Meet Joan Mwenda: Walking Alongside Families with Compassion, Wisdom, and Hope

For Joan Mwenda, supporting vulnerable children and families is more than a job — it is a calling grounded in compassion, service, and a deep commitment to helping people build healthier, more hopeful futures.

As Spiritual Formation Lead for Peter’s Heart in Uganda, Joan helps guide programs that nurture children, support mothers, strengthen families, and encourage personal and spiritual growth in communities facing significant hardship. Whether she is leading Bible studies with children, counseling mothers, praying with families in their homes, or developing discipleship materials for staff and beneficiaries, Joan approaches every part of her work with warmth, empathy, and purpose.

“I love seeing lives transformed,” she says. “When someone begins to believe there is hope for their future again, that is what encourages me to continue.”

A Heart for Holistic Care

Joan joined Peter’s Heart in 2018 after being recommended by someone she previously worked with at Scripture Union Uganda. She initially served in a supervisory role overseeing the team before transitioning into part-time work and eventually joining the organization full time in 2022.

Over the years, her role has evolved to align with both her experience and passion for ministry and counseling. After serving in human resources from 2022 to 2024, Joan stepped into her current role as Spiritual Formation Lead, where she now focuses on discipleship ministry, counseling, spiritual care, and life skills development for children, mothers, and staff.

Her work combines spiritual support with practical guidance. She also works closely with mothers on issues such as emotional healing, financial empowerment, parenting, and life skills.

“Transformation happens when people are cared for holistically,” Joan explains. “We want children and families to grow emotionally, socially, spiritually, and practically.”

Meeting Families Where They Are

Much of Joan’s work happens directly in the communities Peter’s Heart serves.

On Mondays, she often meets with small groups of mothers in their homes for prayer, Bible study, counseling, and life skills training. These gatherings create safe spaces where women can share struggles, encourage one another, and learn practical tools for building healthier futures.

Recent sessions have included conversations around financial stewardship, savings, and family planning. Joan works closely with fellow Peter’s Heart staff, especially Church and Michael, to ensure that both mothers and children receive consistent care and support.

Her educational and professional background equips her well for the role. Joan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Makerere University along with a certificate in Information Technology. She is also trained in grief and trauma counseling, leadership, life skills, and Bible and Theology Ministry.

With more than 13 years of ministry experience through Scripture Union and Peter’s Heart, she has become a trusted mentor to children, women, married couples, and families navigating difficult circumstances.

Still, Joan says the most meaningful moments are often the quietest ones.

“When children feel comfortable enough to open up and share what they are going through, it means a lot,” she says. “Sometimes they simply need someone to listen, encourage them, and remind them they matter.”

Witnessing Transformation

Among Joan’s favorite parts of her work are the stories of personal transformation she has witnessed through Peter’s Heart programs.

She recalls one woman named who had been living on the streets while struggling with alcoholism and prostitution. Through the support, counseling, and community provided by Peter’s Heart, Joan watched her begin rebuilding her life.

“Today she is healthy, sober, and no longer living that life,” Joan says. “Seeing that kind of change reminds us why this work matters.”

Another powerful story is that of a woman, who first came to Peter’s Heart seeking prayer and support as she worked to leave prostitution and smoking behind. Although she had already made important changes, her environment continued to make the transition difficult.

Together, they created a plan to help her move into a healthier environment. Joan encouraged her to begin saving money, and this spring, she was able to relocate.

Today, she regularly participates in church activities and supports herself by selling tomatoes, onions, and fruit. Her pastor describes her as one of the congregation’s most consistent attendees and a woman showing genuine personal growth.

For Joan, these stories are reminders that lasting change often happens gradually through encouragement, accountability, and consistent support.

“Sometimes people simply need someone to believe in them and walk beside them,” she says.

A Life Centered on Service

Joan Mwenda and family

Outside of her work at Peter’s Heart, Joan is deeply committed to her family and local church community. She and her husband Alex, a Kenyan pastor, have been married for 15 years and are raising four daughters together. Her children attend some of the same schools as those enrolled in Peter’s Heart.

Balancing ministry, motherhood, and leadership requires careful coordination, especially as their daughters attend several different schools across the region. Even so, Joan remains energized by the opportunity to invest in both her own family and the broader Peter’s Heart community.

She describes herself as “simple but principled” and is known among colleagues and families for her joyful spirit and welcoming smile.

Looking ahead, Joan hopes to see Peter’s Heart continue expanding its reach to vulnerable children and families around the world, helping beneficiaries flourish academically, socially, vocationally, and spiritually.

For her, the mission always comes back to people — especially children.

“The smiles on the faces of the children and their parents bring me so much joy,” Joan says. “Knowing they feel supported and hopeful makes everything worthwhile.”