by Charis Tang
When you meet Dr. Peggy C. Wong, you may first notice her poise and professionalism — the kind that comes from years in banking, entrepreneurship, and leadership.
She is a Harvard alumna, a philanthropist, and author, but beneath all her achievements lies the heartbeat of her life’s mission: people — and their eternal worth in God’s eyes.
Her story is a living example that success in the marketplace can coexist with a heart fully devoted to God. To Dr. Wong, wealth and influence are tools for ministry, not self-gain. Her life’s work has been to invest not just in markets, but in souls, by lifting the poor, sharing the gospel, and helping people encounter Jesus personally.
From banker to bridge-builder
Born in Ipoh, Malaysia, Dr. Wong’s roots were steeped in compassion. Her grandfather, a traditional Chinese physician, gave free medicine to migrant workers and started a feeding programme for beggars.
Her father carried on that same legacy by building schools, providing free medical care, and serving those in need. “Generosity,” she often says, “is in my DNA.”
With a degree in Economics from the University of Malaya and later a certificate from Harvard’s Owner President Management program, Dr. Wong excelled in business. She founded her own companies in Malaysia and Singapore, forming partnerships with leaders and entrepreneurs around the world. Yet, even as her professional network expanded, her deepest investments were never financial but spiritual.
Her compassion deepened when she met children from poor communities — those who walked barefoot to school, went hungry, or shared worn-out books. These encounters birthed a vision that became Living Hope Malaysia, founded in 2007. The organisation’s mission is to be “the voice of the unheard cries.”
Meeting needs, transforming lives
Living Hope Malaysia began as a simple act of obedience and compassion. Today, it is known as Living Hope Global, a registered NGO that has reached hundreds of thousands of underprivileged children in Malaysia and beyond. Its programs meet both immediate and long-term needs:
- One Egg–One Child Feeding Programme: Providing daily meals to children from hardcore poor families.
- Educate a Child Programme: Supplying school uniforms, shoes, bags, and stationery.
- Channel of Hope Distribution: Delivering food and essentials directly to needy families.
- Toy and Book Library Programme: Giving children access to books and educational games.
- Education Resource Centres: Offering safe spaces for reading, learning, and computer skills development.
There are now over 120 such centres across Malaysia: 75 in Sarawak, 40 in Sabah, and 14 in Peninsular Malaysia.
Dr. Wong’s dream continues to expand. She envisions establishing Safe Havens, community spaces for single parents, dysfunctional families, and their children to experience love, healing, and hope.
The work is not always easy, and she has faced economic hardship. “It’s going to be harder this year,” Dr. Wong once said, “but we will persevere and even leap further for the sake of the children and their families.” That perseverance has since become her trademark.
Evangelism at the core
While Living Hope meets physical needs, Dr. Wong’s deepest passion is for spiritual transformation. Evangelism isn’t about arguments or grand crusades but authentic relationships and Spirit-led encounters.
Her latest book, One on One Personal Evangelism, reflects this heart. Endorsed by respected Christian leaders such as Dennis Balcombe, Dr. Chew Weng Chee, and Dr. Timothy Sng, it offers practical, Spirit-filled guidance for believers who want to share their faith naturally and effectively.
“Evangelism isn’t a formula,” Dr. Wong writes. “It’s a partnership between the authority of Jesus and the power of the Holy Spirit — and we are the bridge.”
The book is filled with real-life stories of transformation found in Jesus Christ, from Aunty Lai Heng (a devout Buddhist who encountered God’s love after an accident) to Nancy Khoo (a trader who began her journey of faith through a business exchange) and Maite M (South Africa’s first ambassador to Malaysia who found hope and healing in Christ through Dr. Wong).
Each story underscores Dr. Wong’s conviction that kindness opens hearts and that evangelism, at its best, is deeply personal.
Investing in eternity
Whether meeting dignitaries or sitting with orphans, Dr. Wong is guided by a single, unwavering principle: love God and love people. She has received accolades including “Woman of Vision” (Perak), “Woman of Excellence” (Selangor), and an honorary doctorate for her humanitarian work. But her greatest joy comes from seeing lives changed.
Through Living Hope, she meets physical needs. Through One on One Personal Evangelism, she equips believers to meet spiritual needs. Together, they form a legacy that proves what she has always believed: true success is measured not in wealth, but in eternal impact.
Dr. Peggy C. Wong’s story is both a challenge and an invitation.
It challenges us to see evangelism not as an event, but as a lifestyle — one that transforms ordinary conversations into divine encounters. May we be challenged to invest, just as Dr. Wong has, in what lasts forever.
To purchase Dr. Wong’s latest book, One on One Personal Evangelism (RM20), contact Agapetos Christian Training & Services at +6014-6901577. Learn more about Living Hope Global here.
This article was contributed by Agapetos Christian Training & Services and lightly edited by Asian Beacon.
Photos provided by Agapetos Christian Training & Services, and Living Hope Global.
