International fundraiser and humanitarian advocate, Tera Carissa Hodges, has been appointed ambassador for Global Christian Relief, a nonprofit organisation dedicated to supporting persecuted Christians worldwide, with a particular focus on humanitarian outreach in Nigeria.
The organisation announced the appointment in a statement issued in Abuja, saying the partnership comes amid heightened international concern over insecurity and violence affecting vulnerable communities in parts of Nigeria.
According to Global Christian Relief, Hodges will play a key role in advancing advocacy campaigns and fundraising efforts aimed at supporting relief programmes for communities impacted by violence, displacement and abductions.
The organisation cited figures from advocacy groups and partner networks indicating that more than 1,400 Christians were killed and approximately 1,800 others abducted during the early months of 2026. It also referenced broader estimates suggesting that recurring violence in some regions of Nigeria has resulted in more than 60,000 deaths and displaced about 2.2 million people since 2001.
A memorandum submitted by advocacy groups to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief reportedly described the situation as “genocide by attrition” and called for stronger international engagement and coordinated intervention.
Hodges, a licensed and ordained Christian minister as well as founder of LR Global Media Group, said she has been involved in humanitarian work in Nigeria for the past six years.
Her activities, she noted, have included support for internally displaced persons and collaboration with organisations such as The WaterlightSave Initiative and Public Health Aide Awareness and Education Organisation in Abuja.
She said her commitment to humanitarian causes in West Africa is driven by both professional engagement and personal connections to the region, including ancestral ties to Nigeria and Ghana.
Chief Executive Officer of Global Christian Relief, Brian Orme, described Hodges as a passionate advocate for vulnerable populations.
“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 all funds raised through Hodges’ designated partnership link would be channelled directly to relief operations supporting affected communities.
Global Christian Relief also highlighted its global humanitarian impact in 2025, reporting that it served more than 2.1 million persecuted Christians across different countries. According to the organisation, its interventions included the distribution of 89,010 Bibles, the provision of 34,258 medical checkups, support for 556 small businesses and the construction or provision of 2,236 shelters.
The announcement coincided with preparations for Nigeria’s Democracy Day celebrations, a national event commemorating the country’s return to democratic governance.
While acknowledging Nigeria’s democratic progress, advocacy groups cited by the organisation maintained that insecurity remains a major challenge in some parts of the country and called for sustained local and international support for affected communities.
Global Christian Relief reaffirmed its commitment to humanitarian assistance and advocacy, pledging continued support for communities affected by religiously linked violence in Nigeria and other parts of the world.
