Pastor Brandon Austin started an experience of what it would be like in 29 A.D. with the simple blow of a Jewish Shofar.

And the entire flock congregated at St. Paul’s United Methodist Church for “A Bibletimes Experience” during the Vacation Bible School that runs through Friday night.

With the construction of a Judean marketplace that helps enhance the experience – complete with a bakery, a carpenter, a scribe that teaches how to write Hebrew on a traditional paper roll – the congregation got a closer feel of what it feels like to be a Jewish villager just after Jesus Christ walked the earth.

“Any time you get to teach kids history it’s a great thing,” said Stuart Peters, who worked on the scribes for the kids. “It keeps tradition alive, and that’s important.”

Randy Goodwin, who staffed the booth that made the world’s oldest toy – a kite – had a simpler version of why he enjoyed doing what he was doing.

“For me it’s all about seeing the kids smile,” said the self-proclaimed ‘Kite Master.’ “That makes it all worthwhile, and it gives people a chance to come together and have a good time.”

According to Austin, the event helps build relationships in the church community, and by dressing up in garb from the era and practicing the same Jewish rites of the era, the event almost becomes a spiritual immersion – allowing people to learn things that they didn’t know.

“It’s a very interactive idea, and it’s something that we’re going to do again next couple of years,” said the pastor who joined the church just about a year ago.

“An event like this shows people what the Bible was actually like, and that’s an experience that a lot of people aren’t going to forget any time soon.”