By Benjamin Nijoku

International fundraiser and humanitarian advocate Tera Carissa Hodges has been appointed ambassador for Global Christian Relief (GCR), a nonprofit supporting persecuted Christians worldwide with special focus on Nigeria.

GCR said the partnership comes as international attention grows over violence affecting parts of Nigeria, especially communities vulnerable to insecurity.

In a statement released Tuesday in Abuja, the organisation announced that Hodges will lead advocacy and fundraising efforts for relief programmes in Nigeria. Advocacy groups report rising incidents of violence, displacement, and abductions targeting Christian communities.

According to figures cited by GCR and partner networks, more than 1,400 Christians were killed and about 1,800 others abducted in the early months of 2026. Broader estimates also indicate 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 to the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief described the situation as “genocide by attrition” and called for stronger international attention and coordinated action.

Hodges, a licensed and ordained Christian minister and founder of LR Global Media Group, said she has spent six years working in Nigeria. Her work includes support for internally displaced persons and collaborations with The WaterlightSave Initiative and the Public Health Aide Awareness and Education Organisation in Abuja. She noted her involvement is both professional and personal, citing ancestral ties to Nigeria and Ghana.

GCR Chief Executive Officer Brian Orme described Hodges as a strong voice 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,” he said.

The organisation added that 100% of funds raised through Hodges’ partnership link will go directly to relief operations.

GCR reported that in 2025 it served over 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 came as Nigeria marked Democracy Day. While the holiday celebrates the return to civilian rule, advocacy groups say insecurity remains a major concern in parts of the country. GCR reaffirmed its commitment to affected communities and urged sustained global attention to humanitarian needs in Nigeria and other regions facing religiously linked violence.