 15 years, Pastor Joshua Wesson and his wife, Joy, labored side by side in the Dominican Republic—planting Iglesia Bautista El Faro (El Faro Baptist Church) in Santo Domingo North, training national believers, preaching the Gospel, and raising their four children: Kimberly, Stephen, Ashlyn, and Katlyn.

On August 7, 2015, during the church’s annual youth summer camp (“Journey to the Unexplored”), a sudden riptide at Punta del Muerto beach in Montecristi swept several church teenagers out to sea. True to his calling as a shepherd, Josh swam into the currents to rescue the teens—giving his life so that the young people of his church would live.

“Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”

John 15:13 Read Full Memorial, Obituary & Tributes →

Baptist International Missions, Inc. • Caribbean Field

Our Family & Ministry in the Dominican Republic

Pastor Joshua and Joy Wesson with their four children Kimberly, Stephen, Ashlyn, and Katlyn

The Wesson Family Heritage: Joshua & Joy Wesson with Kimberly, Stephen, Ashlyn, and Katlyn (BIMI Missionary #1087).

Over Two Decades of Faithful Service in Santo Domingo

Sent out from Higher Plain Baptist Church (formerly Windsor Hills Baptist Church) in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and serving under Baptist International Missions, Inc. (BIMI Account #1087), Joshua and Joy Wesson arrived on the mission field in the Dominican Republic in 2000.

After Josh went home to be with the Lord in August 2015, Joy and their four children—Kimberly, Stephen, Ashlyn, and Katlyn—returned to their home and calling in the Dominican Republic to continue the ministries the family had poured their lives into. Today, Joy continues evangelizing the lost, discipling deaf believers, training deaf ministry workers, and assisting church plants and Vacation Bible Schools across the country.

Deaf Evangelism & Discipleship

Reaching the deaf community of Santo Domingo through weekly sign-language services, one-on-one Bible study, sign language classes, and presenting new converts like Felix with their first Bibles.

Annual Deaf & Youth Camps

Equipping deaf ministry workers and hosting an annual week of summer church camp where deaf youth and adults hear the Gospel in their heart language.

Vacation Bible Schools

Conducting evangelistic Bible Schools in local neighborhoods and partnering with visiting mission teams to reach children and teens across Dominican cities.

Church Planting & National Leaders

Building upon the foundation of Iglesia Bautista El Faro in Santo Domingo North and encouraging national leaders and new BIMI missionaries such as Francisco & Megan Mendez.

Published in BIMI World Magazine

“It’s a Wonderful Life” — A Peek into Ministry in Santo Domingo

By Joy Wesson • Missionary to the Dominican Republic

After returning to the Dominican Republic following Josh’s homegoing, Joy penned this reflection on daily life, compassion ministry, and the sustaining grace of God.

📄 Download Original BIMI World Article (PDF)

Today after homeschooling my kids, I took Crystal out to buy groceries for her family of seven. She is not the mother but the oldest daughter in the family. She takes on a lot of the responsibilities. They live without their father in the home and are in a difficult situation. A family member of mine sends money to help them buy food once a month.

While out with Crystal, I stop at a pharmacy to buy medicine for German, a deaf and blind man in our church. When I go into the pharmacy, the sweet Dominican ladies working behind the counter come and lean over the counter to give me a big hug. They want to know how we are doing. They do not have the eye drops German needs, but I am able to buy a topical ointment he uses.

We go to another pharmacy where I hope to find his drops. As I walk in, I see a 14-year-old Dominican boy who typically begs and shines shoes in the parking lot next door. He smiles and waves as he remembers me. He used to come by my house and beg when he was just a little boy. I go into the pharmacy and buy the eye drops for German as well as an ice cream bar for my shoe-shine friend. He thanks me and promises me to read the Chick tract I have given him.

We continue to the grocery and while Crystal is shopping, I have a sweet encounter—talking about the Lord—with the security guard standing inside the front of the store. We see him on a regular basis and he speaks to Kimberly (my oldest daughter) off and on as we visit the store from week to week. I share with him the story of Josh giving his life to save those Dominican teenagers.* He in turn encourages my heart with his words of affirmation as he spoke of how he sees Christ manifested in our lives and the grace of God that he witnesses as he watches us each week. He is a professing Christian and promises to pray for our family as I give him one of our prayer cards.

As I come home in the evening to prepare for the things that I need as I face the next day, I thank the Lord for the opportunity to live here once again—and to try in some way, somehow, to make a difference.

“It is beyond words how the very same heart can feel such sadness, yet, profound peace and real joy. It is explained in one word—GOD! I just wanted to give you a ‘peek’ into ‘my world.’ It is a wonderful life!”

*Josh Wesson went to be with the Lord August 7, 2015, as he saved teenage boys caught in a riptide. Joy continues to serve in the Dominican Republic.

Partner in Prayer & Giving

Sending Church, Mission Board & Contact Information

Sending Church

Higher Plain Baptist Church

6810 NW 122nd St
Oklahoma City, OK 73142
Phone: 405-702-7715
(Formerly Windsor Hills Baptist Church)

Visit Sending Church ↗

Mission Board • Account #1087

Baptist International Missions, Inc.

P.O. Box 9
Harrison, TN 37341
Missionary: Joy Wesson (#1087)
Field: Dominican Republic (Caribbean)

BIMI Profile #1087 ↗ BIMI Online Giving ↗

Direct Field Contact

Contact Joy Wesson

To request prayer cards, inquire about sponsoring deaf campers ($50/person), or send a note of encouragement to Joy and the family in the Dominican Republic:

✉ Joy@wessons.net