Coffee, popcorn and prayer for Eritrea
Release International is urging Christians to follow the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church (15 November) with a week of coffee mornings to raise awareness and prayer for Christians facing persecution in Eritrea.
“Eritreans traditionally eat salty popcorn with their coffee,” says Release CEO Andy Dipper, “So invite your friends, play our new DVD Pray for Eritrea, and help us make a difference.”
Release, which serves persecuted Christians worldwide, has produced the 13-minute DVD Pray
for Eritrea to focus on that East African nation where more than 2,000 Christians have been jailed for their faith.
Release has also launched an online petition calling for religious freedom in Eritrea. Many Eritrean Christians are currently imprisoned without trial, and thousands more have become refugees.
The petition, which Release will present to the Eritrean embassy in London in the new year, is also available in a traditional paper format. Release is encouraging supporters to download it from the Release website and gather signatures in their churches and house groups.
Other materials produced by Release for this year’s International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church include the new book Song of the Nightingale. It’s the autobiography of gospel singer Helen Berhane (right), who tells the story of how she was locked up in a steel shipping container and tortured to try to make her renounce her faith.
Helen is urging Christians to get behind the International Day of Prayer on 15 November and to hold coffee mornings. She says: “I would really encourage Christians in the UK to support the week of coffee mornings and to sign Release’s petition calling on the Eritrean government to respect religious rights.
“Please, I would urge you to use your freedom to help your brothers and sisters in Christ who are not free, but imprisoned for their faith.”
Release has also published a 31-day prayer guide for Eritrea, and is raising funds to support Eritrean Christian refugees.
