find a Licensed godly play Trainer

The Rev. Dr. Rosemary Beales has been a practitioner in Godly Play since 1996 and an accredited trainer since 2000. After a career in journalism, she likes to say she “found a better story to tell.” Godly Play led her to Virginia Theological Seminary, where she graduated in 2005 and was ordained to the Episcopal priesthood. In 2012, she received a Doctor of Ministry degree, completing a thesis based on using Godly Play to nurture parents in their role as primary spiritual mentors (“Nurturing the Nurturers,” available at www.academia.edu). She has served both in parishes and in school ministry, including 12 years as chaplain to grades JK-5 at St. Stephen’s & St. Agnes School in Alexandria, Va. After semi-retiring, Rosemary accepted a half-time position at St. George’s Episcopal Church in Fredericksburg, Va., allowing her time to continue Godly Play training and also to relax a bit with her three grown children, seven grandchildren, and polydactyl cat Chloe.

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, Advanced Training, New Programs, Schools, Church Ministry, Leading online workshops and guided book studies

Location: Stafford, VA

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Melinda Wenner Bradley’s ministry weaves together interests in children’s spiritual lives, program development, and advocacy for families in faith communities. Twenty years in the classroom, and raising her own children, nurtured a passion for experiential religious education and intergenerational spiritual community. She is a member of West Chester Friends Meeting and serves as the Youth Religious Life Coordinator for a regional Quaker organization.

Areas of Interest: Schools, Quakers (Religious Society of Friends) and other denominations where there may be adaptation for liturgical practices.

Location: Glen Mills, PA

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Kathleen Capcara has spent over 25 years in the field of Christian education for children, youth, and adults. In addition to her work over the past 20 years training teachers in Godly Play, Kathleen presents Godly Play lessons in a variety of settings with people of multiple ages. Cooking and singing also give her joy.

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, Advanced Training, New Programs, Schools, Church Ministry

Location: Baltimore, MD

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Arlene Decina serves as Director of Spiritual Growth Ministries at Burke Presbyterian Church in Fairfax, Virginia, where she began a Godly Play program in 2003 that has grown over the years and welcomed numerous circles of all ages. Arlene is grateful for the way Godly Play has nurtured her faith and shaped her ministry and, as a trainer since 2013, has found joy in sharing the practice with others.

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, New Programs, Church Ministry, exploring hybrid training models.

Location: Springfield, VA

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The Rev. Emily Griffin, M.DIV., MSW is the Senior Associate Rector at St. Alban’s Episcopal Church in Washington, DC and has been a Godly Play Trainer since 2007. Among other responsibilities, she directs the Godly Play program at St. Alban’s for kids in early, middle, and late childhood. Previously, she served parishes in Virginia and New Jersey. Emily has led numerous core and advanced trainings and recently co-led a training of trainers in South America. It was also her joy to introduce Godly Play to the Wild Goose Festival and serve as the Kids’ Tent Co-Leader from 2016-2019. Emily received her M.Div. from Princeton Theological Seminary and her MSW from Rutgers University. She and her husband Mike live in DC.

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, Advanced Training, Church Ministry

Location: Washington, D.C.

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Areas of Interest: Middle and Late Childhood, Early Childhood, Godly Play with adult audiences, Intergenerational Godly Play, Godly Play in Schools

Location: Washington, DC

Contact Ebony

Areas of interest: Church-based Ministry

Location: Baltimore, MD

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Suzanne Burke lives in Minneapolis, where she serves the publishing ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) as Director of Product Development for Augsburg Fortress. She is also a rostered leader in the ELCA. Since 2007 she has been using Godly Play with the children (and adults) at Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church.

Location: Minneapolis, MN

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Nikki is the chairperson for the Godly Play Advisory Committee, A “Beloved Me Beloved We” Godly Play trainer, as well as the Director of Middle Grade Ministries at Hilliard UMC. She is also a teacher of Deeper Waters: Diving Into Leadership Spirituality and leads the Faith Finders, a children’s community outreach group. She was recognized by the Cincy Upstander Project through the Holocaust & Humanity Center in 2021. Nikki has been practicing Godly Play for 5 years and has a loving husband and three young boys.

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, New Programs, Schools, United Methodist Congregations, Church Ministry, Inclusion & Diversity

Location: Columbus, OH
Nikki is willing to travel to facilitate trainings.

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The Reverend Deacon Lois has been involved with Godly Play as a Minister of Christian Formation in a number of Episcopal faith communities for 32 years. For her, Godly Play has been life changing and her joy comes from witnessing the "aha" moments as children and adults experience God's presence as they hear and work with the stories.

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, New Programs, Using Godly Play with Alzheimer's and dementia folks

Location: Lexington, KY

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The Reverend Cynthia Insko first began Godly Play when she developed classrooms for children ages 3-5th grade. She soon learned the entire congregation benefited from the use of Godly Play and held appeal beyond the church walls- to senior adults at assisted living facilities and children at community housing centers. Cynthia completed training as a spiritual director through the Shalem Institute and is completing a 200 hour yoga teacher training.

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, New Programs, all denominations, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship churches, other Baptist churches.

Location: Georgetown, KY

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Susan Mallison started her Godly Play journey in 1993 when her now-adult children were ages 3 and 5. She became a Godly Play trainer in 2001 and began supporting churches in Minneapolis and St. Paul, as well as throughout the Midwest. She has developed Core Training Workshops for Chaplains that are working with elders in Resident Facilities and Memory Care Units.

Areas of Interest: Elders, Nurturing Parents as Primary Faith Formers, Special Needs Children, Practice Sessions for Story Tellers, Room Consultations

Location: St. Paul, MN

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Meg von der Heydt first discovered Godly Play as a Montessori mom and Christian educator in the early 2000’s. She was instantly drawn to its theology of childhood and trained in both Godly Play and Catechesis of the Good Shepherd. She launched a Godly Play program at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Portsmouth, NH, and later built a large program at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Cleveland Heights, Ohio. Meg became a trainer in 2021. She holds an MDiv from Harvard Divinity School and has taught sixth through tenth grades in Catholic, Quaker, and Episcopal schools. In the summers, she supports youth development programs at the American Youth Foundation Camp Miniwanca on the eastern shore of Lake Michigan. Her greatest joy is being a mom to four daughters, who range in age from two to twenty. She lives with her busy family and their Airedale, Rufus, in Shaker Heights, Ohio.

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, Advanced Training, New Programs

Location: Shaker Heights, OH

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Location: Chicago, IL

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Location: Dayton, OH

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The Reverend Cheryl Minor, PhD is the Director of the Center for the Theology of Childhood and a Godly Play Trainer. Cheryl was the Consulting Editor for Volume 6, 7, and 8 of The Complete Guide to Godly Play, and the revised edition of Teaching Godly Play. She was also on the team helping to revise Volumes 2, 3, 4, and 6 of The Complete Guide to Godly Play. Cheryl is an Episcopal Priest in the Diocese of Massachusetts. She and her husband Paul have been Co-Rectors of All Saints’ Church in Belmont since 1997. They have two grown children – Rachel-Anne, John Thomas and one granddaughter. Her book Godly Play in Middle and Late Childhood will be available summer of 2022

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, Advanced Training, New Programs, Hospital Chaplaincy

Location: Belmont, MA

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Nancy St. John was introduced to Godly Play twenty plus years ago along with longtime friend and colleague, Sally Thomas. Finding herself on a new threshold, she felt deeply called to share this different way of being with God, with her children, and her church. She still looks forward to sitting on the floor as a co-learner with children of all ages. She became a teacher trainer in 2001, and continues to feel blessed to be able to do this work. It was Godly Play that led Nancy to a career change; 15 years ago she left the world of small business to work at nearby Montessori School. In that time, she has completed her certification to become an Early Childhood Montessori teacher. Nancy lives close to the beautiful rocky beach in Hull, Massachusetts where she enjoys long walks along the water. She loves to spend time with her adult children, Robby and Emily who live close by. Robby having completed graduate work in the field of Library Science and Emily a degree in Education. And so the journey continues…

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, Advanced Training, Schools, Church Ministry

Location: Hull, MA

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Jenn Sanborn was first introduced to Godly Play in 2005 as a member of a Congregational Church (UCC) in New Hampshire where she was instrumental in building three classrooms and a strong Godly Play program. She became a trainer in 2007 and is grateful for the continuing opportunity to share this unique way of learning the Christian language. Jenn is a professional interior designer with her own firm and has earned degrees in both Religious Studies and Interior Design. The daughter of a Presbyterian minister, her education and background draws her to be particularly interested in the creation of environments for children to do this unique work. She is married to Dr. Stephen Sanborn, who has spent his career in science education. As the mother of two wonderful twenty-something daughters, she is continually seeking to bring the Godly Play “way of being” into her daily life. She and her husband are members of St. James Episcopal Church in Amesbury, MA where she enjoys sharing stories with the youngest children in the parish.

Location: Amesbury, MA

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Sally Thomas has been ‘Godly Playing’ since 1997, when she and fellow trainer, Nancy St. John, introduced Godly Play at their parish in Cohasset, MA. Inspired by the innate theology of her own children, Sally has personally experienced Godly Play as a natural foundation for nurturing and deepening our relationships with God and one another.

Accredited as a Godly Play Trainer in 2001, she has guided Godly Play programs in churches in Massachusetts, California, and Colorado. Sally completed a Doctor of Ministry degree in May 2022 and has master’s degrees in nursing and theology. She currently serves as a chaplain and spiritual director where she incorporates Godly Play (of course!)

Areas of Interest: Chaplaincy with Mature Adults, embracing Godly Play at Home, the Wondering Together Project

Location: Portland, ME

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Bird Treacy was introduced to Godly Play in 2013 and has carried it with her ever since as a volunteer at multiple East Coast churches and now as Sunday School Director at St. John the Evangelist in Hingham, MA. As a program director and writer, Bird is passionate about supporting teachers and program leaders in their efforts to include disabled and neurodivergent community members. She lives in Boston with her wife and their four cats.

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, New Programs, Inclusion and Access

Location: Boston, MA

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Location: White Plains, NY

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Location: Massachusets

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Jill Gidlund was introduced to Godly Play in 2008 and since then has found ways to practice Godly Play in many settings; churches, in home groups and even at gatherings at the park. Currently, Jill directs a Godly Play program at Bethel Community Presbyterian Church in San Leandro and also teaches Godly Play at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Castro Valley. In addition to working in churches, Jill has worked as a parent educator in the Bay Area, talking with schools and parent groups about nurturing children’s spirituality. A passion project for Jill is creating home altars and helping others start this practice for themselves. You can find Jill on Instagram @sacred_spots_at_home

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, New Programs, bringing Godly Play into emergent church/progressive evangelical and non-denominational church settings.

Location: Castro Valley, CA

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Diana Pagel considers herself a global citizen born in England and yet living in multiple countries growing up. Diana moved to the US in 1980 and her work in the church in the area of children and family ministry began in 1985 when her first child was four years old. In 1992 she opened the first Godly Play program at the church which became a Center of Excellence offering five Godly Play rooms. In 1999 accredited as a Godly Play Trainer, she served for two years as Director of Training for the Foundation traveling to Canada, the UK, Lebanon, Germany and Turkey to support its development internationally. At this time Diana is a storyteller and coordinates the Godly Play program at First Presbyterian Church of Oakland, California.

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, Advanced Trainings

Location: Orinda, CA

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Cannon Charissa is passionate about helping children to articulate their innate sense of God’s presence, and loves to create opportunities for children and adults to experience and wonder about God. She serves as the Canon for Children and Families at Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Portland and enjoys working and relaxing in her large backyard full of fir trees.

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood

Location: Portland, OR

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Joy was first introduced to Godly Play in 2014 where she fell in love with the program immediately and wondered how she could share and teach this amazing way of being with children. Joy excels at starting new programs and giving them the support to succeed and become a thriving ministry. She often refers to Godly Play as her parenting method and best practice for handling those difficult conversations with children around the existential limits of aloneness, freedom, meaning and death. Joy continues actively teaching in Godly Play circles in Washington state and is also the Creative Director of the Everyday Godly Play, a re-imagining of Godly Play grounded in the wisdom of Christian tradition but applied in interfaith ways.

Location: Lake Stevens, WA

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Raenelle Tauro began her Godly Play journey over 10 years ago as an Associate Director for Children’s Ministry at Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church. Since then, she has continued to work in a variety of settings, supporting children, youth, parents, and educators.

Raenelle became a Godly Play trainer in 2022 and is thrilled to help equip communities in fostering children’s spiritual development. She is passionate about creating environments where children and adults connect through engaging together in the mystery of spirituality and the beauty of wondering.

Some of the things she enjoys in her spare time are hanging out with friends and family, eating good food, and travel adventures.

Location: Concord, CA

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Cannon Jenny Wallace grew up in Montana and currently lives in Honolulu with husband, daughter, and beloved grandchild. Jenny served with St. Andrews Cathedral for 25 years. She has been a Storyteller since 1990s and is active in Godly play locally, nationally, and internationally. Jenny trains in Hawaii and on the mainland as needed.

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, Advanced Training, New Programs, Hospital Chaplaincy, Schools, Episcopal and enjoy working with other denominations and faiths.

Location: Honolulu, HI

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Location: Chehalis, WA

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Sharolyn is a witness to how Godly Play can transform communities, families, and individuals. She has been practicing Godly Play since 1996 and a trainer since 2007. Beyond traditional Godly Play circles, she has special interest in Montessori, liturgy, multi-aged circles, and ecology. Sharolyn is also a pastor in the ELCA.

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, Advanced Training, New Programs, Schools, Lutheran (ELCA) Congregations, Church Ministry

Location: Austin, TX

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Joel grew up in rural western Kansas, literally 100 miles north of Dorothy’s house (from the Wizard of Oz). He received his undergraduate degree in voice performance at Anderson University (Indiana) where he also received his seminary degree. Joel was invited into the Godly Play circle in 2001 by a dear friend and has been sharing stories ever since in churches, schools, and at the university. He has led Godly Play in the churches he has served in Ohio, Indiana, California and most recently Arizona. He serves as an elder in the United Methodist Church and in 2012, was appointed to serve as an associate pastor at Dayspring UMC in Tempe, AZ.

During Covid, Joel became a Master Gardener and is currently working on a project that brings spirituality and earth care together using the Godly Play method. Joel is honored to be a parent of Heidi and Alice and loves to learn about the world from their perspective.

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, Advanced Training, New Programs, Schools, Church Ministry

Location: Phoenix, AZ

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Cynthia Hill, Ph.D., began her journey with Godly Play almost 25 years ago in both Episcopal parish and parish day schools. She currently serves at All Saints' Episcopal Church, Fort Worth, Texas, one of the oldest Godly Play programs in the country. She joined the College of Trainers in 2013 and Dr. Hill serves on the Godly Play Foundation Board.

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, New Programs

Location: Fort Worth, TX

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Teresa Phares is the Children & Youth Coordinator for The Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma, as well as the Summer Camp Director for St. Crispin’s Camp. Teresa holds master’s degrees in both Education and Theology, and has experience as a teacher, Christian Formation Director, and non-profit administrator. For more than five years, Teresa was on staff for the Godly Play Foundation and worked with countless churches, schools, and practitioners to begin, grow, and support Godly Play programs through consulting and training. Teresa especially loves to work with new programs, and on setting up Godly Play spaces!

Areas of Interest: New Programs

Location: Bartlesville, OK

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The Reverend Jana Sundin started practicing in a Godly Play circle in 2006, when her own children were small, and has never stopped. She has worked as a social worker in adoptions and in early childhood mental health, and since 2014 in the Episcopal Bishop's office as the Canon for Children and Youth. Godly Play's approach to nurturing young people and wondering about sacred stories has informed her work every step of the way. Jana has a Master of Social Work degree from Roberts Wesleyan College, a Spiritual Direction certificate from the Haden Institute, and a Master of Theological Studies from Church Divinity School of the Pacific. She is an Episcopal priest, married to a priest, and they have three children, who are all taller than she is now. When she is not working, Jana loves reading, cooking for people, hiking, and making stuff with fabric or yarn.

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, Age- and ability-inclusive worship informed by Godly Play principles.

Location: Phoenix, AZ

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Deacon Courtney Webb is an ordained deacon in the ELCA who serves as a staff chaplain at Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital in Houston, Texas. Courtney started practicing Godly Play at Children’s Medical Center Dallas and became a Trainer in 2021. She loves to share Godly Play stories with people of all ages in clinical and congregational settings. Courtney enjoys reading, collecting all of the plants, and exploring Houston's great outdoors with her husband and their dogs.

Areas of Interest: Middle and Late Childhood, New Programs, Hospital Chaplaincy

Location: Houston, TX

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Carol Ann Weston is a professional Christian educator currently serving as Director of Family Ministries at Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest in Abilene, TX. She attended the University of Texas in Austin, majoring in Education, and Perkins School of Theology at SMU in Dallas, majoring in Christian Education.

She is a “preacher’s kid”, mother of two girls and Grandmommy to two awesome young adults, blessed to live no more than 4 hours from any of her family, including siblings and parents.

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Schools

Location: Abilene, TX

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Location: Denver, CO

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Sarah Bentley Allred, Mdiv, has been telling Godly Play stories since 2012. She lives in the Raleigh/Durham are of North Carolina and works remotely as the Editor of Building Faith & Forma Convener for Lifelong Learning at Virginia Theological Seminary. Sarah loves local coffee shops, board games, the beach, and exploring new places with her husband, Richard, and their dog, Grace. Find out more at sarahbentleyallred.com

Areas of Interest:

Early Childhood, Church Ministry

Location: Wake Forest, NC

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Ashley Bond serves as the Director of Formation at Trinity Episcopal Church in New Orleans, LA, where she develops educational and spiritual programming for children, youth, families, and adults. After crashing a Godly Play Intro Workshop in 2013, she was transformed and knew in the deepest part of her heart that Godly Play is where God was calling her to be. Ashley has since created a Godly Play culture both at the church and school where she serves, built four Godly Play rooms serving children ages 24 months - 5th grade, and integrates Godly Play in as many ways possible as she maps out the vision, strategy and tactical elements of formation programming at her church. Ashley practices Christ Centered Prayer, is a healthy 8w7 on the enneagram, loves animals, and has three daughters, one husband, a dog, and two cats.

Areas of Interest: Early, Middle and Late Childhood, Godly Play in school settings

Location: New Orleans, LA

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Gayle lives just north of New Orleans in Mandeville, Louisiana. She is the mother of four grown children who is blessed to live a busy and occasionally hectic life filled with family, friends, travel and work that she loves. Each week during the school year, she shares Godly Play with several classes of students at Christ Episcopal School (CES). Sundays are often spent in the Godly Play room at Christ Episcopal Church, sharing yet another circle with children. Gayle also enjoys bringing stories to adults at every opportunity. Her other interests include cooking, travel, and reading.

Areas of Interest: Middle and Late Childhood, Schools, Church Ministry

Location: Mandeville, LA

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Toni Daniels is an ordained Pastoral Counselor, Church Planter and Leadership Development Coach serving over 25 years in an international setting.

After founding Godly Play Uruguay during her 18-year missionary career, Toni broadened her impact as Training and Operations Director for LK10. Toni supports leaders through her podcast Joy Fueled and Jesus Led and several books including 4 Keys to Parent Fearlessly and Joy Fueled.

Areas of Interest: Godly Play in House Church Settings. helping Godly Play programs create ongoing communities of practice for mutual support.

Location: Nashville, TN

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Mary Hunter has experience using Godly Play in both church and school settings with children age three through adolescence. She is currently the Trainer in Residence at the Episcopal Cathedral of St. Philip in Atlanta, GA and practices Godly Play with a circle of 1st-3rd graders there.

Areas of Interest:Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, Advanced Training, New Programs, Schools, Church Ministry

Location: Atlanta, GA

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Phyllis Snyder currently serves as Children’s Pastor for the Congregation at Duke University Chapel in Durham, NC, where she enjoys working with children and families. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Zoology from UNC-Chapel Hill and a Master of Church Ministries from Duke University Divinity School, as well as completing three courses in the ‘Spiritual Guidance of Children’ certificate program at General Theological Seminary. Phyllis and her husband live in Chapel Hill, NC and are the proud parents of two grown sons.

Areas of Interest: Early Childhood, Middle and Late Childhood, New Programs, Schools, Church Ministry

Location: Chapel Hill, NC

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Anna Thomas has been mentoring children since 2014. She currently manages the communications for the Godly Play Foundation where she has been since 2018. She is the mother to 5 beautifully wild children, and is married to Ben who serves as Assistant Rector and Theologian in Residence at St. Gregory’s Episcopal Church. She regularly builds Godly Play circles together with children of all ages, including monthly family services and new comer’s classes. She loves novels, children’s books, her greyhound, traveling, and good thunderstorms. Anna is also a Godly Play Foundation Trainer.

Areas of Interest: New Programs, Early Childhood, Godly Play with families

Location: Boca Raton, FL

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Location: Lookout Mountain, TN

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Location: Decatur, GA

Contact Christen

Location: Charlotte, NC

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Location: Greensboro, NC

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