On Thursday, February 11th, 2020, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) announced the results of investigation claims made against Zacharias for sexual misconduct. The investigation evidence definitely proves that Zacharias was involved in sexual misconduct, including “sexting, unwanted touching, spiritual abuse, and rape” for many years.
AUHTOR’S NOTE: Due to the nature of the evidence and acts committed by Zacharias, this report contains sexual language. We apologize for this, as the report details what Zacharias explicitly did.
RZIM hired independent investigators from an Atlanta law firm, Miller & Martin, for this investigation. They released a detail report citing their findings.
Accompanying the report the board of RZIM stated,
[We are] shocked and grieved by Ravi’s actions” and feels “a deep need for corporate repentance.We believe not only the women who made their allegations public but also additional women who had not previously made public allegations against Ravi but whose identities and stories were uncovered during the investigation.
Tragically, witnesses described encounters including sexting, unwanted touching, spiritual abuse, and rape. We are devastated by what the investigation has shown and are filled with sorrow for the women who were hurt by this terrible abuse.
The report details over a dozen massage therapists that had treated Zacharias for years.
One therapist reported that Zacharias often wanted more “than a massage.” Four others stated that the famous apologist masturbated or asked them to touch his genitals. Five stated that he “touched or rubbed them inappropriately.”
The investigation also details another therapist who “reported details of many encounters over a period of years that she described as rape.”
Only one of the witnesses we interviewed said that Mr. Zacharias engaged in sexual intercourse. This witness reported details of many encounters over a period of years that she described as rape. To protect her identity, this report does not disclose many of the details she shared with us.
After Zacharias made himself to be a “father figure” to this therapist, and often inquired about her faith and finances, the famous apologist arranged for the ministry to provide for her financially. But then he demanded sex and,
Warned her not ever to speak out against him or she would be responsible for the ‘millions of souls’ whose salvation would be lost if his reputation was damaged.
A number of aspects of this account involved similar behavior and escalation as the accounts of other therapists who would not have known each other and who treated Mr. Zacharias in different contexts over time.
The Miller & Martin investigation also uncovered collections of explicit photos – most of them significantly younger women.
Romantic emails were also uncovered. Some were sent to a women in South Korea and a massage therapist in Thailand, whom he often referred to as his “angel.”
We also reviewed Mr. Zacharias’s electronic devices and found evidence of text-and email-based relationships with women who were not his wife, as well as over 200 ‘selfie’-style photographs of women.
Zacharias died at the age 74 of cancer in May of 2020. Zacharias founded his ministry in 1984, and now has offices in 15 countries and almost 300 staffers.
In 2017, Canadian Lorie Anne Thompson accused the apologist of engaging in a sexually inappropriate online relationship. Zacharias denied those allegations and accused Thompson and her husband of extortion.
That same year he was also accused of beefing up his academic credentials.
The fall of 2020 also saw more sexual misconduct allegations come to light.
Zacharias co-owned some day spas and several therapists from those spas reported that he would expose himself, masturbate, ask for explicit photos and proposition them during his treatments for back pain.
In December 2020, RZIM disclosed information in an interim report conducted by Miller & Martin that Zacharias indeed engaged in these sexual acts at these spas.
The investigative team was given “broad discretion and authority to follow leads into other sexual misconduct that might arise” beyond the spa allegations.
The RZIM board said Thursday that they believe the witnesses are not lying.
It must have been deeply painful for the victims of Ravi’s abuse and misconduct to tell their stories and to relive their terrible experiences as they participated in this investigation.
To you we say directly: Words cannot come close to expressing the sorrow that we feel for what you have been through or the gratitude we feel for the bravery with which you have responded. We are so thankful to you, and we are so sorry.
RZIM Board
Steve Baughman, a San Francisco attorney, who initially reported on the sexual misconduct allegations, told The Christian Post,
[T]his is no longer about Ravi Zacharias but about the evangelical business world that enabled him to lead a double life for so many years.As long as we only focus on the individual, the system will never change and we can expect the victim body count to keep rising.
Lorie Anne Thompson tweeted on February 9th that,
We are waiting for @RZIMhq to release the M&M report on the allegations of sexual abuse against the late Ravi Zacharias.
I am hopeful that my whispers in the dark have prepared the way for other victims to shout in the day.
What happened to these women matters greatly.
According to The Christian Post, The organization has engaged victim advocate Rachael Denhollander to educate and advise the board and senior leadership to understand trauma, abuse and best-standard practices. Denhollander will serve as a confidential liaison for survivors to “help guide the process of care, justice, and restitution for those who have been victimized.”
The ministry is also working with Guidepost Solutions to conduct a thorough evaluation, its structures, processes, finances and policies to enrich “top-down and grassroots cultural reform.”
In light of the findings of the investigation and the ongoing evaluation, we are seeking the Lord’s will regarding the future of this ministry. We are learning much through this time and hope to have the chance to apply these lessons in the future. We remain passionate about seeing the gospel preached through the questions of culture. We will be spending focused time praying and fasting as we discern how God is leading, and we will speak to this in the near future.
RZIM Statement
Carson Weitnauer wrote in an op-ed for The Christian Post, called for RZIM to
Change its name, remove Ravi’s material, repent for its many failures, and provide a restorative response to the harm that Ravi’s victims experienced.
If they want to avoid following RZIM’s example, Christian ministries and churches should rigorously evaluate how their systems and culture could prevent them from personally experiencing this crisis. May God give us the clarity and courage we need to become faithful advocates for the survivors of abuse — and to deter such abuse from occurring in the future.
AUTHOR COMMENTARY
[1] But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. [2] And many shall follow their pernicious ways; by reason of whom the way of truth shall be evil spoken of. [3] And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not. [12] But these, as natural brute beasts, made to be taken and destroyed, speak evil of the things that they understand not; and shall utterly perish in their own corruption; [13] And shall receive the reward of unrighteousness, as they that count it pleasure to riot in the day time. Spots they are and blemishes, sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you; [14] Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease from sin; beguiling unstable souls: an heart they have exercised with covetous practices; cursed children: [18] For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were clean escaped from them who live in error. [19] While they promise them liberty, they themselves are the servants of corruption: for of whom a man is overcome, of the same is he brought in bondage.2 Peter 2:1-3, 12-14, 18-19
2 Peter 2 perfectly describes Zacharias and his “ministry.” I did not need the proof of his perverse lifestyle to know that he was a false prophet and a false convert. Before The WinePress was founded, I personally had been sounding off and warning about these apologists, like Zacharias – as they are some of the most heretical people out there. Apologists (which really means “Christian” philosopher) are full of vain head knowledge. These people are doing all kinds of damage to true biblical Christianity, whether purposefully or knowingly.
If you have even seen Zacharias’ work, he very rarely ever even quoted scripture; and when he did, it was guaranteed to be him paraphrasing a new version. Zacharias would waffle on and on about personal stories, philosophy, adjusting to cultural trends instead separating himself from the world as the Bible commands.
Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.
Colossians 2:8
Till I come, give attendance to reading, to exhortation, to doctrine.
1 Timothy 4:13
The atheist, Muslim, and progressive groups are going to have a hay-day with this one. The man who was considered by many Evangelical, Charismatic, Baptist, etc, groups to be “the great apologist” alongside “the great evangelist Billy Graham,” has just had his entire ministry and work blow up. The remnants of his “ministry” will die and be forgotten, or it will undergo a drastic overhaul and the worldly Christians will “forgive” (look the other way and continue to support liars) as they always do, proving that are in fact hypocrites and do not know the scriptures nor fear the Lord.
[2] Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all longsuffering and doctrine. [3] For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; [4] And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables.2 Timothy 4:2-4
This whole event will cause many others to question the many ministries, church groups, and organizations, that endorsed or worked with him. I very well could be wrong, but I do firmly believe that they those closely involved with Ravi knew precisely what was going on, and this information was shoved under a shag rug.
Because of this blow to the worldly church systems that have already been made a laughing stock since the lockdowns in March, this will, I predict, cause another small exodus of those never born-again to become atheists for being lied to yet again by the religious system that preaches one thing, and then gets caught habitually sinning. It will also lead many to question the ministries and groups that worked closely with Ravi, which hurt the validity of those groups as well. And then many of the professing Christians as I noted above, will look the other way, “forgive” these reprehensible actions, and claim this is a hit piece by the God-hating media to demonize Christianity. Potentially, there may be a very tiny group of those that just may actually repent and truly get saved after learning about these shenanigans: but that is hopeful at best.
Bottom line: when Ravi took his last breath when dying of cancer, he awoke in HELL. He never was saved. He was a lost philosopher who made a living out of “flexing” intellect on the ignorant masses that were, and are, illiterate to the word of God. He never preached any gospel of salvation. Whenever a “Christian” gets elevated to that status where he could fill stadiums of people, they are fake: you need not delve any deeper.
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I don’t find that hard to believe!!!!!!
“Whenever a “Christian” gets elevated to that status where he could fill stadiums of people, they are fake: you need not delve any deeper.”
This.
Was this article about Ravi Zacharias, or Jack Hyles? Because both stories sound so similar! These “great” fake “Christian” speakers (who are loved and adored by the lost world) are nearly always sex perverts! They have earned their place in Hell. Good riddance.
I find it funny as well that Kayleigh McEnany loved Zacharius, and she is part of the JESUIT family because she attended Georgetown University!
I was thinking about Hyles when writing this up too LOL. I remember when Zacharias died and I saw that video of McEnany, I just rolled my eyes. This stuff is so fake.
I know a lot of people who think he was a great preacher, guess there just as lost as he !!!
Hello Bryan, I would love to see ya make a video exposing Charles Stanley. That mega church baptist (batholic I bet) in Atlanta, Georgia. He has the title “doctor” as well so you know he knows everything (sarcasm) he’s a droning fool who’s about as exciting and edifying as a piece of wood. I think exposing Charles Stanley will be on your agenda sometime. If you can’t make a video on him right away, I totally understand you’re busy and got other projects.
God Bless and power and blessing for you forever.
Hey Bryan, I forgot. Just a suggestion, once again, if you can’t get to it right away, no worries. Ever heard of Jimmy Swaggert and his network SBN? They seem conservative but they speak in charismatic tongues and push it. Donny Swaggart has had a few programs about the history of America and he says this is still God’s nation and God is still blessing it. I just say to that “keep telling yourself that.”
Good riddance to bad rubbish I say! Him and Jack Hyles and Estus Perkle (however you spell it, it’s a bizarre name) all of them were ministers of satan and now they’re burning in hell, they’re maggot food, and their ministries and legacies are all dust and ashes, because their works were burned up at the great white throne judgement.
Same thing with a babel building pastor I once saw, assemblies of god so that’s red flag number one: his name was ken robinson. On the surface he didn’t seem like much and seemed meek, but he was another sissy plastic preacher and he had a superiority complex. Being a pastor and superintendent of a religious school, pride was big in him. Then, when incidents of his school arose and a lawyer got involved, he got crapped on and chewed out and he was left to either shut down the school or both that and his church, he closed the school down. He bawled in his office, and then as a bonus, he fell, hit his head, and had to get stitches. God knocked him off his pedestal!