‘God is not finished with me yet!’

Heather Sheldon (Hadleigh Temple) shares how God called her to The Salvation Army

Who are you and what do you do?

I’m Janet Pope. I’m a member of the corps writers’ group and I volunteer at the parent-and-toddler group and lead a Bible study group.

Why do you do what you do?

I enjoy coming alongside the parents to listen and encourage the toddlers to be creative. In our Bible study group, I like how we interact and encourage each other in understanding God’s word.

What is your favourite Bible verse?

Nehemiah 8:10: ‘The joy of the Lord is your strength.’

What do you pray for most?

My church, myself, my community and to be encouraged. These are the basis of a Call for Prayer booklet I put together, a leaflet to pray for corps members during the Covid-19 pandemic.

What’s your most-played song at the moment?

‘Goodness of God.’

If you had an unlimited supply of one thing, what would it be?

Maltesers – I just love them!

What is your most-used emoji?

A butterfly. That’s me. It’s symbolic of being a new creation and of my transformation and freedom since

I gave my heart to Jesus at a Billy Graham crusade in Sheffield.

IDIDN’T grow up in a Christian home, but I have been aware of God’s presence in my life since the age of seven or eight. In my early 20s, when I was a police officer, I was driving alone in my police car and clearly heard God say, ‘I want you to be a Salvation Army officer.’ I wasn’t a Christian and I didn’t even know The Salvation Army had officers. I remember turning the car around, driving in the opposite direction and thinking, ‘I’m never going to tell anybody about this’, and for many years I didn’t.

My first contact with the Army was when I got married at Hadleigh Temple. This was strange for someone who was not a member, but the best man was a Salvationist and suggested it.

At the time I agreed to bring my children to The Salvation Army if I had any. I was blessed with a son and a daughter and did just that. When my son told me that he wanted to be a junior soldier, I thought I’d better go along to see what the Army was all about – and I’m still here today.

I knew I should be in full-time ministry, but it just wasn’t happening. One day God spoke to me again and told me ‘now’ was the time. Personal circumstances prevented me from going into training, but I went to the assessment conference to become a lieutenant under the lieutenancy scheme and was accepted.

I became a territorial envoy and had the privilege of leading Basildon and Grays, where I had the most amazing and fulfilling time.

In April 2022 I retired from full-time ministry and returned to Hadleigh Temple, but one never really retires from God’s work. I am pleased to say that he has opened new avenues of ministry. I now serve as band sergeant and home league secretary. God is not finished with me yet!

Have you got a testimony to share? We’d love to hear your faith journey! Get in touch at salvationist@ salvationarmy.org.uk salvationarmy org uk ere esus as my ontrast to my w inf illing alisation photo iform in bition. d, not er told me this stage about ears t this was a s my y is, ve

My acceptance of Jesus as my personal Saviour, in contrast to my calling, came as a slow infilling of the Holy Spirit; the realisation came as I saw a huge photo of myself in police uniform in a Salvation Army exhibition. I became a soldier and, not long after, the corps officer told me that God had said he wanted me to be a leader. At this stage I hadn’t told a single person about my calling some 20 years before, but I had to agree that this was God’s plan for me.

While still working as a police officer, together with my husband, I led Canvey Island Corps. After this, I became what I believe to be the Army’s first lay chaplain at what was then Hadleigh Training Centre.