After years of public preaching and mission work, Christian apologist and theologian Ravi Zacharias was exposed for committing years of abuse, sexual misconduct and other predatory behavior.
Details brought to light in the private investigation by Miller & Martin Law Firm released on Feb. 9 showed Zacharias’s guilt far more than many in RZIM thought possible.
The 12-page report showed years of Zacharias soliciting sexual photos and testimonies of several women who had been assaulted by Zacharias. Additionally, it revealed Zacharias’ misconduct with multiple massage therapists at several parlors he had financially invested in.
Lori Anne Thompson was the first person to bring public accusations against Zacharias in 2017, but Zacharias claimed innocence and the matter was settled privately.
Only after he died in May of 2020 and multiple sources came forward did Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) launch an investigation in August 2020.
“Our trust in Ravi’s denial of moral wrongdoing and in his deceptive explanations of emails and other records that became public was severely misplaced, and our failures in 2017, including our failure to commission an independent investigation at that time, allowed tremendous pain to continue to be caused in the Thompsons’ lives,” RZIM said.
Additionally, RZIM expressed their regret for the hurt that the report would cause the Zacharias family, but expressed that they believe the findings should be publicized.
However, Thompson was not allowed to participate in this investigation because Zacharias’ estate executors refused to lift a previously-signed nondisclosure agreement.
RZIM has announced that they have two main goals now: making amends as well as they can and providing support to Zacharias’ victims and understanding what they can do to make sure nothing like this happens again.
Taylor University had invited Zacharias to speak at commencement in 2003 when there was no public knowledge of his misconduct. Zacharias spoke to the graduating class and their families.
While shocking in hindsight, director of media relations Jim Garringer said Taylor does its best to select appropriate speakers based on the information they have available to them.
