Through conversations with the creators of the Daring Way (Brene Brown), Godly Play (Jerome Berryman), and a chorus of children I hope to compose an innovative model that can be applied to congregational life.

The Daring Way by Brene Brown offers a path for congregational living that is wholehearted and "like a child" as Jesus charged us to be. Jerome Berryman's Godly Play allows both adults and children to learn a shared language for our faith so we can speak of wonder and grace and awe. To combine these two powerful, shapeshifting mindsets could lead us to a new way and reason for being church.

Brown’s model for Wholehearted Living embodies the attributes of a community that is practicing their faith to “become like a child.” Her 10 Guideposts for Healthy Living: cultivate authenticity, self compassion, a resilient spirit, gratitude and joy, intuition and trusting faith, creativity, play and rest, calm and stillness, meaningful work, and laughter song and dance.

These Guideposts for wholehearted living replace the shame and consumer/producer mindset that is often an unintended yet strong presence in organized religion. To cultivate a wholehearted approach to congregational life also invites and encourages us to practice our faith in a way that more resembles the vulnerable faith of a child.

Godly Play provides a fresh approach to teaching the gospel as it moves away from the idea that children are empty vessels waiting to be filled with information by religious teachers. It instead affirms the notion that children are whole spiritual beings that can teach and inform adults and the entire faith community. Godly Play involves children and adults as guides moving together toward fluency in the art of knowing how to use Christian language to nourish their moral and spiritual development. Such a fundamental discovery enriches all aspects of church life and shows the way to the kingdom.