No Laughing Matter
// Christine Batchelder
David Dean has been doing family friendly stand-up comedy for over 30 years. He’s travelled extensively making people laugh. But there’s one subject he’s very serious about and it’s no laughing matter. He’s passionate about New Missions and the children in the Dominican Republic.
Fifteen years ago, David was introduced to the work of New Missions by fellow friend and comedian Mike Williams. Mike invited David on a mission trip to the DR and David’s life was forever changed. He fondly remembers the times his own children went with him. David has two children, Alex and Hannah, who are now 29 and 26 respectively. On their first mission trip, Alex was a freshman and Hannah was in sixth grade. The memories of that trip are etched in his memory forever. “It’s never too early in your child’s life to teach them the importance of serving others. I read an article recently where studies show the most content adults are ones that learned at a very young age the value of servanthood. Prior to our kids’ trip, they were typical selfish teens. Our visit to the DR hit them hard…but in a good way.”
David Dean’s son Alex has learned valuable life lesson on mission trips.
David Dean’s daughter Hannah enjoying time serving others in the DR.
David now has a teenager to add to his family, as he sponsors 17-year-old Raymond “Benjamin” Espinosa. And while they may live thousands of miles apart, David considers Benjamin family, and an important part of his family’s life. This is the second child the Dean family has sponsored with New Missions, and they’ve been sponsoring him since he was 12 years old. He shared, “Most Americans tend to lean towards small children or toddlers when sponsoring, but Heather (missionary in the DR promised us this was a young man who was on the right path and needed some help. That’s all it took for us! Since I visit the DR a few times a year, I’ve developed a close friendship with not only Benjamin…but also his family. When corresponding, I inquire about his walk with Jesus, his grades, making good choices…everything Dads do!”
David with his sponsor child Benjamin. David is so thankful to be a part of Benjamin’s life and connect with him on social media.
David loves travelling all across the country with Laugh All Night. Laugh All Night is a family friendly comedy event created by New Missions. After every Laugh All Night show, David invites the audience to consider investing in the life of a child through sponsorship. He knows firsthand what happens when you sponsor a child. Sponsorship impacts the entire family. David stated, “We Americans often feel a short-term mission trip isn’t complete unless we build or fix something while in country. Often times, locals are content just to spend time with us. I watched our kids engage, play games, and interact with small children for hours on end. One would think a small act like that has no value. On the contrary. When I visit the Dominican Republic now, years after our kids’ first trip, those young Dominican kids who are now teenagers themselves remember vividly their time with Alex and Hannah.”
David performing at a Laugh All Night comedy concert.
While the goal is to make people laugh, there is an important purpose behind all of the laughter. David knows firsthand the difference New Missions makes in the lives of children, and hopes you and your family will prayerfully consider sponsoring a child, as well. All it takes is a love for Jesus, children, and a willing heart. Benjamin’s life has been changed forever because of God using David Dean. Whose life will God use you to change?
