A beloved elder of the Presbyterian Church in Nigeria who died two years ago prompted an idea from Canadian Presbyterians to help others in his name. Elder Chief Ntieyong Udo Akpan died in August 2006 at the age of 82. He contributed to the growth of the church in Nigeria, and always welcomed young Canadians and foreigners to his homeland. Upon his death, the PCN organized a foundation in his honour. The N.U. and Margaret Akpan Memorial Elders' Formation and Renewal Fund was the idea of Rev. Rick Fee, former missionary to Nigeria and current general secretary of the Presbyterian Church in Canada's Life and Mission Agency. Fee consulted with Rev. Arlene Onuoha, a PCC missionary currently in Nigeria, and the Principal Clerk of the PCN. After sending out an appeal to those who knew Akpan and his wife, Margaret, about 1 million Nigerian Nairas (about $8,500 Cdn) was contributed to the fund from former missionaries and from the PCC's International Ministries department.

Shortly after Cyclone Nargis ripped through Myanmar (previously known as Burma) killing an estimated 100,000 people on May 2 and 3, Presbyterian World Service and Development partner, Action by Churches Together was preparing emergency supplies to take into the country. Donations can be made through PWS&D.

OTTAWA – Canadians have a unique opportunity to engage in “nation-building” said the special advisor to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission on Indian Residential Schools, Robert Watts, in an address to the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in Canada on June 5.

The congregation of Knox, Cannington, Ont., celebrated 144 years of Christian witness in its community on May 4. Joyous celebrations were held that day, and Rev. Paul Johnston, Moderator of the Presbytery of Lindsay-Peterborough, was the guest preacher. Special musical guests were on hand, and lunch followed the service.

A new Conference Fund administered by the Life and Mission agency is available for anyone in the Presbyterian Church planning a small or large conference. Conference planners may apply for up to one-third of the cost of the conference to a maximum of $8,000. Those submitting an application must provide a proposed budget for the event, along with goals and expected benefits to the church, in order to be considered. Since the fund's inception about a month ago, it has already assisted the Body, Mind and Soul Conference held in May in Montreal, the Canadian Association for Parish Nursing Conference also in May in Ingersoll, Ont., and a Presbyterian Church of Taiwan/Presbyterian Church in Canada Theological Consultation to be held in Vancouver this month.

ENI – A Japanese study group of Christian educators and doctors say sex education should be promoted from Christian perspectives.

CNW – The Canadian International Development Agency and Canadian Lutheran World Relief are contributing $632,000 to improve access to essential health care in the Palestinian Territories. The funding will be directed to the Augusta Victoria Hospital in East Jerusalem, the only institution offering specialized medical services like cancer treatment and dialysis to Palestinians.

The Presbyterian Record was awarded third place in the general excellence category for denominational magazines at the recent Canadian Church Press awards ceremony and convention in Cambridge, Ont., and narrowly missed placing in the same category at the Associated Church Press in Dallas just two weeks before that.

Rev. Bob Graham at Knox Presbyterian church in Alliston, Ont. learned of a Canadian invention which could purify dirty water and make it drinkable. The invention had been donated to Samaritans' Purse by the inventor in hopes that it could help the suffering people in some third world countries. The device was very simple and could be built on location where it was needed with training by volunteers. Dirty water poured in the top is filtered through sand and gravel which traps dirt and parasites which then feed upon one another. Clean water is forced up a tube and comes out drinkable.