‘We gave away thousands of £10 notes at Spring Harvest’

Inspired by the parable of the talents, Phil and Wendy Wall MBE distributed free cash at major Christian festivals. Twenty-five years on, they reflect on the many lives changed because of it

With a twinkle in his eye, Phil Wall tells me about the life-changing words he said to his wife, Wendy, during a long-distance telephone call in April 1997. “I’ve fallen in love with another woman, can I bring her home, please?”

The request wasn’t as offensive as it first appears. As part of his work with the Salvation Army, Phil had travelled from London to Ethembeni, a Salvation Army run children’s home in Johannesburg, South Africa. He’d met a toddler there who had been found, abandoned, on their doorstep. With no family of her own, she’d been given the name Zodwa (which means ‘Alone’ in Zulu). Phil felt such a strong connection that he immediately wanted to adopt Zodwa. But would his wife agree?