We exist to equip disciples and ministry leaders in the character and competencies of Jesus for the purpose of multiplication.

 Our Story

Our Story

In January of 2021, the leadership of Fellowship Greenville and Summit were dreaming of what it would look like to join together to reach the Upstate with the good news of the gospel. For many years there has been affinity and common heart between the two churches and both sets of elders decided that now was the time to formalize a strategic partnership. 

The events of last year highlighted that popular culture as a whole is not just apathetic to church, but increasingly hostile. America’s post-Christian trajectory has never been more apparent. Research from Barna suggests that in just twelve months, we experienced a decline in the church attendance that was expected to take more than a decade. 

This new reality, combined with a swell of an increasingly unchurched population in the Upstate, has brought a sense of urgency to the gospel need. With the realization that we can accomplish a lot more together than we can apart, the leadership of both churches have initiated the formation of a strategic, city wide collective, that can pool personnel, resources, and expertise. Together, with much prayer, intentionality, and God’s help, we believe the collective will produce a legacy of leaders that will shape the Upstate for generations.  



Our vision is for churches partnering together to:

   Equip disciples to make disciples through accessible tools and coaching.


   Develop ministry leaders in their gifting and calling for greater influence in the local church.


    Plant multiple new expressions of the church and revitalize those already in existence.


      Support existing church leaders for faithful, lifelong leadership.



Mission: We exist to equip disciples and ministry leaders in the character and competencies of Jesus for the purpose of multiplication.

Churches partnering together to:

  • Equip disciples to make disciples through accessible tools and coaching.
  • Develop ministry leaders in their gifting and calling for greater influence in the local church.
  • Plant multiple new expressions of the church and revitalize those already in existence.
  • Support existing church leaders for faithful, lifelong leadership.

Anyone who is a follower of Jesus who wants to grow in their character and competencies of making disciples.

Partner churches include Fellowship Greenville and Summit Church along with other participating churches across the Upstate.

While it is not necessary for your church to be a partner for you to participate, we would love for them to join in. If your church is interested, please contact us HERE.

We offer two-10 month sessions (Disciple & Lead) throughout the year. Each Track meets twice monthly on Sunday evenings. Each gathering is an inductive learning environment consisting of Transformational Input, Personal Integration and Ministry Integration. Each participant is part of a cohort led by an experienced coach who personally walks with you through the journey including connections outside of Sunday training sessions. We also participate in Immersive Ministry Experiences across the Upstate.

Disciple: 10 month training for anyone wanting to be equipped to make disciples.

Lead: 10 month training to develop ministry leaders in their gifting and calling for greater influence in the local church.

Multiply: 18-24 month residency for anyone wanting to serve the local church full time, bi-vocationally or co-vocationally through new and existing churches.

For more information visit our Tracks page.


We offer an 18-24 month residency (Multiply) to equip leaders. We help individuals discern gifting and calling as well as ongoing coaching and support.

The Upstate Church Collective is resourced by churches and generous donors. Your generosity makes it possible for us to pursue the vision of raising up healthy leaders, plant new churches and revitalize existing churches in every corner of the Upstate. For more information visit the give page.

Appointed leaders from each of the partner churches provide visionary, strategic, theological and financial oversight to the collective.

America’s post-Christian trajectory has never been more apparent. This new reality, combined with a swell of an increasingly unchurched population in the Upstate has brought a sense of urgency to the gospel need in our geography. We need new expressions of the church to reach every man, woman, and child in the Upstate. We believe it will take every church in the Upstate partnering together to reach the upstate with the good news of Jesus.

You can participate for free.

We meet from August - May and have a summer break before the next year begins.



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As a legacy church, we were looking for ways to leverage our experience and our resources most effectively to influence a generation of leaders. The UCC gives us the chance to invest in leaders and planters who will carry our DNA and innovate new expressions of the church that will reach people that will never walk through our doors.

– Rob Marks, Executive Pastor

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Summit Church began with a desire to see the Upstate saturated with the gospel of Jesus Christ. We never believed that was something we could accomplish alone, but rather needed all of God’s people (the Church) to see this vision fulfilled. UCC is a welcomed partnership and answer to prayer!

– Kyle Estepp, Teaching Pastor