AG Russell Coleman visits OBI

Kentucky Attorney General Russell Coleman visited Oneida Baptist Institute Friday and was the speaker for its daily chapel service.

He came at the invitation of  Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers, R-Manchester. The school is located in the heart of Stivers' home county.

Coleman attended Oneida for a semester of high school and returned to the campus Friday morning to share a faith-filled message about perseverance and public service.

“Under the leadership of President (Larry) 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,” Coleman said. “I leave humbled and energized by their impact on these fine young people, some of whom I had the privilege to meet with today.”

Gritton said he was thrilled to have Coleman, "one of our own," speak to the students.

“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,” the OBI president said. “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.”

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. 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.