A statement by the Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) says that sexual misconduct allegations against Zacharias have been found to be true. The lawyers investigating the misconduct say they have found evidence of ”Sexual misconduct over many years’. (scroll down to see their report_
Here is the text of the RZIM board statement:
In August 2020, allegations of sexual misconduct were made against our Founder, Ravi Zacharias. Unfortunately, Ravi had died several months before we first learned of these allegations, so we were unable to explore them with him directly. We engaged Miller & Martin PLLC to investigate these allegations, while also giving them wide latitude to go wherever their investigation might lead them. We have also repeatedly stated our intention not to comment on the investigation until receiving a final report on it.
However, while the investigation remains ongoing and is not expected to be completed until January or February, yesterday we received a brief interim update on the investigation we felt we needed to share (attached). Sadly, the interim investigation update indicates this assessment of Ravi’s behavior to be true—that he did indeed engage in sexual misconduct.
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. 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.
We are devastated for those who have suffered from Ravi’s misconduct and for the pain that they are enduring. They have asked for confidentiality and anonymity, and both we and the investigators are committed to honoring their wishes.
This preliminary statement is not intended to cut short the investigation or predict its full outcome. We want to ensure the investigators have appropriate time and space to complete their work and allow all those who may still desire to have a voice in this process to do so. We ask for continued patience as we complete a lengthy process of investigating serious allegations.
RZIM will publicly release the Miller & Martin report as given to the Board as soon as possible after the investigation is complete. In the meantime, we share your compassion for any victims of this conduct, and we appreciate your prayers for them and also for Ravi’s family who have been devastated by this information. As ever, the Lord remains our principal hope for healing and restoration.
(End of the statement)
We have found significant, credible evidence that Mr. Zacharias engaged in sexual misconduct over the course of many years
Miller & Martin are the lawyers engaged by RZIM to investigate the allegations.
Here is the text of their report:
Interim Report of Investigation into Allegations of Sexual Harassment by Ravi Zacharias
Dear Members of the Special Committee of the RZIM Board of Directors:
As you know, my firm was hired by Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (“RZIM”) to conduct an independent investigation into allegations of sexual harassment raised against Ravi Zacharias. This communication is intended to provide this special committee of the RZIM Board of Directors with a very high-level interim update of our investigation so far.
As to methodology, we contracted with a well-regarded private investigations firm to assist in this matter. Over the past several weeks, our investigation team has interviewed dozens of witnesses (whose identities will remain known only to the Miller & Martin investigation team, as agreed to by the RZIM Board of Directors), including many massage therapists who treated Mr. Zacharias. Some of the therapists with whom we spoke worked at the Touch of Eden and Jivan Wellness spas mentioned in the September 29, 2020 Christianity Today article, and others provided treatments to Mr. Zacharias at different points in time. In addition to witness interviews, we have reviewed numerous documents and electronic devices used by Mr. Zacharias over the years.
As to scope, we were hired specifically to investigate the sexual harassment alleged to have occurred at the Touch of Eden and Jivan Wellness spas roughly a decade ago. However, 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. At this time, we are not disclosing any specific conduct we are investigating beyond the spa allegations, but the full breadth of our investigation will be addressed in our final report.
While some of the massage therapists we have tried to interview are not willing to share their experiences with us, many have spoken candidly and with great detail. 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. Our investigation is ongoing, and we continue to pursue leads.
We intend to conclude our investigation in January or early February and will provide a final written report of our findings to the RZIM Board of Directors soon thereafter, which we understand the Board will release publicly. We will continue to protect the identities of victims and witnesses who have confided in us and will not disclose their identities without their express permission, as we believe that protection is vital to the integrity of our work.
Sincerely,
s/ Lynsey M. Barron
Lynsey M. Barron, Esq.
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