Jarrett Huddleston Receives Alta Woods Baptist Church Scholarship

Mississippi College freshman Jarrett Huddleston of Ridgeland

Jarrett Huddleston becomes the first recipient of the Alta Woods Baptist Church Scholarship.

Funds from the Jackson church will help the Mississippi College freshman pay for his education to pursue the ministry.

The Christian Studies major is delighted to recently be selected the first recipient. The award provides about $1,300 for the first academic year. The funds will enable the Ridgeland resident to pay some of his college costs on his journey to become a youth pastor.

Starting classes this Fall at America’s second oldest Baptist college fulfilled a dream for Jarrett. “I’ve loved it. I like the great Christian atmosphere,” he says. “It is like no other. There are so many people who love the Lord at MC.”

Mississippi College’s ties to the 72-year-old Baptist church in the capital city are strong. Burn Page, who chairs MC’s Christian Studies Department, serves as the church’s pastor. He worked as the church’s interim pastor five years prior to that. Dr. Page also is the director of the Institute for Christian Leadership based at Provine Chapel.

Page and MC Vice President for Advancement Bill Townsend joined with church deacons, including acting chair Shellie Bailey, to announce the scholarship in November 2018. It is open only to applicants who are Christian Studies majors at MC.

Folks at Alta Woods Baptist Church made gifts to create the scholarship in memory of a friend or family member.

Alta Woods Baptist Church seeks to reach people for Christ in a variety of ways. Its diverse missions extend to the Blair E. Batson Children’s ministry in Jackson, the women’s prison ministry, Operation Christmas Child and the Port Ministry in New Orleans, to name a few.

The church in south Jackson is located at 168 Colonial Drive. Jarrett Huddleston is expected to stop by the church one Sunday to share his testimony.

The son of Missy and Glenn Huddleston, Jarrett is a member of First Baptist Church Ridgeland. During his junior year at Ridgeland High, he surrendered his life to the ministry. He soon discovered what Mississippi College offered, just a few miles away in Clinton.

“What drew me to MC was that it felt like home,” Jarrett Huddleston said. “You can feel the genuine Christian community just walking around on campus. It is just so important to be surrounded by so many people that have the same passion as me, growing closer and closer to God every day.”

Jarrett is a member of the Shawreth club at Mississippi College. It provides Christian fellowship and brotherhood for male students as well as offering leadership training through service.

Since June 2016, Alta Woods Baptist Church has partnered with Jackson’s New Jerusalem Baptist Church. Both churches share the 1,200-seat sanctuary and other facilities on the Alta Woods campus. Both Mississippi churches are committed to a common mission to serve the cause of Christ.