Meet Joanne Lo, a dedicated individual whose commitment to community shines brightly. As a wife, mother of three adult children and a busy banker who retired recently, Joanne has also cultivated a life rich in service, a value ingrained in her for as long as she can recall. Her recent involvement with the Wesley Financial Assistance (WFA) under Christian Outreach & Social Concerns (COSC) is just the latest chapter in her ongoing story of giving. Driven by a profound love for people and her community, Joanne embodies the spirit of everyday Christianity. In this inspiring interview, we delve into the diverse ways Joanne has extended a helping hand, discovering the profound joy and motivation she finds in serving alongside her family and Small Group .
Joanne, thank you for this interview. How long have you been serving with the Wesley Financial Assistance ministry?
I have been serving as a volunteer with Wesley Financial Assistance (WFA) since March 2019. My husband, Hong Kiat, along with another couple from my Small Group (SG), Desmond and Daisy, are also serving with us through WFA.
What is the role you play in WFA?
Through WFA, we befriended a family living in a rental flat in Jalan Berseh, visiting them monthly to deliver supermarket vouchers and cash assistance. Every term of journeying with a family is a commitment of about five years, and we have just completed one term. I also participated in the recent house-cleaning project organised by COSC.
As a friend from the WFA ministry, our main responsibility is to journey with and share the love and compassion of the Lord with the families identified by COSC.
The family we supported, a widowed mother and her teenage children, came from a different faith background. The four of us would visit them, offering our support through listening and encouraging the children to participate in activities at Wesley Youth Centre. We were there to lend a listening ear and to give moral support. People are lonely.
I also remember delivering food to them during one of the festive seasons and bringing them goodies. We met them monthly, and over time, we built up a lot of trust, and she started sharing her kids’ issues and her personal struggles with us. I think it was good that the lady had a listening ear in us. We were her safe space and healthy “outlet”. Sometimes, she would seek our advice, but I felt it was not easy to give advice freely. I tried to use common sense and a practical approach when we chatted with her. I hoped they could sense the love of God through our visits. More importantly, I learned to trust in God’s purpose when serving those of different faiths.
While I could not openly share about Christ, I trusted that my presence and acts of kindness were planting seeds of His love. As I served, my compassion for this family increased as I could see they were stuck in a poverty cycle. I witnessed many realities and injustices of life through their lens. The last time we visited this lady, we teared as we broke the news to her that it would be our last visit. Although I haven’t seen them since, the memories remain close to my heart.
What are some of the challenges you face in your ministry, and how do you overcome them?
I am not kidding — during my time serving in WFA, my biggest personal challenge was dealing with my phobia of cats. The family we were supporting had over 10 cats, both in the house and lurking outside her unit. I would feel my anxiety creeping in before every visit.
That is a very real anxiety though. Did you eventually overcome the fear of cats?
I never really got over the fear of cats. It was funny because I had specifically asked to be assigned to a family without cats, but somehow I ended up matched with one that had lots and lots of them. I had no choice but to take it as an assignment from God. He knows how terrified I am of cats! I would wear long jeans and stand close to my husband and my Small Group members whenever I was there so that I could focus on the family we were visiting. Initially, I would have a lot of anxiety whenever we went to visit the family. But gradually, as I prayed more, I began to entrust the visit to God, and it did get a bit better.
Do you also serve in other ministry events or projects?
Besides WFA, my family and about 10 members in my SG, called ACTS — A Community to Serve — have actively participated in various COSC initiatives over the years. We have been involved in festive outreaches such as distributing dumplings during the Dumpling Festival and organising game stalls for the annual Christmas@Berseh events. I fondly recall how a simple table tennis game brought immense joy to residents, both young and old. Most recently, in December 2024, my SG and I stepped in as ushers, filling a much-needed role for the event.
Additionally, I have volunteered at ad-hoc befriending events at Chen Su Lan Home, Helping Hand and Bethany Home, and participated in a mission trip to Nong Bua Lam Phu in 2018. Outside of church, my family and I previously served at The Willing Hearts during school holidays, helping with food preparation, packaging and delivery. Currently, I continue to serve in church as an usher with the 9.30am hospitality team at Wesley.
What brings you joy in all your serving?
I simply enjoy the small joys we can bring to others. When my kids were growing up, we would volunteer together as a family whenever opportunities arose — my husband, our two daughters and our son. Now that they are all grown up and leading their own busy lives, I find joy serving alongside my Small Group members. Through serving, I have always felt more blessed by the people I thought I was going to bless.
Are there any specific Bible verses or Christian teachings that guide you in your efforts?
As Jesus said in Luke 10:2: “The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into His harvest field.” Matthew 25:40 reminds us: “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’”
May we all be willing workers in His field, sowing seeds of love, kindness and faith wherever He calls us to serve. May we continue to serve with joyful hearts, knowing that in doing so, we serve Christ Himself.
How has your serving in the community impacted your own faith journey? What is your biggest takeaway?
Serving in all these areas requires me to step out of my comfort zone. It also means making adjustments to my schedule and intentionally carving out time to support, help and bless others. Through this journey, I have learnt not to take things for granted. For example, during a mission trip to Nong Bua Lam Phu in Thailand, I noticed that some of the Christmas gifts packed for the people there were pre-loved items from Singapore. This experience reminded my children and me not to take what we have for granted.
I am also reminded of the Chinese phrase “饮水思源” (when you drink water, think of its source). Whatever resources we have come from God, and we called to share them and be a blessing to others.
My biggest takeaway is that it is truly meaningful to serve our community alongside our own little community. In the past, I found great joy and motivation serving with my family. Now, I am very motivated whenever I serve with my Small Group. It is much easier to serve together with a community because without one, we might hesitate and procrastinate.
Volunteering requires intentional time and commitment but doing it with my family and Small Group has made it both meaningful and fulfilling. These experiences have strengthened our bonds and created lasting family memories. Through every outreach and interaction, I have been deeply blessed by the people I serve. Their resilience, gratitude, and stories have shaped my perspective and strengthened my faith.
While my intention is to bless others, I often find that God, in His grace, blesses me abundantly in return.
What are some ways that our church community can better support individuals who are engaged in similar work like yours?
We need to be better prepared when engaging with the people we support. Having some basic conversation starters or tools would be helpful.
Looking ahead, do you have any other new plans on serving our community?
I am exploring ways to connect my passion for working with kids with my professional experience. I have been a banker for over three decades and love working with kids, so I’m considering how I might apply my expertise to help children in the community learn financial literacy. Ultimately, I leave it all to God and am excited to see where He will lead my husband and me in the next chapter. In God’s world of serving, there is never a lack of ideas or opportunities.
Photos courtesy of Joanne Lo
Read also: Still Serving: One Man’s Mission to Share God’s Love at 85
This year, our church theme will focus on Discipleship in Society. Wesley TIDINGS is delighted to introduce “Faith@Community”, a new monthly series for 2025 that explores the concept of “Everyday Christianity”. Everyday Christianity is about recognising that faith is not confined to the walls of our church. It is about living out our Christian values in every aspect of our daily lives – in our homes, workplaces, schools, neighbourhoods and communities.
Throughout the year, “Faith@Community” will share stories of inspiring individuals who are actively living out their faith through compassionate service, advocating for the marginalised and extending a helping hand to those in need. We hope their stories will challenge and inspire us to deepen our own discipleship and find ways to express our faith in practical, everyday actions.
Whether it is through acts of kindness, advocacy for justice or simply shining the light of Christ in your daily interactions, your story matters. Do you know someone quietly making a difference in their community? We want to hear their stories! If you have someone in mind (maybe even yourself!), please encourage them to reach out to us at tidings@wesleymc.org.
Wesley TIDINGS Team
For more information on the church theme this year, please go to:
https://wesleymc.org/dir2025
