Betrayed Trust, Part Three: Ravi Zacharias Said Accusers in Sexting Scandal Had Been Extortionists, But Evidence Shows Or Else
Tend to be Brad and Lori Anne Thompson extortionists just who entrapped Ravi Zacharias in a sexting scandal for monetary gain? Or, will they be sufferers of Zacharias-an alleged sexual predator, just who preemptively charged them whenever they attempted to keep Zacharias responsible?
This question for you is central to a 2017 sexting scandal concerning Zacharias and Lori Anne Thompson, and assessing new proof reported in Parts One and role a couple of this show.
But an article of evidence that seemingly contradicts this narrative try a need letter the couple’s lawyer at the time, .
The letter claimed that Zacharias have a€?caused permanent problems for the Thompson household.a€? And it reported that instead of a€?protracted and community court,a€? the Thompsons would signal a release of Zacharias and his ministry for a€?the level of $5 million cash.a€?
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Four period later on, Zacharias replied with a national lawsuit, accusing the Thompsons of a€?coaxing your into an inappropriate web relationshipa€? as an element of a months-long scheme to extort funds from your.
One, they claimed that Brad Thompson had formerly sued a pastor and his chapel, declaring your pastor had used his situation to coerce Mr. Thompson into creating a€?ill-advised debts and assets.a€? According to Zacharias’ lawsuit, Thompson ignored his suit up against the pastor in 2010 a€?after the parties registered into a settlement.a€?
Furthermore, Zacharias’ suit alleged that a€?sometime following payment, the Thompsons started experiencing big economic worry,a€? therefore offering added reason for alleged extortion system.
However, a better examination of these occasions, together with conditions around all of them, casts question throughout the states in Zacharias’ match.
The Suit Versus Maranatha
In 2008, Brad Thompson, an industrial builder and business owner, sued Pastor John Visser and Maranatha Christian Reformed Church (CRC) in Belleville, Ontario, for almost $1 million in injuries.
Based on Christianity the 2017 article regarding sexting scandal, the lawsuit had been fell. Together with a€?pastor was temporarily suspended, but their chapel and denomination in the end stood by your.a€?
Visser’s denomination didn’t stand by him. They simply gave your a 90-day suspension system, in place of deposing him, that has been the referral of the CRC’s Judicial signal panel, which examined Visser in 2012.
The CRC Synod concluded that Visser ended up being a€?guilty of misuse on the workplace of a minister.a€? And regarding the Thompsons, the Synod found that a€?Pastor Visser mistreated his office for unacceptable stops and/or self-interest by soliciting and/or permitting a counselee . . . to buy firms that (Visser) and his awesome family owned.a€?
Fundamentally, the denomination enabled Visser to return towards the pastorate, but just after publishing with the denomination’s need that Visser see external supervision for his sessions ministry.
Betrayed Trust, Parts Three: Ravi Zacharias Claimed Accusers in Sexting Scandal Comprise Extortionists, But Research Means Otherwise
We spoke with Brad Thompson by what taken place between your and Visser. (Though Brad stated 
he and Lori Anne could not discuss their particular relationship with Zacharias because of their NDA, he said he and Lori Anne is able to discuss anything. In addition they can discuss particular accusations Zacharias manufactured in his 2017 statement about all of them.)
Brad mentioned both the guy and Lori Anne stumbled on Christ as adults from broken backgrounds, and comprise attracted to Visser’s church simply because of its therapeutic ministry and a€?heavy shepherdinga€? model. (Lori Anne has written more in-depth concerning the couple’s knowledge at the woman site.)
Brad stated both he and Lori Anne went to Visser for counseling. And Brad stated it actually was in the context of this counseling relationship that Visser coaxed Brad into loaning him money over and over repeatedly.
