Winter Youth Summit 2026
Friday, January 16-Sunday, January 18, 2026 | First Baptist Church Huntsville
At WYS 2026, we’ll explore being fully KNOWN and loved by God. Rooted in John 15:12–17, our theme reminds us that Jesus calls us friends—not strangers, not servants—and invites us to live in God's love. Together, we'll worship, explore missions, fellowship, and have plenty of fun. Come ready to be seen, known, and transformed.
“12 My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. 13 Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. 16 You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. 17 This is my command: Love each other.” John 15:12-17
Event Leadership
Ben Winder
For the last three years, Ben Winder has served as the Pastor of First Baptist Church of St. Petersburg, Florida. Before this role, he spent 16 years in youth ministry roles in CBF partner churches in Tennessee, Texas, and Alabama. Ben still has a passion for connecting students to the Gospel and helping them grow to be all God is calling them to become. He is a graduate of Baylor University’s Truett Seminary. He and his wife, Laura Beth, have two sons, Levi (8) and Luke (4).
Mission House
Born in 2015 out of a community of friends gathered in living rooms and basements, Mission House is the creative delta formed by artists Jess Ray and Taylor Leonhardt. Aside from being the only female duo in the modern worship space, Mission House are set apart from other artists and groups by how they’ve been building songs that truly thrive in gatherings. Both Jess and Taylor are phenomenal storytellers, drawing people to who they and the community they are building not only through their songs, but also on stage and screen.
Cost, Meals, & Accommodations
Early Bird Rate: $79
July 15-August 15
Regular Registration Rate: $89
August 15-October 15
Late Registration Rate: $99
October 15-November 15
November 15: Final Numbers Due
T-Shirt Sizes Due
Hotel Accomodations-Embassy Suites, Huntsville
Meals
Your conference fee includes:
Dinner on Friday and Saturday
Lunch on Saturday (served from food trucks at FBC Huntsville and covered by your fee)
Several snack opportunities throughout the weekend
Students may want to bring cash if they'd like to purchase extra snacks or food from the food trucks.
Breakfast: Each group is responsible for their own breakfast both mornings. If you’re staying at Embassy Suites, a complimentary breakfast is included with your stay.
For WYS 2026 each church group will need to make their own reservations with Embassy Suites, Huntsville. Our conference rate is $174. All rooms are suite style and come with hot, made-to-order breakfast for free. This hotel is also within walking distance of FBC Huntsville.
Limited number of rooms are reserved, so make your reservation soon. The discount expires 12/1/25.
Booking Link: Alabama CBF Retreat
*Refund Policy
A deposit of $40 per participant will be required at the time of registration. All deposits are non-refundable but are partially transferable. We will allow deposit funds for up to 5 cancellations to be applied towards your final balance on or before November 15, 2025.
Payments can be made online (see link below) or they can be mailed to:
Winter Youth Summit
Alabama CBF, PO Box 361864, Hoover, AL 35236
Schedule: Friday, January 16th
5:30PM Group Leader Check-In
6:30 PM Doors Open - First Baptist Huntsville*
7:00 PM Dinner - FBCHSV
8:00 PM Opening Worship – Life Center
9:00 PM Group Leader meeting
9:15 PM Games and Ice Cream
10:00 PM Church Group Time
10:30 PM Return to Hotel / Host Home
Schedule: Saturday, January 17th
7:00-9:00 AM Breakfast (On your own)
8:00 AM Morning Exercise Options
10:00 AM Morning Worship – Life Center
11:00 AM Break
11:15 AM Breakout Session 1
12:30 PM A Food Truck Lunch
1:45 PM Breakout Session 2
3:00 PM Free Time in the Rocket City
6:00 PM Dinner - FBCHSV
7:00 PM Evening Worship – Life Center
8:15 PM Break
8:30 PM Party
9:15 PM Milk, Cookies, and Fellowship
9:45 PM Church Group Time
10:30 PM Return to Hotel / Host Home
Schedule: Sunday, January 18th
9:00 AM Breakfast
10:00 AM Closing Worship – Life Center
11:15 AM Large Group Picture (In Event T-shirt)
11:30 AM Glad You Came. Safe Travels!
*Check-in is at First Baptist Church Huntsville, starting at 5:30pm on Friday, January 16. One or two adult representatives of your group may pick up your T-shirts, name tags, and conference information starting at 5:30pm. Doors open for students at 6:30pm. Please use Entrance 7 to enter and leave the building during the weekend.
Stay and Play in Huntsville.
There is something for everyone in Huntsville. Click here for a list of activities, restaurants, and shopping suggestions.
About our Host Church: First Baptist Church Huntsville
As a church, First Baptist Church Huntsville is known for its Mosaic of Jesus, but they are made of people. People like you. People who- like tiles of a mosaic- are all different and perhaps even a bit “rough around the edges.” But also people who together do their best to project a beautiful and memorable image of Jesus to the community. As their website says, “There's always a place for you - no matter your own shape, size, color, or state of brokenness. That's the beauty of a mosaic.”