Across the globe, millions of persecuted Christians experience threats, discrimination and violence—simply because of their faith in Jesus Christ. And all too often, the mainstream media overlooks the plight of these suffering believers as they cry out for relief from unjust imprisonment, kidnappings, mob violence, church attacks and more.
That’s why Global Christian Relief advocates for persecuted Christians worldwide through the three D’s of advocacy : diplomacy & engagement, data-driven initiatives, and discreet interventions. By utilizing this three-pronged, multifaceted approach, our advocacy experts amplify the voices of our at-risk brothers and sisters who might otherwise be silenced or forgotten. We stand with them as a beacon of hope, ensuring that no believer is alone during their time of severe hardship and religious oppression.
Our advocacy work is ultimately rooted in Scripture, as Hebrews 13:3 reminds us to “remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are mistreated as if you yourselves were suffering,” while Galatians 6:10 admonishes the Body of Christ to “do good to all people, especially those who belong to the family of believers.” Read on to discover how Global Christian Relief serves as a powerful advocate for our persecuted family in need.
Diplomacy & Engagement
The GCR Advocacy team is committed to building high-quality relationships with key, governmental decision-makers: those who are positioned to assist persecuted believers through legislative efforts and policy development. By maintaining a strong presence in Washington, D.C., we actively engage with influential individuals within the White House, the Department of State, Congress and more, fostering critical dialogue about the growing crisis of Christian persecution.
We aid persecuted Christians who are unreachable through traditional relief work by taking their stories to the halls of power worldwide. Our subject matter experts, including Dr. David Curry (GCR President & CEO), Isaac Six (GCR Senior Director of Advocacy), and others testify on Capitol Hill before members of the U.S. House of Representatives and Senate to raise awareness for at-risk believers. Additionally, our Advocacy team highlights stories of persecution in Countries of Particular Concern (CPC’s), where egregious religious freedom violations are taking place.
Watch GCR testify before Congress now
We also collaborate with a wide array of human rights and religious freedom organizations in order to speak with a united voice on behalf of all who suffer for their faith in Jesus. Most recently, David Curry attended the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Summit alongside former Vice President Mike Pence, Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, and representatives from more than 90 different organizations. There, Curry moderated key panels on religious persecution to increase public awareness and political strength for the international religious freedom movement.
See photos and video from the IRF Summit.
Data-Driven Initiatives
One of GCR’s new Advocacy initiatives is the sponsorship of the all-new Violent Incidents Database, a first-of-its-kind repository which tracks and documents thousands of occurrences of religious persecution across the globe. This dataset serves as a vital, quantitative resource for government officials, human rights organizations, media outlets and more, as we collectively seek to understand — and reduce — religious freedom violations. The Violent Incidents Database is open source, meaning the contents within are designed to be redistributed and shared broadly to raise awareness for suffering people of faith.
Explore the Violent Incidents Database now.
As Global Christian Relief strives to create the world’s most extensive, covert network serving persecuted Christians, we form trusted relationships on the ground with partners across the globe. Our Advocacy team members gather with our partners to document the negative impacts of religious repression on individuals, communities and countries. Most recently, GCR has verified and preserved stories of persecution in places like Afghanistan, Armenia, Iran, Iraq, Iran, Nepal, Nigeria, Pakistan, South Korea, Nepal and more.
Watch videos of Christian persecution.
Discreet Interventions
GCR recognizes that some instances of persecution cannot be widely publicized due to credible threats of violence, torture or death; they require a more subtle and nuanced approach. When necessary, we leverage our resources and international political network behind the scenes to secure the release of persecuted Christians being held against their will in highly sensitive situations. Through our most recent interventions, GCR’s Advocacy team helped to secure the release of a pastor taken hostage in the Middle East; assisted with the rescue of two Christian families hunted by a violent militia group; and provided safe harbor for a Christian convert pursued by Al-Shabaab-linked terrorists in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Though we cannot share the full details of these success stories and others like them, our supporters can feel confident in knowing our Advocacy team works to ensure that no Christian is forgotten or alone, even amid the most challenging of circumstances.
You can take action to help those who are persecuted through advocacy. Here are a few ways to get started:
As a donor-funded ministry, GCR and our Advocacy team rely on the generosity of faithful believers like you. In fact, your prayers and giving are absolutely critical to our success. Through a special, one-time gift today, you can help to fuel GCR’s diplomacy & engagement, data-driven initiatives, discreet interventions and more—all in support of persecuted Christians around the globe. For an even bigger impact, join our Frontline Partner community and support our Advocacy work on a recurring, monthly basis. Please donate now.
Stay up-to-date on opportunities to join GCR’s advocacy efforts.
The advocacy email will alert you to opportunities for signing petitions, contacting your local and national representatives, and events in Washington D.C. where you can get involved first hand in the world of advocacy.
For breaking alerts on advocacy initiatives, follow our advocacy team on Twitter.
