“The loan sharks came pounding on our door in the middle of the night, demanding payment. My husband was so scared that he hid in the room—I had to face them alone.”
Doris Chin remembers all too vividly the dark days of the 1980s, when her husband’s business collapsed, plunging their family into overwhelming debt. She had sat in their flat in pitch-black darkness after their electricity and water were cut off due to unpaid bills. Loan sharks had spray-painted “O$P$” and their unit number on the walls of their HDB block.
“After our utilities were cut, we had to rely on candles and torchlights at night, and only a few drops of water came from the tap. It was a terrible time,” Doris recalled.
Despite holding a senior role with a good income, Doris was forced to sell their apartment and downgrade three times to repay more than $200,000 in debts over four decades. Her husband declared bankruptcy twice but continued borrowing. After decades of giving him second chances, she finally stood her ground—and they separated two years ago.
From being in their shoes to walking beside them
Now 70 and retired, Doris devotes her time to journeying with families trapped in debt as she once was, drawing from her own painful past to encourage and empower others.
As a volunteer with the MWS Family Development Programme (FDP), a poverty alleviation initiative supporting low-income households (per capita income below $1,000), she provides financial guidance and emotional support to these beneficiaries. The programme helps families clear debt and build savings, with MWS matching every dollar they save or repay with an additional $2. Each family is also paired with a volunteer befriender like Doris.
“I’ve been in their shoes, but unlike them, I had no support or resources,” she said. “That’s why walking with these families means so much to me. I want them to know they’re not alone—help is available.”
As the Co-ordinator of Sengkang Methodist Church’s (SKMC) Social Concerns & Outreach Ministry, Doris oversees the MWS FDP volunteer team made up of SKMC members. She herself has been serving since 2018.
“When we first started, many of us thought there wouldn’t be that many needy families in Singapore,” Doris shared. “But through our visits, we quickly realised there are many families quietly struggling and need our support.”
One such family is that of Chng Yawen, a 37-year-old single mother of four and full-time dental assistant. Two years ago, a car accident left her with a minor fracture and unable to work for two months, causing a sudden loss of income.
“During that period, I helped find donors to cover her expenses and gave her emotional support,” Doris said. “Yawen shares openly with me, and I often pray for her. When she recently showed signs of depression, I encouraged her with Bible verses and reminded her that she’s doing a great job as a single mother. I get the church to help whenever I can.”
Yawen recalled how SKMC’s support carried her through the hardest days. “Once, I told Doris that my fridge was empty, and she arranged for the church members to bless me with three bags of groceries,” she said. “The financial stress can be overwhelming. There were times I just wanted to end it all, but the help from MWS and Doris reminded me that I’m not alone, that there are still people who care. It gave me hope that life isn’t so bad after all.”
From feeding the hungry to sharing the bread of life
Doris’ journey as a volunteer has not been without challenges. “We’ve been scolded, ignored and even turned away by families we approached to help,” she said. Still, with patience and God’s grace, she and her team have remained faithful.
And over time, that faithfulness has borne fruit. Doris has witnessed not only changed lives but transformed financial habits. Under her mentorship, many families have learned to budget, pay bills on time and grow their savings.
She recalled one woman who had just gone through a divorce and had to move with her two daughters from a three-room flat to a rental unit. “When I first met her, she broke down in tears, completely lost and unsure of what to do,” she said. “MWS FDP helped her build up her savings, while SKMC supported her with grocery vouchers and food blessings. With this support, she was able to get back on her feet and graduated from the programme this year after building a healthy savings nest egg.”
In the past seven years, Doris and her team have helped 11 families successfully graduate from the programme. “I love helping others, and their smiles bring me indescribable joy,” she shared. “But nothing makes me happier than seeing these families and their children come to church. Moving forward, we hope to invite more of them to our gatherings and outings—because beyond support, what many truly long for is a sense of belonging. “
Will you be the hands and feet of Jesus?
Just like Doris, your simple act of service can change lives. Whether it’s engaging children with autism, accompanying seniors to medical appointments, or reaching out to the homeless—there’s a volunteering opportunity that fits your passion and gifting.
As The Methodist Church in Singapore marks its 140th anniversary, its social concerns arm, Methodist Welfare Services, is rallying members to collectively contribute 1.4 million volunteer hours through The Healing Nation initiative—that’s just 35 hours per person to uplift lives.
Visit https://www.thehealing nation.sg to take the first step towards serving others.
By the Methodist Welfare Services Communications Team. / Photo courtesy of Methodist Welfare Services