The Baptist Student Union ministry at Copiah-Lincoln Community College has welcomed a new leader in Jedd Moak.

The Brookhaven native takes the helm after the longtime ministry of Bruce Brady, who retired after the past academic year.

A graduate of Co-Lin and Mississippi State University, Moak previously worked with the BSU at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College for five years (four as assistant, one as full-time director), before spending two years in Rwanda, Africa, as a missionary with his wife Heather.

“Brother Bruce left a rich legacy of ministry here at the BSU that I am excited to take the reins and continue with,” Moak said. “I am beyond excited to serve college students here at Co-Lin this fall.”

“I love Co-Lin. It was vital to my college career and it really helped me a lot. It helped me emerge into adulthood through my experiences here,” Moak said. “I love college students. I love working with them. I think it’s one of the best age groups because they’re learning a lot, defining who they are going to be as adults. So when the position came open, I applied.”

The BSU center is “the tan building across from the nursing building in front of the commuter parking lot,” Moak said. It is open 8:30 a.m. until 11 p.m. Monday through Friday. Worship is Monday nights at 6:15 p.m. and Bible studies take place throughout the week. Retreats, mission trips and other special events will be scheduled throughout each semester. The building has study rooms, a prayer room, a complete kitchen and an activities area.

“The BSU is a registered student organization on the college campus,” the director said. “We exist because we want to the students to know Christ and to make Christ known. It is a student-led organization. I’m here to direct and help the student leaders to be able to reach their peers.”

The BSU is important to Moak for another reason, too — it’s where he met his wife. Originally from Clinton, Heather was a student at Hinds Community College when Moak was at Co-Lin, and the two met through a BSU event.

“We’ve been married for six-and-a-half years now,” he said.

“I want the students, campus faculty and administration, and the churches in the area to know the BSU is a mission center for the community college. We want to be able to serve the students and campus well,” Moak said. “It’s not just for Baptists, and obviously we couldn’t do it without support. We rely on the support of churches and individuals. If anyone feels like they would like to support us in any way, reach out. Just drop by the BSU. We want you to get involved.”