Posted on 12/24/2020 6:15:56 AM PST by SeekAndFind
Ravi Zacharias International Ministries confirmed on Wednesday that its late founder “did indeed engage in sexual misconduct.”
Releasing an interim report by Miller & Martin PLLC, which the ministry hired to investigate allegations of misconduct that were made public months after Zacharias’ death, RZIM said, “Sadly, the interim investigation update indicates this assessment of Ravi’s behavior to be true.”
“This misconduct is deeply troubling and wholly inconsistent with the man Ravi Zacharias presented both publicly and privately to so many over more than four decades of public ministry,” it added, noting that it is devastated for those who “suffered from Ravi’s misconduct.”
Massage therapists at day spas co-owned by Zacharias, an influential apologist who died in May after a battle with cancer, alleged that he would come in regularly for back pain treatment.
Three women who spoke with Stephen Baughman, an attorney, and Christianity Today said during those treatments, he would expose himself, masturbate, and ask for explicit photos as well to have sex.
The Miller & Martin investigation team said it interviewed dozens of witnesses, including massage therapists who worked at the Touch of Eden and Jivan Wellness spas, and reviewed numerous documents and electronic devices used by Zacharias.
“Combining those interviews with our review of documents and electronic data, we have found significant, credible evidence that Mr. Zacharias engaged in sexual misconduct over the course of many years. Some of that misconduct is consistent with and corroborative of that which is reported in the news recently, and some of the conduct we have uncovered is more serious,” it said.
The investigation is ongoing and is expected to conclude in January or February.
The team was given “broad discretion and authority to follow leads into other sexual misconduct that might arise” beyond the spa allegations.
“We are heartbroken at learning this but feel it necessary to be transparent and to inform our staff, donors, and supporters at this time, even while the investigation continues,” RZIM stated.
The interim report comes after an apologist with RZIM lamented how the ministry has handled allegations of sexual misconduct, including sexting allegations involving Lori Anne Thompson, a Canadian woman, in 2017.
Max Baker-Hytch, a senior tutor with the ministry's Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics, called on the leadership to make "meaningful reparations" to the alleged victims and radically change the culture of the ministry.
RZIM has vowed to release the final report once the investigation is complete.
Deeply flawed and still had great teachings...Lord help me never be famous.
Massage Parlors, getting rubdowns from strange women, NOT conducive to Christian Testimony.
Waiting for the rock chunkers: 3,2,1...
The first radical change the ministry needs: close it.
The pastor is dead and can not defend himself. Determine damages, if any, and pay them off with left-over funds.
Do not use the name of the ministry to raise more money.
This will leave staff members - those that never saw or suspected there was gambling - high and dry. They can start fundraising in their own name.
“Deeply flawed and still had great teachings...Lord help me never be famous.”
A few years after entering the ministry in ‘67, I was with a famous man of God who brought a message of all the men in the Bible who had served God - and fallen. And then I watched as so many - like Jimmy Swaggart - fell.
From that day on I prayed this very prayer, “Lord help me never be famous.” I am so glad He has heard and answered that prayer.
“May He increase, and may I decrease.” And the ultimate decrease is..........as John the Baptist never expected......death.
May Jesus Christ alone receive all the praise, honor, and glory.
Say it isn't so!
I’m more of a rock skipper. If it is flat enough, I can get 6-8 skips.
For chunking, I only do that when the pond is iced over. Then I see what size rock punches through, and what rocks bounce.
If you come back the next day, you will see the rock slowly melting through the ice as the rock retains heat from the sun.
Quote’Massage therapists at day spas co-owned by Zacharias
Interesting side business
Some shady day spas are havens for prostitution and trafficking
Once the allegation is made, there is no turning back!
Probably better if the accused is dead, as there is no fighting back.
Meanwhile, nearly 60% of voting women would vote for Bill Clinton, Obama, and the Biden family, and embrace and demand societal adherence to the no-moral-boundaries LGBTQ juggernaut war against Christians and children, and all moral boundaries...
Bkmrk
Ping!!!
Different definitions of “misconduct.” I will wait for report from RZIM.
Sadly, his daughter (CEO of RZIM) has to answer for his behavior and the broader organization. Perhaps the price of nepotism.
Great words that you posted.
I go to a church that’s grown very large.
I can’t imagine the pressure and tugs on the egos of the leadership that must happen .
I pray frequently that the success doesn’t bring the leaders down
His daughter was divorced, which created a scandal at the time, but maybe not as much as this will.
“..Lord help me never be famous.”
Like riches, it and easily be poison.
A lot of pastors could benefit greatly from following Mike Pence’s rule of never being alone with a woman who is not your wife. Reasonable exceptions could be made for a man’s mother, sisters, or daughters but beyond that a prominent man needs to exercise extreme caution. In my life, I have seen many men destroy their families, careers, and/or lives by not exercising caution and then having the temptation escalate until it cannot be resisted. Better to never let a little bit of temptation take root.
The Apostle Paul would be a rock chunker if he were here today. Christian leaders and teachers are supposed to be held to a higher standard, and if they can’t meet that standard, Scripture teaches us that they should not be allowed to hold the position.
**Deeply flawed and still had great teachings...Lord help me never be famous.**
When it came to delivering a most important message (concerning the revolt led by David’s son Absalom) to David, an unqualified man begged David’s chief captain (Joab) to be allowed to deliver it. His name was Ahimaaz.
Ahimaaz was talented. He had delivered other messages. He could even find a way to get to the recipient ahead of another messenger (Cushi).
But in this case he wasn’t a direct witness to this very important event. Joab tried to tell Ahimaaz that he wasn’t qualified for that job. But nevertheless determined (probably because of pride in his talents) to be a messenger in this matter, his begging of Joab (even after the true messenger was on the way to see David), resulted in Joab letting him run to David.
I am persuaded that Mr. Zacharias was a talented man, but missing a key part of the message; for I don’t think that he taught the true born again message “.... which at the first began to be spoken by the Lord, and was confirmed unto us by them that heard him;...” (Heb. 2:3).
That key part is summed up in Acts 2:38:
“Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.”
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