Tera Carissa Hodges, an international fundraiser and humanitarian advocate, has been named ambassador for Global Christian Relief (GCR), a non-profit organisation supporting persecuted Christians, with a renewed focus on Nigeria.
The appointment comes amid intensifying global concern over violence in Nigeria, particularly against vulnerable Christian communities. According to a statement released on Tuesday in Abuja, Hodges will spearhead advocacy and fundraising for relief programmes in the country.
Advocacy groups report rising attacks, displacement, and kidnappings targeting Christians. GCR cited figures indicating that in the first months of 2026 alone, more than 1,400 Christians were killed and some 1,800 abducted. Broader estimates suggest over 60,000 deaths and approximately 2.2 million people displaced in Nigeria since 2001 due to recurring regional violence.
In a memorandum submitted to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief, advocacy groups described the situation as “genocide by attrition”, urging a coordinated international response.
Hodges, an ordained Christian minister and founder of LR Global Media Group, has spent six years engaged in humanitarian work across Nigeria, supporting internally displaced persons and collaborating with organisations such as The WaterlightSave Initiative and the Public Health Aide Awareness and Education Organisation in Abuja. She noted that her commitment is both professional and personal, citing ancestral ties to Nigeria and Ghana.
GCR Chief Executive Officer Brian Orme hailed Hodges as a powerful voice for the marginalised. “Tera’s heart for the persecuted and the overlooked is evident in everything she does. Her voice carries reach, conviction, and authenticity,” he said. “We believe she will help us tell these stories in a way that moves people to action.”
The organisation confirmed that 100 per cent of funds raised through Hodges’ dedicated link will go directly to relief operations. In 2025, GCR served more than 2.1 million persecuted Christians worldwide, distributing 89,010 Bibles, conducting 34,258 medical check-ups, supporting 556 small businesses, and providing 2,236 shelters.
The announcement coincided with Nigeria’s Democracy Day, a national holiday marking the return to civilian rule. However, advocacy groups note that insecurity remains a grave challenge in several regions, despite democratic progress.
Global Christian Relief has reaffirmed its commitment to affected communities and called for sustained international attention to humanitarian needs in Nigeria and other regions facing religiously linked violence.