No one should be required to wear costumes, but costumes help create the environment and will set the tone for fun and authenticity. It could be as simple as a color-coded tribal bandanna, a simple tunic, or even a bathrobe. Costuming is a fun part of Jerusalem Marketplace because it’s a simple way to encourage your staff to “play their parts” and exciting for participants to “dress” each other in Bible-times costumes.

Hammer and nails are not required! Creating a Bible-times village doesn’t have to be a lot of work. Canopies, blankets, and a well are the basic “sets” you’ll use. Gather sheets, baskets, and pots to create shops and see your Marketplace come alive. Cement blocks and steel rods are all you need to create a well for the daily dramas. And our field test showed us that Jerusalem Marketplace works indoor or outdoors!

You bet. Although the activities have been designed for and tested by families, you can create Jerusalem Marketplace just for kids. Simply form combined-age elementary Tribes, including one or two kids from each age level, along with an adult or teenage Tribe Leader and Assistant Tribe Leader. Mixed-age Tribes will still maintain a family feel. If you want to include preschoolers, create smaller Tribes of five children to one Tribe Leader.

Yes! If time constraints only allow you to do a 4-day program, simply omit the Day 1 activities. If you need to hold a shorter event, condense Days 4 and 5 (Jesus' death and resurrection) into one day. Even if you condense your schedule, be sure to send home the Jerusalem News for each day, since the activities will help everyone connect Bible truths to everyday life.

Group has kept all the wonderful multi-sensory learning as well as the important Bible-time information that was already part of the original Marketplace 29 A.D. program. However, we've simplified the shop setup so anyone can do it; we've added simple dramas that connect with one memorable Bible Point and Bible story; and we've included exciting, new music. Most importantly, we've created dynamic, unforgettable small-group activities and discussions that connect Jerusalem Marketplace experiences to everyday life. These life-application activities make the program truly life-changing!

If you have fewer than 50 participants, you’ll just have fewer Tribes. And since you’ll have fewer people exploring the Marketplace shops, you’ll require fewer shops. (Of course, you’re welcome to have them all.) You will still set up a Synagogue School and a Village Playground area.

Crafts, as well as a number of other resources, are sold only in packages. Because processing individual units is complex and time consuming, packaging crafts in quantity brings down the cost for you. We have reduced most package counts to 10 units to reduce the number of “extra” units you may encounter.

Because we receive product prepackaged from our vendors, we are unable to process returns of opened or partially used packages. If you do find yourself with a few extras, use them as special gift surprises for Sunday school, for siblings of students, or for those who couldn't attend VBS.

Yes. Each child and adult will need a set of the newspapers. Each newspaper is filled with faith-stretching questions, journaling, and comparisons between Bible-times life and life today. The Jerusalem News allows everyone to apply Bible truth to real life!

When you purchase a Jerusalem Marketplace CD, you also buy the right to use the 5 songs. You’re welcome to play these songs as often as you like. Making your own copies—even to use at your VBS—is against the law, which is a fact many people don’t know.

At a Networking Party you’ll join other VBS directors from your area and explore how Jerusalem Marketplace works. You’ll share ideas, network, and get hands-on training from one of Group’s VBS specialists. Check the catalog or the Parties page for locations.

Our VBS team plays an integral role in every field test. Editors become crew leaders, artists volunteer as station leaders, and marketing managers help decorate the sanctuary. This allows us to see each aspect of the program first-hand...and make changes during the program. Since we all jump in and get involved, we try to choose a church that's within driving distance from our northern Colorado office. Each year, we select a different host church so we can test a variety of settings, denominations, church volunteers, and kids. Field testing is part of the "secret formula" that makes each Group VBS amazing! We make the mistakes so you don't have to!

We’ve chosen to use the New Living Translation (NLT) because it’s kid-friendly and easy to understand.