Back then. Just appreciating your humble response PD7 which is beautiful to see. "I am trying to formulate a response to the [report] and [the RZIM] board statement . He is just the most well known. All the attention goes to coddling the one who did all the damage, spending tons of money and time restoring him. Very difficult to read but, I agree, essential in order to hold the many who are responsible to the standards of biblical principles we are supposedly dedicated to. Blessings. Any board worth its salt would have read Baughmans book. The pair also met at Ravi's church's youth group. But confession, repentance and a path to restoration seem to be missing here! (printed with permission) According to Joy Reports, the email was originally posted in a private Facebook group called "Friends who like Ravi Zacharias" that has more than 30,000 members. Do share this story to encourage others to pray too. I contacted C&MA spokesman Peter Burgo for the denominations side of the story. Hi. Pocket. Senior RZIM leaders and board members (whose names are not made public) now face pressure from within the ministry to demonstrate a new commitment to accountability. Zacharias' wife, Margie, has so far refused to release Thompson from the NDA, she said in January. This is mentioned in the couples divorce settlement, which was filed over the summer. Because it is the right thing to do. So that brings us to the final report, which RZIM released to the public yesterday.. And about RZIM, C&MA, ECFA etc, what are we trying to achieve? ", "With much love, and confidence in Ravi and in the God he knew and loved and served, Margie.". Yes, Ravi has passed away, but his ministry had an effect on millions of people all around the world. They had not been consulted before leadership crafted the unsigned statement denying the claims. Find out more about how we safeguard your data and the types of organisations we work with in our. Many took to social media to pay February 25, 2023 . Scroll down to WARNING. It opens with this: We confirmed one of the three accounts described in the Christianity Today article and found significant evidence of sexual misconduct involving additional massage therapists. 01743091) with two fully-owned trading subsidiaries: Premier Christian Communications Ltd (no. The two Married in May 1972. margie zacharias evicted. Ravi served as chairman. He got to keep his sinecure job but Ravi's wife, who was innocent in this whole ordeal, was shown the door. In tapes of his interviews shared with independent journalist Julie Roys, Sharma said Zacharias asked him to destroy evidence of the sexual abuse of a massage therapist in 2010. The interim report on the investigation was released in part as a promise of future transparency. We advise you upgrade your web browser before continuing to use this website. He promoted unity with the WHORE of REVELATION, the Vatican that was his Greatest Sin. Given these many red flags, Miller & Martin should be investigating the RZIM board, not just Ravi Zacharias. She said they believed Zacharias when he denied accusations, and they didnt ask some tough questions when they should have. The 2015 form 990 also states that RZIM provided a housing allowance or residence for personal use to Ravi and Margie Zacharias. For some weird reason we seem to want people to fall. Dennis, You havent done your homework. different fun ways to play twister; harrison luxury apartments; crumb band allegations. If the C&MA conducted a valid investigation in 2018, the denomination should be willing to disclose details about its investigation and publish its findings. I understand your concern for fairness, etc., yet I have been reading about Mr. Zachariass authenticity problems for a few years before his recent illness & death. His statement is Biblically illiterate and poorly reasoned. December 23, 2020. Thank you for doing this incredibly distasteful and painful work. Sadly, the lack of accountability at RZIM and ECFA is rampant in evangelicalism. But some began to openly reject that narrativefirst within the ministry, then publicly. Ravi epitomizes what has been going on for years now. The efforts could lead to significant changes to the ministry, following the release of the full investigative report. I think they were probably referring to Lori Anne Thompson of the recent texting scandal. Give a gift of $30 or more to The Roys Report this month, and you will receive Escaping the Maze of Spiritual Abuse by Dr. Lisa Oakley and Justin Humphreys. Although, Ravi Zacharias was Anglican, which is not generally included under the umbrella of . You can unsubscribe anytime. 12:23 pm CDT. Lori Anne Thompson, who came forward to identify herself as the victim in this case and asked to be released from the NDA, told CT that she was not contacted by RZIM during its initial review of Zachariass correspondence or during the current investigation. But while Zacharias was being upheld as the gold standard, no one was willing to look at these practices or hold the board accountable. Many must have noticed and yet kept quiet, especially his own colleagues so all of RZIM is guilty of hiding lies and all are beneficiaries financially. Nathan Zacharias, son of the late disgraced apologist Ravi Zacharias, has posted his first blog in seven months to explain that his recent silence is not due to him having changed his mind about his father's character. Ravi Zacharias, who was born on March 26, 1946, in Chennai, India, died on May 19, 2020, surrounded by his loved ones. Legally, they then had a right to break the NDA to counter everything he said about them. You are right. ), I get your point Scottie. Baker-Hytch recalled that RZIM leadership said board members had reviewed all the emails and text exchanges between Zacharias and the woman. In his autobiography Ravi claims that he was chosen to preach at his graduation from the Ontario Bible College in April of 1972. Its necessary. No Comments . She went on to describe how she found receipts dating back to 1980s, money, pain medications, watches and photographs. Ravi, who also signed an NDA about the texting scandal broke his NDA at the time referring to them publicly, trying to cast doubt on them and exonerate himself. margie zacharias evicted margie zacharias evicted. CRN has a list of professing Christians to mark and avoid (Rom 16:17-18). I also recently discovered that Paul Kepesan RZIM board member in 2015loaned Naomi Zacharias and her former husband $332,000 to remodel a home the couple had purchased in 2015 for $495,000. Great comment. In an email to her extended family, Margie Zacharias defended her husband, saying that after . how much do models get paid per show; ma rmv ignition interlock department phone number written by Brian Nixon May 19, 2020. At Premier Christian News, we believe in the power of faith and truth to combat fake news and opinion pieces. Phil 1: 15,!8 the Apostle Paul said: It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will. The board apparently cleared Zacharias of any wrongdoing without ever having access to all the correspondence, Baker-Hytch said. Articles related to the Ravi Zacharias story. Culture. The ECFA is a bad joke if they wont require disclosure of Board names. Lori-Anne Thompson, who wrote of her need to confess her own adultery (itself an admission of dishonesty), is a sexual abuse survivor who claims she was "groomed". They had three children, Sarah, Nathan, and Naomi. Some teammates have suggested leaders and board members need to be dismissed, the ministry needs to distance itself from living members of the Zacharias family, and RZIM should offer financial compensation to Zachariass victims. . my own personal integrity cant tolerate it any more. Christian apologist and evangelist Ravi Zacharias was called home to be the Lord today (May 19) in his home in Atlanta, following a brief battle with sarcoma, a rare and aggressive cancer. The wife of the late Ravi Zacharias wrote an email to her family about her husband's alleged sexual abuse. Memorized many of his jokes, quotes and even sermons. In all-staff meetings held between the start of October and the Christmas break in 2020, top leaders impugned the outlets reporting the allegations, speculated about the possibility of elaborate conspiracies to attack Zachariass reputation, prayed against demonic forces, and asked the staff to trust them and the law firm they hired. March 10, 2021 10:28 PM. Another example is Zacharias denomination, the C&MA, which allegedly rigorously investigated the sexting allegations and credentials claims by Zacharias in 2018 and found no basis for formal discipline.. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. Daniel Gilman, a Canadian-based RZIM speaker, told CT his concern is that the ministry will rebrand but not repent. Baker-Hytch wrote a letter and was pressured to revise it or amend it before it was ultimately leaked to Roys, who posted the letter online. But to make this happen, we need your help. Before the interim report said there was substantial evidence of sexual misconduct, Ramsden speculated about a possible conspiracy, suggesting CT might have fabricated the abuse victims or that an atheist blogger might have paid the women and coached them to lie. The question, they say, is whether RZIM will take responsibility for either not knowing about the abuse and failing to offer any accountability, or knowing about it and covering it up. The Justice from above you mention, might it perhaps manifest ascancer? To donate, click here. Later an audit revealed that MacDonald made about $800,000 per year in salary and benefits. Margaret Reynolds' spouse Ravi Zacharias died on May 19, 2020, due to cancer (Dreshare.com) Margaret Reynolds' age is 72 years old, as in 2019. Julie, can you say why you think they lived at the Gate Project house for several years? In christian culture the concern ALL the concern is for the perpetrator. According to public records, the owner of the home at the address was Gate Project LLC whose organizer is RZIM CFO Jeanette Chuquiure. I want us to be asking, What would RZIM have to do to truly repent?. All three companies are registered in England & Wales with a registered office address of Unit 6 April Court, Sybron Way, Crowborough, TN6 3DZ. However, he said he could not attest to whether or not that documentation was received.. "It is not because I am in denial. If sin is overlooked a few times, we tend to continue in sin!. The Roys Report seeks to foster thoughtful and respectful dialogue. Share Tweet. 'We Still Believe In Dad's Innocence'Ravi Zacharias' Son Continues To Defend Father. But RZIM hasnt shown a commitment to truth and transparency for years. We value our integrity and have sacrificed to preserve it. Other times, the staff members tell CT, Zacharias and other senior leaders would claim that outsiders were concocting scurrilous rumors and launching bogus attacks because of the good work Zacharias was doing promoting the gospel. They were the parents of at least 1 son. Given the 2017 sexting allegations, I asked Malhotra in January 2020 whether RZIM had already disbursed the full trust to Zacharias and under what conditions the trust could be revoked. Lapp responded that ECFA standards do not require all of a ministrys board members to be independent, but merely a majority. hes caused enough damage already. All accusations need to be revealed investigation carried out or the people who dont investigate be liable. Some teammates have asked that RZIM put out a call for other victims to come forwardand promise safety to any who do. In the final months of 2020, some pushed senior leadership to acknowledge the credibility of the detailed allegations raised against Ravi Zacharias after his death, demonstrate concern for victims of sexual abuse, and take responsibility for the corporate culture that prioritized his legacy over everything else. So, before the results of any independent investigation, RZIM apparently has made up its mind. 10:40 CET. The final report is expected to be finished in the next few months. Im not committing to this interpretation of events but I thinks its a possibility. This is like strike three.. He was alone with many women on staff, said Carson Weitnauer, a longtime staff member who worked in the Atlanta office until he resigned from RZIM on Monday after publishing an essay in the Christian Post about how he lost faith in Zacharias. Ravi Zacharias was laid to rest on Thursday, May 21, in a private ceremony in Georgia. I believe the women who have come forward, Amy Orr-Ewing, a senior vice president with RZIM and the ministrys first full-time female apologist, told CT. I am so grieved at what these brave individuals have described and the courage it has taken for them to even start to reveal their stories.. The board also should have interviewed Thompson and asked her for documentation. RZIM says it 'does not agree' with entire explosive Guidepost report, but vows to 'learn' from mistakes. If the board staged a coverup, they shouldnt be managing anyones money or reputation. Lord, I renounce my desire for human praise, For the approval of my peers, The need for public appreciation; I deliberately put them aside today, Content to hear you whisper, "Well done, my faithful servant.". It strikes against our credibility.. But this has become standard practice in evangelicalism. Keep in touch with Julie and get updates in your inbox! Great! We anticipate that this investigation will address many of the questions and concerns members of the team are raising, Davis wrote in an email to all staff before the public announcement on December 23, and we commit to addressing these with you at the appropriate time, after the investigation is complete.. All people need to have access to the church financial transactions salaries and perks should also be open to the public. WHAT ABOUT THEIR RESTORATION?? And a few months after his death, CT reported allegations that he had sexually harassed multiple massage therapists whom he employed. One woman said that he had raped her and justified the rape by saying it was his "'reward' for living . Ravi Zacharias' wife has Irish and Scottish ancestry but Reynolds never really opened about her . Indonesian. All churches and ministers need more accountability what we see too much board members close friends with pastor and board members for life this needs to change in every church. 7). It took a prophet to make him see his sin. 9. Your tax-deductible gift helps our journalists report the truth and hold Christian leaders and organizations accountable. RZIM also engaged in questionable governance and financial practices for years, enriching Zacharias and his family, and giving them undue control over the ministry. Its a sobering chapter, but one every evangelical should read. In Cover-Up in the Kingdom, Baughman devotes an entire chapter to Ravis Enablers at God Inc. These enablers include Zacharias publisher, prominent evangelical seminaries, and some speakers at RZIM who surely noticed Zacharias deceptive practices. One check could be that I be open about my bank balances and assets. Ravi and his wife received more than a half-million dollars. Zachariass daughter, RZIM CEO Sarah Davis, promised to release the full results of an ongoing independent investigation. If we cant start from truly believing Ravi could be guilty, we will never find the truth, including RZIM. But truth is what is important in these conversations. RZIM also maintained a revocable rabbi trust for Zacharias, which in 2018 was valued at $1.6 million. I say this with all due respect because it was hard for me to believe too until I took the time to read these articles and listen to her broadcast with Steve. The investigators interim report said that we were given broad discretion and authority to follow leads into other sexual misconduct that might arise, and that is exactly what we have done.. Ignoring evil, covering it up, all just allows it to grow, impacting the lives of so many. After the latest accusations, it became harder to accept these explanations. My Mom recently sent an email to some friends and family that is being circulated. It also would have demanded all emails and phone records during the time in which the sexting between Zacharias and Lori Anne Thompson occurred. Teammates pushing for a fuller reckoning at RZIM said they were quickly persuaded the investigation would be far-reaching and thorough. I somehow stumbled on this website and article and I had no idea. RZIM's 990s also state that RZIM provided a "housing allowance or residence for personal use" to Ravi and Margie Zacharias. Inside Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM), staff wondered for months whether the worlds largest apologetics ministry would be willing to tell the truth about its famous namesake. But rather than rigorously investigate them, his namesake organization spun cleverly worded statements . But most of these allegations were around when Ravi was alive. Were going to find out what happened. This is not Justice from above, but human media titillation. Much of the response seemed intent on avoiding responsibility. Margie Zacharias, the widow of the disgraced apologist Ravi Zachariasand former board member and chief cultural officer for Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM)has broken her silence regarding her late husband's alleged sexual abuse. Two years ago, when I reached out to ECFA, warning it that James MacDonald was likely misusing Harvest Bible Chapel funds, ECFA conducted an on-site review and declared Harvest a member in good standing. Zacharias was the author of more than thirty books on Christianity, He also hosted the radio . Wheaton, Ill., 2014: Ravi Zacharias encourages students to . Fixed: Release in which this issue/RFE has been fixed.The release containing this fix may be available for download as an Early Access Release or a General Availability Release. More power to you Julie because I know how tough it can be to do stories of powerful people. Wow that is even more damnable. The publication of the preliminary report from the outside investigative team and RZIMs official acknowledgement of evidence of sexual misconduct indicate the ministry will take the charges more seriously than it has in the past. Trust us, Weitnauer told CT. Its really clear what kind of person Ravi was. These women did not come forward, a journalist *went to them*. Theyd meet in his office to work on projects.. Get new articles and breaking news delivered to your inbox. April 21, 2021. By their accounts, the apologetics ministrycommitted to the fearless pursuit of the truthseemed at key moments to withhold information from staff, fudge the facts to be more favorable to Zacharias, and prioritize the protection of the founders reputation over everything else. Yes, we are all capable of wrongdoing, but Ravis willful choices put him in an exceptionally despicable league which most human beings would not stoop to, let alone be able to even imagine. In 2015, three Zacharias family members sat on RZIMs board. Today is both a vindication and a reminder to continue in our pursuit of truth, Summers said after the December 23 statement. Three incidents have shaken staff members trust in Zacharias and RZIM leadership in recent years. In an email to her friends, released by her son Nathan, Margie explained that she did not find any evidence to prove that the accusations thrown against her husband are true. Staff members were also told that the lawsuit was dismissed, only to later learn it had been settled with a payment of about $250,000, according to four people inside RZIM. :(. of course im done with it all. The culture of RZIM is adulation and unquestioning loyalty. We have simply asked for patience until the investigation is concluded so that we can do these things, as fully and meaningfully as possible.. If the journalist hadnt gone to them it is doubtful they would have come forward. Others at RZIMfrom people who keep the Atlanta headquarters running to top-level apologistsalso started to speak out, persuaded by the reporting in CT and World magazine that the accusations were serious and credible. Each of the Ravi crises have reminded people of the previous crises and forced people to revisit them, Baker-Hytch said. No suspicious letters or cards of a romantic nature from anyone but me. To reiterate, my comment was directed not really to you, but to christian culture which has lost its marbles (ethical marbles, common sense marbles, im sure theres more but im seriously wondering did it ever had them to begin with). We cannot say we stand for the truth and then look the other way when our favorite ministry or leader is implicated in wrongdoing. In her Tuesday statement, Davis was willing to admit she and others in leadership had made mistakes. I addressed the issue only from the perps side: which is often the case :(. Another daughter, Naomi Zachariasdirector of Wellspring International, the stated beneficiary of one of Zacharias spas where abuse allegedly occurredwas paid nearly $150,000. She worked hard since the inception of that organization. You praise Ravi all the time and never hold him accountable.. Yet some are arguing that such investigations and reporting are pointless and even cruel, given that the famous apologist has passed away. But if we face the unvarnished trutheven about a deceased man and the organization he foundedthere will be reform. I continue to pray this and when the investigation is completed, we intend to address allegations past and present, to ask forgiveness where needed, to seek restoration where appropriate. No one has alleged that anything inappropriate happened between Zacharias and women on RZIM staff, but staff members are now asking why he lied about being alone with womenand why leadership let him misstate the truth. Margie Zacharias, is she in denial or protecting something else? What I find interesting is they are all hiding their properties behind LLCs. 03422292). Yesterday (May 16, 2020) I was contacted by two students, both Christians, who were at OBC with Ravi and attended the graduation. How could he say he was a Oxford University professor when he was not. One I did hear (via YT) was his response to basically the same question at Texas A&M. Lynsey Barron, the lead investigator, said the team has interviewed dozens of witnesses, including many massage therapists who have spoken candidly and with great detail. The investigators reported interviewing other sources confirming and corroborating allegations of sexual abuse as well.