Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

Late Indian-American preacher committed sex abuse, his ministry confirms

Late Indian-American preacher committed sex abuse, his ministry confirms

US-based Christian organisation RZIM says a preliminary investigation has revealed its founder Ravi Zacharias sexually assaulted spa workers in Atlanta.

Less than a year after prominent Christian apologist Ravi Zacharias’ death, the US-based organisation he founded has confirmed allegations of sexual misconduct made against him.

The board of directors’ executive committee at RZIM this week said that preliminary results from an investigation had confirmed allegations that Zacharias had abused workers at two spas that he co-owned.

The abuse by the influential spiritual leader spanned years and may go beyond those spas, the RZIM statement said.

According to a September 29 article in Christianity Today, three women, who worked at locations in metro Atlanta, claimed that Zacharias had touched them inappropriately and exposed himself during regular treatments. Details of the allegations by the women have not been made public.

The investigation is ongoing and a final report is not expected until early next year, according to RZIM.

“Sadly, the interim investigation update indicates this assessment of Ravi’s behaviour to be true – that he did indeed engage in sexual misconduct,” according to the statement.

“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,” RZIM said.

“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. We will speak more comprehensively to all concerned after the completion of the investigation,” it said.

The organisation also addressed those hurt by Zacharias’ action, saying it was devastated for those who have suffered from his “misconduct and for the pain that they are enduring”.


RZIM is calling for any other potential victims of apologist Ravi Zacharias come forward


Zacharias, head of a global ministry and bestselling author, died in May at his home in Atlanta, following a brief battle with cancer. He was 74.

The Chennai-born preacher spent nearly five decades addressing questions of origin, meaning, morality and destiny. As a Christian apologist, Zacharias defended religious doctrine and philosophy.

He was a close friend of the late evangelist Billy Graham and among those who spoke at his memorial service was Vice-President Mike Pence.

RZIM said that in August this year – three months after his death – that allegations of sexual misconduct were made against its founder. It hired the Atlanta law firm of Miller & Martin to investigate the allegations.

Lawyer Lynsey Barron of Miller & Martin said the firm would not comment beyond the letter to RZIM.

The organisation decided to address the allegations publicly earlier this week, following an interim investigation update. The report did not identify his accusers.

The website included a copy of the interim report. According to the report, investigators spoke with therapists who had treated Zacharias from the Touch of Eden and Jivan Wellness spas as well as others who treated him over the years. They also reviewed documents and electronic devices used by Zacharias.

RZIM is calling for any other potential victims to come forward. RZIM was founded in 1984 and has a worldwide reach, with offices in places including Britain, Latin America, India, Singapore and Hong Kong.

Zacharias discovered his calling aged 17, after trying to take his own life by swallowing poison. He survived and turned to the Bible while recovering in hospital.

During the 1970s, Zacharias spent time in Vietnam where he evangelised to both US soldiers and imprisoned Viet Cong members. Later, he travelled to Cambodia, where he preached before it fell to the Khmer Rouge.

Some years after founding RZIM, Zacharias expanded into academia, launching the Veritas Forum, hosted on the campus of Harvard University. In 2004, he established the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics at Oxford University, where he was an honorary senior research fellow between 2007 and 2015.

Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×