The ladies from Sidwell Corps in the Eastern Cape Division invite you to lean in and listen closely as they share their stories. They have powerful testimonies of what God has done in their lives and are eager to tell the readers of The War Cry how He has transformed them.
Shirley Kapp is the Assistant Community Care Secretary and the Tea Sergeant in the Home League: This is my story before I got saved. My life was upside down, and I didn’t understand why. I started drinking, smoking, and spending my nights at pubs, dancing and partying all night long. Every weekend, I left my husband and children at home while I was out with my friends.
One day, a friend of mine invited me to church at The Salvation Army, and that’s where I met my Lord and Saviour. Now, I just want to praise the Lord because I dance and sing for Him, the One who freed me from the world. All praise and glory belongs to the Lord, who died on the cross for my sin. He never stopped loving me for who I am. Thank you, Lord, for not giving up on me.
Lizaan Theron is the Junior Soldier Sergeant at the Corps and she says: When I look back on my life, I see a version of myself that was filled with anger and conflict, a horrible lady who was always ready for a fight. My heart was hardened, and I often found myself in battles—both with others and within myself. However, everything changed when I met the Lord because He has changed my heart.
As I reflect on all that the Lord has done in my life, I know I will never go back to that old way of living.
Johanna Webber starts with a verse of Scripture from: 2 Corinthians 5:17. “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come.”
Before I was saved, I was shy and struggled to communicate with people. I sang in a group but would often shake when we performed. I was singing because my parents wanted me to, but deep down, I had a desire to lead others in song. When I was saved, the Lord took all my fears away, and I praise Him for that! He fulfilled the desire of my heart, and today, I am the singing sergeant at Sidwell Corps. Praise the Lord!
Olona Plaatjies’ story is a example of how God’s grace can heal even the deepest wounds. Olona carried the weight of anger and unforgiveness, but her journey took a remarkable turn when she encountered the forgiveness of Christ, this is what she says: Something I struggled with a lot was forgiveness. I had built up anger and hatred in my heart, constantly wishing and hoping something bad would happen to those who hurt me. It’s hard to forgive, especially when the person isn’t sorry, but God forgives us daily. When I accepted Jesus Christ as my Lord and Saviour, I decided to let go and let God. I no longer had to carry the burden of hate and anger. I forgave people, even those who never apologized. Every praise is to my God because He is good to me all the time.
Mabel Martin’s journey is a reminder of how our relationships can change when we encounter the love of Jesus. Mabel spent years searching for connection and belonging in the wrong places. But she discovered a friendship unlike any other—one that would transform her life forever. Mabel shares how Jesus became the only friend she truly needed: During my growing-up years, I had many friends for all the wrong reasons. I went to places and did things I shouldn’t have. But then I accepted Jesus as my Friend and Saviour. Knowing that Jesus is my only true Friend changed my life. He will never leave me nor forsake me.
Suretha Deysel experienced a life-changing transformation when she chose to leave her old ways behind and follow Jesus: There was a time when I was living in the world—going out, dancing, and drinking. I had a lot of friends, or so I thought. But one day, I found myself asking, “Why am I doing this? This isn’t who I want to be.” That moment led me to make a life-changing decision. I turned away from that lifestyle, started attending church, reading my Bible, and serving the Lord. Since then, those friends have disappeared. But I’ve gained the most important friend I could ever have—Jesus. All the praise and glory go to Him, the One who transformed my life.
Marlene de Lange, who serves as the Corps Secretary, shares her journey from deep pain and brokenness to a life transformed by the love and grace of God: When I was in the world, I found myself in a very abusive relationship. Feeling empty and worthless, I turned to drinking, which led to many other destructive behaviors. For years, I continued down this dark path, feeling even worse, to the point where I considered taking my own life. I was on the road to self-destruction. Then, one day, my sister invited me to The Salvation Army Sidwell Corps. After attending a few services, I accepted the Lord as my Savior, and everything changed. God lifted me out of that pit of despair and transformed me from someone who felt like a pitiful nobody into the daughter of the King. Since then, my life has been filled with love, peace, and joy. I thank God every day for the incredible change He’s made in my life. Now, I live a life of loving and serving Him, knowing that He loves me and will never leave nor forsake me. All praise, honor, and glory go to God for the miracle He performed in my life. Thank You, Lord!
Elize Webber reflects on the incredible transformation God brought into her life, rescuing her from a path of selfishness and worldly living to one filled with His love and grace: Giving God all honor, glory, and praise for saving my life! Before God saved me, I lived a very worldly life, drinking and partying. I was selfish and unforgiving, constantly questioning God’s love for me. In June 2014, at The Salvation Army Sidwell Corps, God saved me and created a new being within me. He completely transformed my life as I learned about His unfailing love and forgiveness. “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.” —Psalm 136:1