Page 15 - The Circle / July 2016

Foundation about training in South Africa. There was none, but some Canadian Godly Play Trainers were going to Australia in the summer and possibly they could come to South Africa on their way back to Canada. It seemed that was the end of it as there was no money for their travel expenses, even though they had written that they would waive their trainer fees for us. But I went back to the supportive Dean, who had by then become Bishop, and funding was provided! (In a recent conversation with Canadian Godly Play Trainer Andrew Sheldon told me that they would have come with or without funding . . . Godly Play was clearly due to come to South Africa regardless!)
Trainers Andrew Sheldon and Amy Crawford came to South Africa in June 2012 and did the first ever Godly Play Core Training here. What a joy that was to learn so much more about Godly Play, and suddenly there were others also loving this method and wanting to start practising it.
In 2013 I was invited to the North American Godly Play Conference in Toronto. It was such a privilege to tell the story of “The Mystery of Pentecost” in Afrikaans in Canada to Godly Players who were from all over the world, speaking many different languages. The language barrier no longer mattered.
Andrew and Amy returned to South Africa in 2014 to do more training, and again in July 2015 when they trained the first six Godly Play South Africa Trainers. Godly Play South Africa was officially launched on 11 July 2015!
Our Godly Play South Africa Trainers now hold regular Godly Play Introductory workshops and Core Trainings, and hard work is currently being done on developing the Godly Play South Africa Board.
More and more people are becoming excitedly involved in Godly Play from different regions, churches, and organisations; translations into other South African languages are being explored; communities are being touched; and the story of Godly Play in South Africa is continuing with so much love and joy. C
Joan Truby is the Godly Play South Africa Coordinator and a Godly Play SA Trainer. She lives in Benoni with her Godly Play materials maker and GP co-trainer (aka her husband) and 3 children. Godly Play awoke her spiritual life and continues to enrich, extend, and challenge her in every aspect of life as well as kindle relationships with everyone in the Great Family. Most of all, she has fun with Godly Play! sptruby@mweb.co.za
A GODLY PLAY QUARTERLY PUBLICATION 15