After ten years of coordinating Operation Classroom efforts in our region, Bill Green will be stepping down this year. October 3rd will be his last Packing Day. If you are interested in taking over this responsibility, please contact Bill at plgreen49@localnet.com. If a new Operation Classroom coordinator is not found, the West District Operation Classroom program will have to be put on hold. Please be praying about this project.
Operation Classroom gets no financial support for the General Board of Global Ministries - we get no financial support from any other mission agency. Every nickel that we receive has to be raised from local churches and individuals.
In the past, the shipping operation has often operated "in the red" - that is, people who provided materials to be shipped to West Africa DID NOT provide the funds to ship it there. We simply aren't in a position to do that any longer. Please see the policies listed below related to shipping (copied from off of our web-site.) If our churches and individuals in Indiana (and elsewhere) aren't willing to provide the funding, then sooner rather than later the shipping program will cease to be a part of OCI. It costs us about $10,000.00 each time we ship a container to West Africa - and that doesn't include the warehousing and receiving costs here in Indiana.
Shipping Costs
Listed below is the schedule of MANDATORY contributions for shipping. We're sorry, but if material shows up at the warehouse or at in-gatherings without arrangements having been made to cover these costs, IT WILL NOT BE ACCEPTED for shipment.
· Box 12x12x12= $10
· Box up to 12x12x18 -$15
· Box over 12x12x18 up to 18x18x18 =$ 20
· Over 18x18x18 to a computer sized box = $ 30
· Computer sized box = $ 40
The donation for the shipping costs is the responsibility of the local church or individual who donates or secures the items, unless you or your district has made other arrangements. These charges cover:
· The leasing and of the container
· Clearing customs
· Freight forwarding (Truck and Ocean-going vessel)
· Customs clearing in-country
Make checks payable to OPERATION CLASSROOM. Shipping costs are tax deductible.
If shipping costs are sent through the conference to GBGM in New York, use the advance number: Africa Operation Classroom: 12922Y
If you have questions, contact John Barker (765.346.0979) or Bob Coolman at
219-464-8055 (O) 219-464-2702 (H) 219-405-5821 (C).
Mark your calendars now! Everyone in the West District is invited to attend this exciting Africa University Rally with Bishop Coyner. Join us as we learn more about the exciting things happening at Africa University! 
All clergy spouses of every age and gender and in every stage of ministry are invited to attend this weekend retreat. Churches, please consider sponsoring your clergy spouse's registration fee. This is a wonderful time of worship and fellowship with clergy spouses from all over the state. 
