Meet Larry, who after retiring from his professional career, didn’t slow down—instead, he found renewed purpose through ministry and community care. Guided by his deep Christian faith, Larry now dedicates his time to supporting children from broken families, offering not just material help, but emotional guidance and a fatherly presence that many of them lack.
His journey began with a single family in crisis and grew into a personal mission to provide hope and stability for vulnerable youths. Whether it’s tutoring sessions with his wife, home visits, or mentoring children through life’s challenges, Larry’s quiet yet unwavering commitment is transforming lives—one child at a time.
What inspired you, after retirement, to devote your time to ministry and caring for children from broken families?
This started before I retire. As a Christian, I abide by two core values: to love God wholeheartedly and to love others. About ten years ago, I encountered a family going through a breakup due to the father’s drug addiction.
He was incarcerated for most of his life, and the mother was contemplating divorce. It was the first time I truly witnessed the consequences and hardship that a broken family endures.
I saw the mother singlehandedly caring for her children while juggling work to put food on the table. I could see the limitations and challenges a single parent faces—not just in providing physically but also in meeting the emotional needs of the children.
I realised there are many such families suffering in silence. Without proper guidance and care, these children are vulnerable to negative influences and bad values as they grow, simply due to the absence of parental attention.
How has your personal faith journey influenced the way you serve and support others in this season of your life?
Doing this kind of voluntary work requires a deep level of commitment and a desire to go beyond oneself to help others. There were times I had to respond to a child’s needs when his mother was unable to, often because she couldn’t leave work.
It can be demanding, but I’ve always prioritised what I believe I’m called to do. I guess my faith has given me life experience and encounters that show me He has blessed me beyond measure and with whatever that I have, now is the time to help and bless others with His love. With care, concern and empathy.
What are some of the greatest challenges children from broken families face, and how does your ministry help them find hope and stability?
I’ve realised that most broken families result in the mother taking sole responsibility for raising the children. Often, she is unable to fully care for them because she has to work long hours, sometimes taking on extra jobs.
These children can end up feeling neglected and may turn to peers for comfort—often peers who are in similar situations.
Without supervision, they spend much of their time playing mobile games, wandering outside, and potentially picking up harmful habits like smoking, gambling, vaping, or disruptive behaviour. Some eventually end up in shelters for rehabilitation.
Currently, I am helping four children from broken homes. I invite them to my home once a week to reinforce basic values such as proper conduct and behaviour and to help them recognise the dangers outside.
My wife supports them academically, ensuring their education is monitored. In the absence of a father figure, single mothers often struggle to balance being both the disciplinarian and the nurturing parent.
That’s where I step in to serve as a fatherly figure—to fill in the missing link of a functional family. I hope to model stability and provide them with a realistic sense of hope for a future where they, too, can grow into stable adults and raise families of their own.
Still, there is hope for a more compassionate youth—if they are taught the right values at home. Doing what is right must transcend materialism. It begins with cultivating an “others before self” attitude—caring for and respecting others more than oneself.
You also dedicate time to helping an adult with severe OCD. What has this journey taught you about patience, compassion, and resilience?
This has been a unique experience. Although I’m not professionally trained in this field, I’ve tried to guide him towards seeking the appropriate treatment. I’ve learnt that individuals with mental health challenges like OCD, schizophrenia, or depression often need early professional intervention.
They may not have the ability to fight their battles alone. I accompany him to his psychiatric appointments and try to understand his behaviours. This journey has taught me patience and resilience through compassion.
It’s not easy—people with such conditions often deny their struggles. I frequently pray for patience and love (for myself) to coax him into attending his appointments. Recovery is slow and requires persistence.
What surprised me most was that none of his immediate family members were involved in his medical care. People have asked me why I bother when he has family. Sadly, in many cases—like with children from broken homes—those suffering are left to fend for themselves because caregivers are either overwhelmed or indifferent.
How do you integrate faith and practical support when walking alongside someone with ongoing mental health struggles?
As I mentioned, I know I’m limited in how much I can do alone. I pray for those I support, while also guiding them toward proper medical care and being a listening ear when they need someone to talk to. Sometimes, spiritual support must work hand-in-hand with practical intervention.
What advice would you give to the younger generation?
The world has become increasingly individualistic. The younger generation today faces much greater hardship compared to those in the 60s or 70s. During those times, opportunities for growth and success were more abundant. Nowadays, many young people depend heavily on their parents for financial and childcare support.
While I wish for this generation to be more outward-looking, caring, and responsible, I also acknowledge that this is a tall order under current circumstances.
Still, there is hope for a more compassionate youth—if they are taught the right values at home. Doing what is right must transcend materialism. It begins with cultivating an “others before self” attitude—caring for and respecting others more than oneself.
If you could have a superpower for one day, what would it be and why?
I would want everyone to understand that the nucleus of a complete family lies in upholding marriage as a sacred and lasting covenant.
One that is divinely ordained to raise God-fearing children—children who do not conform to the ways of the world but who honour the two greatest commandments in the Bible:
- To love God with all your heart.
- To love your neighbour as yourself.
