God called a man to lead a small band of Christians to Oneida, Kentucky, and dare to start a church where others had failed. A man that had just enough knowledge of God to be obedient, and not enough experience to fully understand the responsibility he was about to face. This man was Joey Burns.
 
Joey and his wife Vickie became born again Christians in 1979. "This is when we first became acquainted with the Church of God."
 
"We grew in the Lord under the leadership and direction of Rev. E. C. Campbell and his wife Ruby, for the next nine years. During this time, God was preparing myself and my family to do a work for Him. Many spiritual battles were fought and won, and many lessons were learned in preparation for this calling. When God was ready to open the doors, we were ready to go. We knew the time was right because God had prepared our hearts. Seventeen people left the Burning Springs Church and set out on a mission for the Lord in Oneida. We had no church building, no furniture, and no money ... but God had a plan."
 
The Oneida Church of God was organized on August 7, 1988 with 27 members. It began in a 3-bedroom log cabin in the heart of Oneida. We had a building, but no pews. We found an old church building with pews on Teges just setting empty. Off we went to check out those pews, because we knew ... God had a plan. Needless to say, we got all the pews we needed. Next we needed a piano. God provided that, too. We turned the dining room into a stage; the living room, into the auditorium and the three bedrooms into Sunday School rooms. Soon we had outgrown the log cabin. But God had a plan.
 
Squire Davidson and his wife, Julie, had pastured a little Holiness church in Oneida for years. Brother Davidson was getting older and needed help preaching, and we needed more room. We traded even ... God had a plan. Brother Squire turned his church over to us and he and Julie became members of the Oneida Church of God. We stayed at that little church until 1991, when God provided us with a brand new church building. Today, our church has 285 members and still growing. Since the beginning of 2000 we have received 15 new members and expanded the building to hold an additional 50 people.
 
Our church growth is attributed to our strong beliefs. We believe in the whole Bible rightly divided, salvation through faith in Jesus Christ, baptism in the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in other tongues, divine healing for those in the atonement, and the second coming of Jesus- - (also known as the rapture of the church). This is only a small portion of our beliefs. Our strong commitment to God and His Word is the basis for our personal convictions and source of our strength to reach out to others.
 
We have spiritual Sunday School teachers and strong youth leaders for Children's Church. We have great evangelistic worship services with an outpouring of God's Spirit in every service. We have a great outreach through our men's and women's fellowship meetings. Our church is always willing to extend a helping hand. 
 
God built the church at Oneida, and we feel blessed to be a part of His perfect plan. God not only "had" a plan, but still "has" a plan, because HE is the One who built the church. Matt. 16:18, Jesus said, "And also I say unto thee ... upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it."

Read about the history of the Church of God (Cleveland Tennessee)