Record Turnout at Kentucky Youth Evangelism Summit

Annual event focused on Gospel-centered teaching, spiritual growth, and equipping students to reach Kentucky and the world for Christ.

Published on Feb. 17, 2026

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The Kentucky Baptist Convention's Youth Evangelism Summit (YES!) set an attendance record for the fifth consecutive year, with 1,337 middle and high school students gathering at Hillvue Heights Church in Bowling Green, Kentucky on February 6-7, 2026. The high-energy event featured Gospel-centered teaching, spiritual growth sessions, and equipping students to live out their faith and share it with others.

Why it matters

The Youth Evangelism Summit is a key event for equipping the next generation of Kentucky Baptist youth to be on mission for Christ. With record attendance, it demonstrates the growing interest and commitment among young people to deepen their faith and learn how to effectively evangelize in their communities and beyond.

The details

The summit included large-group sessions led by Shane Pruitt, the National Next Gen director for the North American Mission Board, as well as 24 breakout sessions focused on topics like Scripture, spiritual disciplines, addressing doubts, purposeful online engagement, evangelism, and worship. Students also had opportunities for small group prayer and discussion to process what they were learning.

  • The 2026 Youth Evangelism Summit took place on February 6-7.
  • The 2027 Youth Evangelism Summit is scheduled for February 5-6 at Hillvue Heights Church.

The players

Kentucky Baptist Convention

The state-level Baptist convention that organizes the annual Youth Evangelism Summit.

Shane Pruitt

The National Next Gen director for the North American Mission Board who led the main sessions at the 2026 summit.

Hillvue Heights Church

The church in Bowling Green, Kentucky that hosted the 2026 and will host the 2027 Youth Evangelism Summit.

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What they’re saying

“YES! is the premier event for my students to receive quality biblical teaching that is both practical and relevant to their lives.”

— Ben Fitzgerald, Student Pastor, Yellow Creek Baptist Church (Baptist Press)

“Shane urged students at YES! to anchor their lives in the true Gospel of Scripture. With biblical precision, he confronted the empty claims of cultural Christianity and commissioned students to courageously follow Christ in a culture that resists Him.”

— Jake Hancock, Conference Team Member and Campus Minister, Eastern Kentucky University (Baptist Press)

What’s next

The 2027 Youth Evangelism Summit is scheduled for February 5-6 at Hillvue Heights Church in Bowling Green, Kentucky.

The takeaway

The record attendance at the Kentucky Baptist Convention's Youth Evangelism Summit demonstrates the growing commitment among young people to deepen their faith and learn how to effectively share the Gospel in their communities and beyond. This event is equipping the next generation of Kentucky Baptist youth to be bold witnesses for Christ.