International fundraiser and humanitarian advocate, Tera Carissa Hodges, has been appointed as an ambassador for Global Christian Relief (GCR), a nonprofit organisation focused on supporting persecuted Christians worldwide, with a special focus on Nigeria.
The organisation said the partnership comes at a time of growing international attention on violence affecting parts of Nigeria, particularly communities identified as vulnerable to insecurity.
According to a statement by the organisers on Tuesday in Abuja, Global Christian Relief said Hodges will support advocacy and fundraising efforts for relief programmes in Nigeria, where reports from advocacy groups indicate rising incidents of violence, displacement, and abductions targeting Christian communities.
According to figures cited by the organisation and partner advocacy networks, more than 1,400 Christians were killed and about 1,800 others abducted in the early months of 2026. The groups also referenced broader estimates suggesting over 60,000 deaths and about 2.2 million displaced persons in Nigeria since 2001 due to recurring violence in some regions.
A memorandum submitted by advocacy groups to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief described the situation as “genocide by attrition,” calling for increased international attention and a coordinated response.
Hodges, a licensed and ordained Christian minister and founder of LR Global Media Group, said she has spent the past six years engaging in humanitarian work in Nigeria, including support for internally displaced persons and collaboration with organisations such as The WaterlightSave Initiative and the Public Health Aide Awareness and Education Organisation in Abuja.
She said her involvement reflects both a professional and personal commitment to West Africa, noting her ancestral ties to Nigeria and Ghana.
Global Christian Relief Chief Executive Officer Brian Orme described Hodges as a strong advocate for vulnerable communities.
“Tera’s heart for the persecuted and the overlooked is evident in everything she does. Her voice carries reach, conviction, and authenticity, and we believe she will help us tell these stories in a way that moves people to action,” Orme said.
The organisation stated that 100 per cent of funds raised through Hodges’ partnership link will be directed to its relief operations.
GCR also reported that in 2025 it served more than 2.1 million persecuted Christians globally, distributing 89,010 Bibles, conducting 34,258 medical checkups, supporting 556 small businesses, and providing 2,236 shelters.
The announcement coincided with Nigeria’s Democracy Day commemoration, a national holiday marking the country’s return to civilian rule. Advocacy groups, however, say insecurity remains a major concern in some parts of the country despite democratic gains.
Global Christian Relief reaffirmed its commitment to supporting affected communities and called for continued global attention to humanitarian needs in Nigeria and other regions experiencing religiously linked violence.
