Equipping college students for missions

The Palmetto Collective is a group of college juniors and seniors from campuses across South Carolina who are passionate about being missional leaders for the gospel. It's a unique experience where devoted followers of Jesus are equipped for a lifetime of fruitful mission and ministry as a leader for Jesus in any realm of society. Palmetto Collective students discover God's mission in the world and in their lives through studying God's word together, sharing with ministry mentors, participating in leadership retreats, and serving in mission opportunities around the world during school breaks, summers, and even two years after college.

The ideal Palmetto Collective candidate is a rising college level junior who has been transformed by the gospel, is significantly involved in their local church and has a deep desire to grow in Christlikeness. They should have a passion to saturate others with the gospel - beginning locally and extending to the ends of the earth. It's for those with a call to full-time ministry or international missions as well as those who want to use a secular profession to advance the gospel. In other words, the Palmetto Collective is for students who are passionate about Jesus and want to be missional leaders wherever God leads them.

Students enter into a discipleship cohort, working on monthly studies and projects developed by top-level church leaders in SC. PC students will be connected with a local mentor who will help them process what they are learning and experiencing with oneon-one discipleship meetings. Once a month, the cohort will meet virtually and/or in person to discuss that month’s focus and to hear from national and international leaders. Over-night retreats are planned to connect with other students who are also passionate about pursuing Christ and making Him famous around the world. During Christmas break, the Palmetto Collective will dive into a mission intensive (likely in a diverse and urban context) to deepen learning and engagement with the missionary task. Transportation, lodging and meals are provided for this experience. During the summer break between their junior and senior years, students will be encouraged to serve in Baptist ministry and mission settings. For those raising money to serve during the summer, Palmetto Collective grants will be available to help with some of the costs of that service. After graduation, students will receive up to $5,000 for two years of mission engagement after college – either through IMB or NAMB’s Journeyman program or a Go2 experience in North America (typically serving with a church planting team in a strategic city).

You must be a rising college-level junior attending a South Carolina college or university in order to apply for the Palmetto Collective. The goal would be that you complete the two-year discipleship process of the Palmetto Collective over the course of your junior and senior years.

Ideally, Palmetto Collective students are either a member of a South Carolina Baptist Church, involved in a local SBC church or a Baptist Collegiate Ministry on their local SC college campus. Feel free to contact our offices with any questions related to this eligibility requirement.

The Palmetto Collective is designed for all students who want to be missional leaders wherever God leads them. The central question we emphasize during your 2 years in PC is this: "Where is the most strategic place I can be after graduation for Jesus?" We would love all PC students to be open to exploring those 2-year opportunities after graduation but pursuing those is not required.

No. We would love to capitalize on existing mentorship and discipleship relationships. If you already meet regularly with an older believer for discipleship and they are willing to walk through the Palmetto Collective material with you, then that relationship could work for PC! The Palmetto Collective leaders will work with all PC students in approving and securing mentors.

Each week, students can anticipate 2-4 hours of time needed to be fully engaged in the work of Palmetto Collective. Participation in overnight retreats and mission intensives would be in addition to the weekly time commitment.

To put it simply, being a part of the Palmetto Collective will provide you with the opportunity to be intentionally discipled within the context of the local church, grow in community with like-minded believers, further your walk with the Lord, and pursue missional opportunities in your current season of life and beyond.