Page 13 - The Circle / July 2016

By ELKE KEELING and LORRAINE HENRY
A WONDER full Story
OF GODLY PLAY IN NEW ZEALAND
A story in this time, in this place . . .
New Zealand is called ‘the land of the long white cloud,’ Aotearoa. The country’s history is rich with the influence of the word of God on its people and their journey through time of continual re-discovery of who God is and the relationship God wants with the people God loves in this beautiful country.
them and their families experience a Creator, Redeemer, and Sustainer God in a whole new way; this will make a positive difference in our communities and our country, New Zealand.
We are full of wonder as we wait on God to show us the way and respond to opportunities and relationships and surprises as God leads us to grow a Godly Play community in New Zealand.
Thank you to Andrew Sheldon and Amy Crawford for their support and selfless sharing of the Godly Play gift. Thank you to Judyth Roberts and Carolyn Handley and their teams for the warm encouragement, mentorship, and resources they have generously shared with us. Thank you to our heavenly Father who supplies all that we need. We look forward to a WONDER-full journey with the Godly Play Community internationally and with the people in our nation specifically. C
A story about people . . .
People reading Jerome Berryman’s paper on “Mature Spirituality”, people exploring Godly Play in other centres, people bringing a taster workshop to New Zealand, people doing Core Training in Australia, people organising Core Training in New Zealand for New Zealand people. The story continues . . .
A story about a Godly Play community growing . . .
Godly Play is offered to New Zealand as a gift to be passed on. The international Godly Play community supports and trains and mentors the New Zealand emerging leaders. Godly, humble Godly Play Trainers patiently pass on the Core Training, demonstrating that we have all we need. And the story continues . . .In New Zealand there is a hunger to know this someone, and our dreams and visions for New Zealand are that Godly Play will fill this need by giving children a renewed spiritual language to help
Lorraine Henry, NZ
Elke Keeling is a coach for Baptist Children & Families Ministries in New Zealand and currently doing research in children’s spirituality. She is a follower of Jesus, wife, mother of two adult children and grandmother of one delightful grandson. elke.keeling@ihug.co.nz
Lorraine Henry is a Children’s Pastor at a Baptist church in New Zealand. She is an experienced Godly Play storyteller and is passionate about developing Godly Play in New Zealand. Lorraine is a follower of Jesus, wife, and mother of one son. lorraine@orewabaptist.org.nz
Elke and Lorraine are currently developing Godly Play training for New Zealand.
A GODLY PLAY QUARTERLY PUBLICATION 13