GRR American Baptist Youth – The Gathering – November 6-8, 2026
November 6 @ 8:00 am – 5:00 pm CST
“The Gathering” 2026
First Baptist Church of Pontiac
Dear Youth Pastor/Youth Leader,
We are excited to announce that the 2026 ABY Gathering will be held November 6th-8th at the First Baptist Church of Pontiac! This year’s theme is “Connect” and we can’t wait for you and your youth group to join us for an inspiring weekend of worship, fellowship, and service.
Online registration is now open—simply follow the link at the bottom of this page to sign up. The cost to attend is $50 per student and $35 per adult leader. Included in this packet, you’ll find the event schedule, waivers, and other important details to help with your planning. Feel free to make copies of the forms for your students. There is also a QR code to find all the information and a registration link.
We are also excited to offer an opportunity for students to apply for a position on the event board! This year, students in grades 9-11 are eligible to interview. If you have any interested students, they should email their application to Joyce at auntbean930@gmail.com or bring a paper copy with them on Friday night. Interviews will take place on Saturday evening.
For accommodations, there are three in the area, but we encourage you to secure lodging early as the local hotels fill up quickly.
We are thrilled to announce that Andre Britten will be our speaker this year! Andre is a full time accountant, and has served as the Youth Pastor at First Baptist Church in Rantoul, IL, for the last 9 years and counting! He also spends time coaching football at Rantoul Township High school. Andre is married to high school sweetheart Staci, and together they have two sons, Isaiah and Josiah. He’s passionate about investing his time in the lives of young people. You will find him every summer counseling Sr. High camp at Lake Springfield Baptist Camp! He loves watching his favorite sports teams and reading a good book. His favorite scripture is Romans 5:8 because of how God demonstrated his love while we were still sinners!
In addition to inspiring worship sessions, we will offer break-out groups tailored to both junior high/middle school and high school students. We will also provide mission opportunities for your students to serve the local community, allowing them to put their faith into action.
We are looking forward to a powerful weekend of growth in faith and fellowship. If you have any questions or need additional information, please don’t hesitate to reach out.
We can’t wait to see you and your youth in November!
Blessings,
The ABY Gathering Board Members:
Kathy Hutchins, Jacob Chase, Joe Mann, Joyce Wells-Mann, Drew Phillips, Andre Britten, Natalie Thiems, Michelle Wiggins
For general questions contact:
Pastor Jacob Chase at jacobmarkchase@gmail.com or at 309-409-9847
For youth board application questions contact: Joyce at auntbean930@gmail.com
Attached:
- Waiver
- Schedule
- Youth Board Application
- Flyer
- Hotel List
- QR Code for registration link
Each student needs a signed waiver in order to attend the event.
Or, find complete documents here:
