ONEIDA, Ky. (Feb. 28, 2025) – At the invitation of Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers (R-Manchester), Attorney General Russell Coleman visited Oneida Baptist Institute, located in the heart of Senator Stivers’ home county, today and was the speaker for its daily chapel service.
Oneida Baptist Institute (OBI) was founded as a one-room schoolhouse in 1899 to provide Christian education to the children of Eastern Kentucky. In 1946, OBI became affiliated with the Kentucky Baptist Convention. Over the years, the school grew into an outreach to young people from around the world. Today, OBI enrollment is approximately 300 students ranging from K-12, with an option for 9-12th grade students to live on its 50 acre-campus in the Eastern Kentucky hills. OBI also has approximately 700 additional acres used for farming and staff housing.
Attorney General Coleman attended Oneida for a semester of high school and returned to the campus this morning to share a faith-filled message about perseverance and public service.
“Under the leadership of President Gritton and through the dedicated efforts of an incredible and Christ-centered staff, Oneida Baptist Institute has expanded its reach beyond Clay County to offer young people in neighboring counties like Leslie, Jackson and Owsley the opportunity for an incredible education,” said Attorney General Coleman. “I leave humbled and energized by their impact on these fine young people, some of whom I had the privilege to meet with today.”
“It was a great honor to have Attorney General Russell Coleman on campus. He brought an awesome Christ-centered message to our students in our daily chapel and was so gracious and kind as he engaged with our people,” said Oneida Baptist Institute President Larry A. Gritton, Jr. “OBI is proud to call Mr. Coleman one of our own, and we are thrilled to have him advocating for so many wonderful causes all across our great Commonwealth.”
(Attorney General Coleman speaks to students at Oneida Baptist Institute’s chapel service. Download here.)