GROWING in Faith, Not Debt


Colleges are recognized for distinct qualities. Whether written or unwritten, every school is most known for its niche in the higher education sector. Over 128 years, North Greenville University has earned a reputation for equipping transformational Christian leaders.


The reputation was reinforced when 11 NGU students received the inaugural Palmetto Collective Scholarship from the South Carolina Baptist Convention. SCBC Director of Collegiate Ministries Chad Stillwell announced the NGU re- cipients during a Baptist Collegiate Ministries meeting during the 2020-21 year.


“The PC is more than a prestigious ministry scholarship. It is for a select squad of Christian college students from across the state who are deeply committed to leading out in ministry in the tumultuous days ahead,” said Joshua Gilmore, NGU’s BCM director. “The PC offers a ministry experience like no other. These select students are not only being discipled by prominent leaders within the SCBC, but they are also dedicated to leading and serving in ministry both locally and globally: in semester, over school breaks, and after graduation.”


Several years before the Palmetto Collective was launched, Jody Jennings, NGU vice president for campus ministries and stu- dent engagement, had a dream to partner with the SCBC to generate a pipeline that prepares students to engage in effective ministry both foreign and domestic. Ken Owens with the SCBC took Jennings’s dream seriously and brainstorming began. Select ministers from across the state rose to the occasion, bringing the program into existence.


“Isaiah 6:8 says: ‘Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, Here am I. Send me.’ Students at BCM are putting their ‘yes’ on the table and saying along with the prophets of old “Here am I. Send me,” said Gilmore.


A total of 21 Palmetto Collective scholarships were available for the Palmetto Collective this year. Out of the 30 Baptist Collegiate Ministries in the state of South Carolina, NGU produced more than half of the recipients. NGU’s recip- ients are Emily Felton from Inman, Drew Golden from Travelers Rest, Levie Land from Travelers Rest, Bethany Manley from Florence, Gideon Owens from Simpsonville, Hannah Rankin from Travelers Rest, Drew Reynolds from Simp- sonville, Carrie Rust from Greenwood, and Mandie Trainer from Anderson.


Stillwell said the ideal Palmetto Collective candidate is someone who has been transformed by the Gospel, is significantly involved in the life of their local church and has a deep desire to grow in their Christlikeness.


“They should have a passion for saturating others with the Gospel, beginning locally and extending to the ends of the earth,” said Stillwell. “The scholarship is for those with a call to full-time ministry or overseas missions and those pur- suing secular professions. In other words, students who want to be missional leaders wherever God leads them. Students are recommended to apply via their campus minister or college pastor.”


The selected students entered a discipleship cohort, working on monthly stud- ies and projects developed by top-level church leaders across South Carolina.


“The students are connected with a local mentor who will help them process what they are learning and experiencing with one-on-one discipleship meetings. Once a month, the cohort will meet virtually to discuss that month’s focus and to hear from national and international leaders,” Stillwell said.


At mid-year, during Christmas break, the Palmetto Collective dives into a mission intensive to deepen learning and engage- ment with the missionary task. During the summer break between their junior and senior years, students are 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 defray some of the costs of that service.


After graduation, students will receive up to $5,000 for two years of mission en- gagement 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). Each recipient was given a small stone globe by Still- well as a reminder that “God’s focus is on the lost in the world and on the two billion people on this planet who have little or no access to the Gospel.”


NGU continues to make a major impact for South Carolina Baptists. For the 2021-22 school year, 17 NGU students were awarded the Palmetto Collective out of the 20 awards given.


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