Christians are being invited to hold coffee and popcorn mornings on 15 November to raise awareness of the plight of persecuted Christians in Eritrea.

The events are being held as part of the International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, which joins millions of Christians worldwide together in prayer each year.

Release has produced a Pray for Eritrea DVD in which it talks about the situation facing the church there and the 2,000 Eritrean Christians who have been jailed for their faith.

According to Release and other human rights organisations, Christians in Eritrea are routinely imprisoned without trial, while thousands more have become refugees.

"Eritreans traditionally eat salty popcorn with their coffee," said Release. "So invite your friends, play our new DVD Pray for Eritrea, and help us make a difference."

The organisation is also encouraging churches and home groups to gather signatures for its online petition calling for religious freedom in Eritrea.

The petition, which can be downloaded from the Release website, will be handed to the Eritrean embassy in London in the new year.

Release has put together other resources for the International Day of Prayer, including the new autobiography of gospel singer Helen Berhane, in which she recounts her experience of being locked up in a steel shipping container and tortured by the authorities in an attempt to make her renounce her faith.

Berhane is appealing to Christians to get behind the International Day of Prayer and hold coffee mornings.

"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," she said.

"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."

A 31-day prayer guide has been together by Release to guide prayers for Eritrea.

Release is raising funds to support Eritrean refugees and has also published a 31-day prayer guide for the country.

On the web:

Pray for Eritrea and Song of the Nightingale are available from the Release website: www.releaseinternational.org

The petition can be downloaded or signed online at www.releaseinternational.org/pages/take-action/current-campaign/online-petition.php