Our Story

Everyone longs for a purpose in life. Some discover it early, others later. But when a person finds that calling they know they were created for, it brings light to the heart and joy to the soul.

For John and Donna, that purpose became clear in a small, remote village in the Dominican Republic called Batey 7. It’s a quiet place, marked by both deep poverty and extraordinary resilience – a place where creativity thrives, hope blossoms, laughter echoes, and most importantly, God is present.

Though the people of Batey 7 live with very little, their lives reflect strength and dignity. Mornings begin with mothers cooking and washing clothes, while fathers head to the sugarcane fields. Evenings end much the same way. Yet beneath the familiar rhythms lies a stark reality – barefoot children, contaminated water, and homes made from mud and palm fronds. Still, amid the hardship, there is hope. Hope that comes, year after year, in the form of mission teams bringing medical and surgical aid, education, construction support, clean water, and the gospel and love of Christ.

John and Donna first visited Batey 7 in 1999 with a medical mission team from Statesboro, Georgia, not knowing how much that first trip would shape the course of their lives. Over the years, they returned many times, each visit serving a different purpose. And through it all, God revealed more of His plan for them.

What began as a single mission trip became a life-altering journey. They faced challenges, connected with people and organizations, and witnessed God piece together a puzzle only He could design. Time and again, doors opened—then closed just as quickly—testing their faith and endurance. But as they learned to “wait on the Lord,” each closed door brought them closer to the one that would eventually swing wide open.

That door led them back to where it all began.

In 2010, they stepped fully into God’s calling, moving to the Dominican Republic as full-time missionaries with the Iglesia Evangélica Dominicana. For five years, they lived and served among the people of Batey 7, experiencing the joy, hardship, and deep purpose of true service. In stepping into the “uncomfortable,” John and Donna found their purpose, their hope, and their joy

In 2021, the next chapter began. The Beardens launched BIG HOPE Bearden Ministries, Inc., answering God’s call to continue serving and supporting the communities they love so deeply. They once again partnered with the Iglesia Evangélica Dominicana in Barahona—this time stepping into service as administrators of the Buen Samaritano Clinic in Batey 7.

Their mission is to provide essential medical and surgical care, discipleship, construction support, clean water, and the gospel of Jesus Christ to families throughout the surrounding bateys. At the heart of BIG HOPE is one simple desire: to reflect Christ in all they do.