Bio

There was a time when Florence Pope wouldn't hear of dedicating her life to serving the Lord through music, however four recordings later with another one on the way, that is exactly what she's doing.

Born and raised in a Christian home in Bishop's Falls, Newfoundland, Florence grew up attending church and singing. She loved both passionately. But when she left home, Florence would come to experience torment stronger than her faith could subdue and would give up her love for music and God.

"When I left church as a very young lady I wanted to forget all remnants of my past. I didn't tell people I was a singer, I just forgot about it, put it out of my mind," she remembers. "When I threw Jesus down, my singing went too. If I wasn't singing for God, I wasn't singing at all."

Like most naive young women, Florence left home in search of greener pastures and a different life. This life would not be the one she had in mind. When she met Harry, Florence knew they were from different worlds and of his estranged background, but she married him and stood by him. For twenty-two years, Florence lived through the endless pain and torment of alcoholism. The late nights alone, not knowing what to expect when he returned home, and the tiring anguish of trying to protect their daughter Alison from destruction, led to her spiritual demise. As the years passed by, Florence blamed God and believed He was the reason behind the deplorable, demented life she was being forced to live.

One beautiful Sunday in October, something happened that would change their lives forever. Harry attended church that morning and came home claiming to be changed. Still ashamed and unsure of his intentions, Florence refused to attend church with him. However, slowly and carefully, still holding a bitter resentment for the God that allowed her to endure such pain, she finally gave her life back to Him and committed to attend church with Harry. It was a slow road, but a few months later Florence began to sing again and took it one step further this time.

"When I started, I knew what God wanted of me and I was not going to refuse Him," she said.

In the fall of 1999, Florence made her debut as a gospel singer with Speak to the Mountain, which she followed with a second cassette recording entitled Faithful Father. In 2000 she released her first CD Walkin' in the Spirit of the Lord, followed by Florence's Ten Favorites in 2004. With great anticipation her new CD Quiet Time, which includes the song Another Child to Hold dedicated to her two grandchildren Nicholas and Kendra, is expected to be released in April.

Florence believes God had a plan for her and today she sings and speaks of the wonderful life He has given her family in the hope of reaching out to others in need.

"If the words that I sing reach somebody in dire straights or someone that needs a change in their life, my goal will have been achieved," she said. "That's what it's all about. It's about Him and what he can do for others. After all, he's made big changes in my life."

Down a winding road of overwhelming obstacles and triumph, Florence and Harry discovered God's plan and gained the strength to share with others. This gospel music singer, who now resides in Botwood, Newfoundland, found the greener pastures the hard way but it was well worth waiting for. Quiet Time was recorded and mixed by Little Known Artist's Studio in Lewisporte, NL.