| Thank you to the churches across Australia that hosted an Everything in Common stall this year! Inspired by the radical generosity of the early Church described in Acts (2:44-45), you helped us raise more than $300,000 to support the vital work of our partners fighting poverty and building hope. |
Lachlan (pictured above) grew up surrounded by people who care about the world around them. In a family that was deeply engaged at Brisbane West Uniting Church, Lachlan remembers there always being a call to help people who didn’t have many of the things he took for granted.
“My family was always fundraising for different missions of the church,” he says. “And I found it inspiring to see people in the community always travelling across Australia or oversees to love and serve anyone who needs help.”
It was an image that stuck with him. In school geography class he learned about water scarcity, so in 2019 he organised his church to fundraise for water wells through UnitingWorld.
“The more I learned about the world around me, the more I realised how much there was to do to help.”
When the devastating 2019 droughts and bushfires hit, followed by COVID-19, Lachlan and his church stepped up.
“During crises like that, the solutions become so clear,” he says. “During the pandemic, our church set up a food bank to help people who lost their jobs, and we fundraised to support struggling farmers in Roma and Mitchell.”
His passion led him to discover our Everything in Common Gift Catalogue, and he now champions his church gift stall each Christmas. “I love being able to support really tangible things like clean water, food gardens and school books,” he says.
Now studying at university, Lachlan hasn’t lost his heart to help others, pursuing an International Studies degree and volunteering as often as he can.
“I think people like me should use their abilities, skills and privilege to make a difference, to help people wherever there’s a need.”