A long-time Act for Peace supporter, generosity is woven into Shawn’s family life — shaped by faith, community and a deep belief in standing alongside people facing injustice.
“My journey of giving parallels a lifelong journey of faith more generally,” says Shawn. “Giving is part of my Christian discipleship, part of my wrestling with Jesus’ difficult teachings about money and wealth.”
For Shawn and his wife, Natalie Sims, generosity has always been a deliberate part of their family life. From the early years of their marriage, they set aside a regular portion of their income as “sharing money” or “justice money”. This commitment to budgeting for others’ needs as well as their own remained even when finances were tight.
“It’s been helpful to us to understand that connection to others beyond ourselves is a core part of how we live and how we organise our finances and our family life,” says Shawn.
That commitment was also shaped by Shawn’s upbringing. His connection to Act for Peace started through Force 10 many years ago and has continued across generations. The same is true for Natalie.
“We’ve got that long-standing family formation part of it, and that sticks,” he says. “And we hope that our son will pick that up from us as well.”
For Shawn, supporting Act for Peace is about more than responding to immediate needs. It’s about being connected to people and communities around the world and addressing the deeper causes of injustice.
“One of the things I love about Act for Peace is that sense of connectedness with the people we’re giving through and to.”
~ Shawn
For Shawn, the stories of communities supported through Act for Peace help turn giving into something personal and relational. He believes generosity shouldn’t simply be a transaction, but an expression of compassion and solidarity.
“Giving ideally should be relational… it can’t just be an automated transaction, even though that’s very handy. It needs to be something that reflects some connection with the people we’re giving to, and we should ultimately be giving out of love for our neighbours.”
Shawn is drawn to Act for Peace’s belief that lasting peace is built alongside communities, not for them. He values the organisation’s commitment to supporting locally led solutions that address the causes of conflict and displacement and help communities shape their own futures.
“It’s important to me that Act for Peace continues to engage in confronting injustice through fighting the root causes and through building people’s capacity – not just immediate, band-aid relief.”
~ Shawn
For Shawn and his family, giving is a way of being part of something bigger: an ecumenical community of people choosing hope, justice and compassion.
“This isn’t something that we started because of an attention-grabbing appeal,” he says. “Through Act for Peace, we are working together as Christians in Australia and across the world, and we’re in it for the long haul.”
That’s the vision at the heart of Act for Peace: a growing movement of people, churches and communities working together to create a world where everyone belongs.
Whether through regular giving, advocacy or prayer, every act of generosity helps build a movement for peace.