Richard Wallis (MPUK Executive Director)
Richard has worked in the Christian charity sector for over 25 years holding senior positions in Scripture Union, Wesley Owen, Signpost International and CHASTE. He worked in Zambia for 5 years on a rural development project during the 1970’s and since then has spearheaded several projects in the Global South. In 2007, he founded Mission Possible UK.
In 2003, Richard was asked to write his story for a chapter in the bestselling book ‘Stories From Around the World’. Below is his chapter followed by a brief update:
RICHARD'S STORY
Led to Zambia 1973
I might never have gone to Africa had I caught my usual train that summer morning in 1972. I was working as a young department manager at the huge Owen Owen store in Liverpool (I might as well admit at this point, somewhat embarrassed, that I was in charge of ladies' gloves, handbags and hosiery). I didn’t know what had possessed me to catch the bus and the ferry from my bedsit in New Brighton to Liverpool Pier Head to work instead of taking my usual train to Liverpool Central. The balding executive sitting in front of me on the bus had left his copy of the Daily Telegraph. Now I could check what was on TV that evening! But as I settled on to a deck seat on the ferry, I noticed the paper was folded to the appointments page, and there it was – ‘Retail Managers required in Zambia’. Though not yet a Christian, I thanked God.
