Marketplace
May 11-15, 2026
Step Into Living History — Help Bring Marketplace to Life
Marketplace A.D. returns the week of May 11, 2026, and we are recruiting a large, coordinated volunteer base to execute the experience at scale. This is not a passive event; it is a fully immersive, multi-day simulation of life during the time of Jesus, and its operational complexity depends directly on volunteer participation.
Execution requires 200+ volunteers across multiple campuses, rotations, and activity stations. Without sufficient staffing, the program cannot operate at its intended level of fidelity.
Volunteers are embedded directly into the student experience and are responsible for facilitating:
- Activity stations (crafts, storytelling, games)
- Tribe guidance and student movement
- Instructional support during rotations
- Setup, transitions, and logistics
No prior experience is required. Roles are predefined and assigned.
What Is Marketplace?
Marketplace is a structured, experiential learning program for students in grades K–3. Over five days, students are assigned to one of the twelve tribes of Israel and rotate through historically grounded activities including:
- Craft production (pottery, jewelry, instruments, spices)
- Hebrew language exposure and cultural instruction
- Music, dance, and storytelling
- Tribe-based learning and community building
- A large outdoor market simulation
The program has been in place for decades and has evolved into a cornerstone educational experience. It is frequently described as “VBS multiplied by 100” due to its scale and immersion .
Time Commitment and Structure
Marketplace runs the full week of May 11–15, 2026, with volunteer shifts distributed across:
- Opening activities
- Games and Athletics
- Crafts and Activities under the tent
- Closing celebration events
No experience is necessary!
Impact of Participation
Marketplace is designed to move beyond abstract instruction. It creates a tactile, memory-based framework for understanding biblical history. Students consistently retain and reference these experiences long after the event concludes, particularly in areas such as cultural practices, tribal identity, and historical context .
Volunteer participation directly influences:
- Program continuity and scale
- Student engagement quality
- Safety and logistical efficiency
EBL Registration
Registration link for EBL students, for transportation and lunch order. Required for all EBL students.