Our beautiful Palmetto Campus became a reality in 1995 when our beloved founders, Pastor Wendell and Miss Nancy Wilson, along with the support and favor of the Board, purchased the property. This 10-acre campus provided the opportunity to fulfill a long-standing vision: creating a larger location for continued growth while offering housing for more men in a loving, family-centered environment. Over the following years, our original Bradenton campus, established in 1984, gradually transitioned to Palmetto. Pastor Wendell began bringing that vision to life by transforming the property’s existing three-car garage into a large chapel where residents could gather daily to experience the love and presence of Jesus.

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In 1998, renovations began on an additional garage building that was converted into residential housing for up to 15 residents. Though it was only the beginning of many future developments, it marked an important step forward in the growth of the ministry. Today, we have proudly called this campus home for more than 28 years.

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The Palmetto Campus also became home to our International Headquarters offices, as well as the primary residence of Pastor Wendell and Miss Nancy until they went to Heaven in 2016. Since then, with the help of our incredible leadership team and faithful partners, the residents have moved into the 5,000-square-foot home on the property. Over the years, many updates and improvements have been made to create a welcoming place where men can find hope, healing, restoration, and the love of a true family environment — something that continues to set our mission apart.

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This beautiful property offers plenty of space for outdoor activities enjoyed by the men, including basketball, pickleball, swimming, running, gardening, and automotive repair and maintenance projects. Its location also provides easy access to surrounding cities throughout Manatee County, where we have been blessed to build strong relationships with local churches, community leaders, business owners, and longtime residents. The support from our local community continues to grow, and we are deeply grateful for every partnership that helps us continue the mission of saving our sons.

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The warmth and generosity of this community can be felt throughout the campus. Today, the property can accommodate up to 18 residents and six on-campus staff members. Together, our team and residents work diligently to maintain the beauty of the property and create an atmosphere where the love of the Lord is experienced daily by everyone who lives here or visits.

If you have never visited the campus where this mission truly began, we would love to welcome you for a tour.

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As we look toward the future, the Palmetto property still holds great potential for continued growth. Some of the dreams for the future include adding transitional housing for men graduating from the 18-month program as they move into staff training, aftercare, or vocational opportunities. There are also hopes of building expanded headquarters offices and larger meeting spaces to better serve the ministry for years to come.

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The Palmetto Campus became the foundation and model that helped launch the additional campuses we operate today, while also paving the way for future locations in the years ahead.