Oklahoma Bible Academy
Encyclopedia
The Oklahoma Bible Academy (OBA) is an interdenominational Christian
private school
located in Enid, Oklahoma
. OBA is the oldest coeducational private school in the state of Oklahoma
.
financed the construction of the Meno Preparatory School. In its early years the school served the local community by teaching elementary level courses, primarily focusing on the Bible and German language.
In the spring of 1917 at the Oklahoma Mennonite Convention, leaders formulated a plan for a two-year Bible academy and high school to serve all local churches. It was resolved, "That a committee of three be created to take in hand the matter of starting an academy." On March 27, 1918 through a special session of Oklahoma Convention, the General Conference Mennonite Church
es adopted the school as its field of service and the Meno Preparatory School became the Oklahoma Bible Academy, using the original buildings and an expanded curriculum.
In 1924-1925 with the help of Adam Ratzlaff a new dormitory was built. Later a larger school was built including two dormitories. The 1960s brought additional changes to the Oklahoma Bible Academy campus, including: a new industrial arts building, a music-lunchroom, and a gymnasium.
By 1953, the school became a full four-year high school and received accreditation by the State of Oklahoma Department of Education. Enrollment in 1951-52 was 58 students. The school added both seventh and eighth grades in 1977 and became a member of the Association of Christian Schools International
in 1978. In the 2009-10 school year OBA added 6th grade to its student body.
With the growth of Christian elementary schools in the nearby community of Enid, Oklahoma
came the need for a Christian high school, and in 1982 the OBA Corporation voted to move the school to Enid, Oklahoma. Campus expansion across the past two decades has included an auditorium with seating for over 400 people was built in 1995, a football field in 2001, the Advance Learning Center in 2003, and a track in 2006.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
private school
Private school
Private schools, also known as independent schools or nonstate schools, are not administered by local, state or national governments; thus, they retain the right to select their students and are funded in whole or in part by charging their students' tuition, rather than relying on mandatory...
located in Enid, Oklahoma
Enid, Oklahoma
Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, the population was 49,379, making it the ninth largest city in Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, and is named after Enid, a...
. OBA is the oldest coeducational private school in the state of Oklahoma
Oklahoma
Oklahoma is a state located in the South Central region of the United States of America. With an estimated 3,751,351 residents as of the 2010 census and a land area of 68,667 square miles , Oklahoma is the 28th most populous and 20th-largest state...
.
History
In 1911 a group headed by J.B. Epp of the New Hopedale Mennonite Church, located in Meno, OklahomaMeno, Oklahoma
Meno is a town in Major County, Oklahoma, United States. The population was 195 at the 2000 census. It was the previous home of Oklahoma Bible Academy...
financed the construction of the Meno Preparatory School. In its early years the school served the local community by teaching elementary level courses, primarily focusing on the Bible and German language.
In the spring of 1917 at the Oklahoma Mennonite Convention, leaders formulated a plan for a two-year Bible academy and high school to serve all local churches. It was resolved, "That a committee of three be created to take in hand the matter of starting an academy." On March 27, 1918 through a special session of Oklahoma Convention, the General Conference Mennonite Church
General Conference Mennonite Church
The General Conference Mennonite Church was an association of Mennonite congregations based in North America from 1860 to 2002. The conference was formed in 1860 when congregations in Iowa invited North American Mennonites to join together in order to pursue common goals such as higher education...
es adopted the school as its field of service and the Meno Preparatory School became the Oklahoma Bible Academy, using the original buildings and an expanded curriculum.
In 1924-1925 with the help of Adam Ratzlaff a new dormitory was built. Later a larger school was built including two dormitories. The 1960s brought additional changes to the Oklahoma Bible Academy campus, including: a new industrial arts building, a music-lunchroom, and a gymnasium.
By 1953, the school became a full four-year high school and received accreditation by the State of Oklahoma Department of Education. Enrollment in 1951-52 was 58 students. The school added both seventh and eighth grades in 1977 and became a member of the Association of Christian Schools International
Association of Christian Schools International
The Association of Christian Schools International is an association of evangelical Protestant Christian schools.-Purposes:ACSI, a protestant association for Christian schools, impacts nearly 23,000 schools and transforms the lives of more than 3.9 million students worldwide...
in 1978. In the 2009-10 school year OBA added 6th grade to its student body.
With the growth of Christian elementary schools in the nearby community of Enid, Oklahoma
Enid, Oklahoma
Enid is a city in Garfield County, Oklahoma, United States. In 2010, the population was 49,379, making it the ninth largest city in Oklahoma. It is the county seat of Garfield County. Enid was founded during the opening of the Cherokee Outlet in the Land Run of 1893, and is named after Enid, a...
came the need for a Christian high school, and in 1982 the OBA Corporation voted to move the school to Enid, Oklahoma. Campus expansion across the past two decades has included an auditorium with seating for over 400 people was built in 1995, a football field in 2001, the Advance Learning Center in 2003, and a track in 2006.