I have the great privilege today of introducing you to Melinda Wenner Bradley. Melinda was the instructor for a Godly Play training my husband Scott and I participated in this summer. We attended the training in hopes of using Godly Play with children at our church, and it certainly equipped us well for that. 

I also discovered though in our time with Melinda the value of being drawn into a story myself in this way and encouraging my own wonder, as well as the value of cultivating a deeper appreciation for the ways children can interact with God through engaging with stories from scripture, utilizing their own God-given curiosity. Melinda has a deep respect for children that radiates through her work with Godly Play, and the many, many stories she could tell about the incredible insights she’s heard from children as they participate in Godly Play.     

I thought I would also share a phrase I learned from Melinda that has really stuck with me since our training. It was just used naturally in the course of leading our sessions, not as a tool for Godly Play. The phrase, though, is that “we have all the time we need, it just may not be right now.” I’ve taken up repeating that phrase to myself, which has helped calm my own sense of frenzy that can get in the way of connectedness with God in the course of a day. Melinda teaches through her way of being as well as through the content she’s presenting, and I’m so excited she’s here with us today.

Mikhal Szabo, HOPE International
Shared with permission

I am the clerk of the Religious Education Committee of Richmond (VA) Friends Meeting.  We used funds from our Meeting’s mini-grant program for Melinda Wenner Bradley to train seven of our children’s teachers in the “Playing in the Light” program. Because it was the middle of the Covid pandemic, Melinda designed a hybrid course consisting of Zoom lessons and one short in-person weekend in Richmond.  The highlight of the weekend was Melinda being the storyteller for a lesson with us, our kids, and their parents, all together.

The seven of us believe that this training invigorated our First Day School and was one of the best decisions our committee ever made.  Melinda showed us how to create a spiritual, child-centered space that allows everyone, even the adults, to open up to their Inner Light.  The training brought us together as a team committed to this curriculum on a monthly basis for years to come.

One of our goals was to find a way to have all the age groups (3-14 yrs.) in a single lesson, not only to strengthen our sense of community, but also to give other teachers a break.  At first we couldn’t believe this would work.  But now I can assure you it is amazing!

Finally, Melinda is a very effective teacher, easy to work with, responsive, warm and genuine. She truly understood our needs and we were very satisfied with the experience.  We highly recommend her and “Playing in the Light”.     

Monica Shaw, Richmond Friends Meeting
Shared with permission

"Your training has really made me want to be more involved with the children in my meeting and just made getting involved seem more accessible."

“First, I wanted to thank you for an excellent program. It was impactful in so many ways, and much of that is credited to your wise, skillful, and loving approach to the stories and the Godly Play experience.”

“It was a super spiritually nourishing weekend that got all sorts of creative energy going. It's also causing me to consider children's spiritual health in a way I never have before.”

“I appreciate Melinda's experience as a teacher and sharing about interacting with children in the setting of learning. I am quite grateful for the level of expertise, preparation, and thought that went into the seminar. Thanks.”