Ep. 390: Ravi Zacharias, Barnabas Aid Leader Resigns

MinistryWatch Podcast

On today’s program, three years after sexual abuse allegations surfaced against the late apologist Ravi Zacharias, imploding his organization and his legacy, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries appears to remain in operation…with little to no transparency. We dug around for some answers.

Plus, a Knoxville-area ministry is restoring dignity and hope to its homeless population. We’ll take a look.

And, the latest from a recent survey on the state of church compensation. We’ll have details.

But first, the founder of Barnabas Aid has been forced to resign over allegations of financial mismanagement and a toxic work culture.

The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Marci Seither, Adelle Banks, Catherine Pepinster, and Christina Darnell.

Until next time, may God bless you.

MANUSCRIPT

FIRST SEGMENT

Warren:

Hello everybody. I’m Warren Smith, coming to you from Charlotte, North Carolina.

Natasha:

And I’m Natasha Cowden, coming to you from Denver, Colorado. And we’d like to welcome you to the MinistryWatch podcast.

Warren:

On today’s program, three years after sexual abuse allegations surfaced against the late apologist Ravi Zacharias, imploding his organization and his legacy, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries appears to remain in operation…with little to no transparency. We dug around for some answers.

Plus, a Knoxville-area ministry is restoring dignity and hope to its homeless population. We’ll take a look.

And, the latest from a recent survey on the state of church compensation. We’ll have details.

Natasha:

But first, the founder of Barnabas Aid has been forced to resign over allegations of financial mismanagement and a toxic work culture.

Warren:

Patrick Sookhdeo, his wife Rosemarie, and two members of the United Kingdom board of trustees—Caroline Kerslake and Prasad Phillips—were suspended from leadership until an independent investigation can be completed.

While the U.S. affiliate and fundraising arm of Barnabas Aid, also known as Barnabas Fund, has a different CEO than the U.K. affiliate, the Sookhdeos, Kerslake, and Phillips are all listed as board members of Barnabas Aid in the U.S.A.

Natasha:

What happened??

Warren:

Following whistleblower complaints earlier this year, some members of the board began raising questions about the management of the charity and charity funds.

The statement Barnabas Aid said it appears the Sookhdeos were among those who failed to comply with the internal policies and created a “toxic work environment” that undermined the staff’s feeling that they could voice their concerns.

“In addition, we have also identified significant payments made to the founders (and to others close to them—including some Board Members/Trustees) which cannot be readily explained.

Ample opportunity has been provided to the founders to explain those transactions but sadly they have refused to cooperate,” the Barnabas Aid statement added.

Natasha:

This wasn’t the first time that the founders have been in the news

Warren:

Barnabas Founder Patrick Sookhdeo was found guilty in 2015 for one count of sexual assault and two counts of witness intimidation, charges Sookhdeo vehemently denies.

A few years later, in 2020, a UK employment tribunal found Sookhdeo guilty of condemning and shunning the ministry’s head of research, Dr. Martin Parsons. Barnabas said in a statement that at the time of the allegations, Sookhdeo was not working for Barnabas, but was working in its offices while carrying out his role for the Oxford Centre for Religion and Public Life.

In the MinistryWatch database, Barnabas Aid (USA) receives a four-star financial efficiency rating, an A transparency grade, and the highest donor confidence score of 100.

Natasha:

Next, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries still exists three years after allegations rocked its operations but it still lacks transparency

Warren:

After Ravi Zacharias’ death in 2020 and the subsequent investigation into sexual abuse allegations against him, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) suspended fundraising and lost many of its speakers and leaders.

Zacharias’ daughter Sarah (Davis) Phillips wrote in an email shared with MinistryWatch that RZIM planned to “transition to a grantmaking entity, much like a charitable foundation, which will support a variety of ministries, causes, and kingdom-building efforts. Specifically, we expect this new entity will make grants in two areas: furthering our original mission to preach the gospel through the questions of culture, and the prevention of and caring for victims of sexual abuse.”

Phillips resigned from her role as CEO of RZIM in October 2021 with plans to start a new organization. Eventually named Lighten Group, the ministry lasted less than a year before it announced its closure.

Natasha:

So is RZIM now a grantmaking ministry? What has happened to the assets entrusted to RZIM?

Warren:

MinistryWatch has looked into the continuing operations of RZIM and discovered it continues to exist, but with little transparency or accountability. RZIM still has a website, but no financial information or grant applications are posted there. It also has an operational phone system with a staff directory.

According to the Georgia Secretary of State’s website, RZIM filed its annual registration with the corporations division in 2023 for 2023 and 2024.

A MinistryWatch search did not turn up any certificate or articles of dissolution of RZIM in Georgia.

A building owned since 2016 by RZIM was sold earlier this year to Free Chapel for $14.5 million.

According to a blog post by son Nathan Zacharias, a $45-million life insurance policy existed on Ravi Zacharias’ life and was payable to RZIM.

Natasha:

Do we know what they’ve done with the money?

Warren:

MinistryWatch reached out to some former speakers and employees of RZIM to ask if they knew anything about grants given by the ministry. But none of them had any information to share

Abdu Murray, a former senior leader at RZIM, told MinistryWatch he has had no contact with the group since leaving in 2021. He did not respond to a specific question about whether he received any funding from RZIM for his new group, Embrace the Truth.

Natasha:

Next, a parsonage is for sale in Texas.

Warren:

A luxury 24-acre estate with six houses and 22 garage parking spaces may not meet most people’s definition of a parsonage.

But the tax code says otherwise—this one Texas home is turning heads after being listed on realtor.com for $15 million.

Located in a Houston suburb, the property is the home of Bishop I.V. Hilliard and his wife, Pastor Bridget Hilliard. It belongs to New Light Church (also known as New Light Christian Center Church), a multi-site, Word of Faith megachurch that the Hilliards founded in 1984f.

Natasha:

However, this is not the first time the Hilliards, who teach a form of the so-called Prosperity Gospel, have made headlines for their lavish lifestyle and use of church donations.

Warren:

In 2013, Bishop Hilliard, who has an estimated net worth of $22 million, sparked criticism with a fundraiser mailing that asked supporters to donate $52 each to replace the blades of his helicopter.

Natasha:

Did he stand by his words?

Warren:

Hilliard defended the letter, stressing the importance of the helicopter for serving the church’s six campuses and denying he had made any “bogus claims, prophecies or guarantees promising the donor will receive their dream mode of transportation in 52 days or 52 weeks.”

As to why the parsonage has been put on the market, no statement has been released.

Natasha:

Warren, let’s take a quick break. When we return, a Knoxville-area rescue ministry pray that homeless people who walk through their doors will find not only a safe place to sleep at night, but peace in the gospel message.

I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and we’ll have that story and much more, after this short break.

BREAK

SECOND SEGMENT

Natasha:

Welcome back. I’m Natasha Cowden, along with my co-host Warren Smith, and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch podcast.

Next, the story we promised before the break, a ministry focused on restoring lives in Jesus’ name.

Warren:

In the 1960s, five pastors saw the need to create a place for Knoxville’s homeless population. What started as a place for men is now a refuge for men, women, and mothers with children. Over 1,000 meals are served daily; most nights, the dorm-style rooms with over 300 beds are full. Each bed is prayed over by volunteers from across Knoxville in the hope that those who sleep there will not only find rest for the night, but peace in the gospel message.

Natasha:

And they run the 89,000-square-foot center, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week

Warren:

And there’s a lot of work to be done – They do roughly 300 loads of laundry every day by 2:00. Then they do it all over again.

Thankfully, they don’t have to do the work alone. Volunteers continue to support the KARM center. In 2024, over 1,700 volunteers have contributed more than 10,000 hours.

KARM’s president and CEO, Danita McCartney, knows that despite KARM’s growth, its mission remains the same: to restore the lives of our homeless neighbors through Christ-centered support.

Natasha:

Next, a retirement settlement agreement in the AME

Warren:

The African Methodist Episcopal Church announced a settlement agreement with a number of its clergy who had sued the denomination, accusing it of mishandling their retirement funds.

The settlement, which must still be approved by a judge, came Monday (Aug. 26) as delegates to the AME Church General Conference are meeting in Columbus, Ohio, for their quadrennial meeting that concluded on Wednesday. Prior to and during the meeting, AME Church members were calling for action after the former director of the Department of Retirement Services, the Rev. Jerome Harris, and others were accused in a 2022 class-action litigation of a total loss of $90 million.

Natasha:

How much was the settlement?

Warren:

Douglass P. Selby, the AME Church’s general counsel said that The total of the settlement is $20 million.

This is a partial settlement subject to approval of the judge in the class-action case.

At the time the suit was filed, nearly 5,000 pastors, church elders, and other employees were affected.

AME Church officials, in their settlement announcement, repeated their pledge to do all they can to restore the retirement money.

Natasha:

In a similar line, a Methodist Pastor in Nebraska has been Sentenced for Embezzlement From Church.

Warren:

Joseph Schumacher, 43, was arrested in November for unauthorized use of a financial transaction device and theft by deception.

In June, he pleaded guilty to two reduced charges of attempted theft and was sentenced last week to consecutive 90-day sentences and 12 months of probation. He was also ordered to pay $6,740 in restitution.

Natasha:

How did he take the money?

Warren:

Bank statements from the Mitchell Methodist Church showed 32 unauthorized ATM withdrawals from the church account totaling over $8,000 during a period starting in 2021 and continuing through late 2023, the Star Herald reported.

The church also reportedly gave Schumacher a $4,500 check, which he cashed, to pay for schooling he never engaged in.

He served as a UMC pastor in Nebraska from 2017 until his arrest in November 2023.

Natasha:

Warren, let’s look at one more story before we take a break, what do you have?

Warren:

A former Christian school math teacher, who is now serving as a student pastor, has been charged with six counts of sexual battery with a student.

According to police, Norman Jermain Roberson, 36, is accused of engaging in an inappropriate relationship in 2015 with a 16 or 17-year-old student while he worked as a math teacher and director of musical programs at Fountain Inn Christian School in Fountain Inn, S.C. The alleged crimes took place between April and November 2015, according to a report by FOX Carolina.

Natasha:

Roberson was charged earlier this month by Laurens County Sheriff’s Office for similar incidents.

Warren:

And now faces six additional counts of sexual battery after an investigation. He is believed to have had illegal encounters in several locations in South Carolina, including Simpsonville, the city of Greenville, and Greenville County.

Roberson has worked as a youth pastor at Word of Life Church in Simpsonville since 2019, according to his LinkedIn profile. He also was a youth pastor at GoChurch in Greenville for two years before his time at Fountain Inn Christian School, where he claims he worked from March 2015 to June 2016. His profile also says he is married.

The investigation into Roberson’s alleged actions in 2015 remains ongoing by the Laurens County Sheriff’s Office.

Natasha:

Warren, we’re going to take another break. When we return, our lightning round of ministry news of the week.

I’m Natasha Cowden, with my co-host Warren Smith. More in a moment.

BREAK

THIRD SEGMENT

Natasha:

Welcome back. I’m Natasha Cowden, with my co-host Warren Smith and you’re listening to the MinistryWatch Podcast.

Warren, we like to use this last segment as a sort of lightning round of shorter news briefs.

What’s up first?

Warren:

Let me take you down to Strawberry Fields— no, not the memorial in New York’s Central Park to the former Beatle John Lennon, who was slain in Manhattan in 1980, but to the place that inspired his song, where the Salvation Army is conducting an experiment in mixing tourism with faith and social compassion.

The original Strawberry Field was a children’s home in Liverpool, just around the corner from John Lennon’s childhood home. It inspired the Beatles’ 1966 track “Strawberry Fields Forever,” penned by Lennon (who added an “s” to its name), as well as what may be one of the most innovative projects undertaken by the Salvation Army, the Christian anti-poverty movement founded in mid-1800s London.

Natasha:

How so?

Warren:

But the army has now deployed Strawberry Field’s connection to the Beatles to draw more visitors to fund its mission and encourage people who would never consider stepping inside a church to find out about Christianity.

The children’s home, closed in 2005, has been demolished. In its place is a new structure that contains a prayer space, a café, and an exhibition about Lennon and the Beatles that includes one of Lennon’s pianos. The building also houses a training project to help young people with special needs get into work.

There’s a whole lot more to this heartwarming story, I’d recommend reading the whole thing if you have a chance at MinistryWatch.com

Natasha:

What’s Next?

Warren:

According to the annual State of the Church Compensation Survey by ChurchSalary, the average church increased their staff salaries and benefits more than they expected in 2024.

In 2023, churches predicted they would increase personnel budgets by 4.5%, but the average actual increase turned out to be 4.9%. The greatest increase was seen in the cost of benefits.

When it comes to benefit spending increases, 59% of churches reported increases in their health care benefit spending while 34% said they increased retirement contributions for staff.

Nearly half of participating churches also plan to provide a 3.3% cost of living adjustment to staff in their 2025 budgets. They also expect the cost of benefits to increase by another 4.5% in the upcoming year.

Church Law & Tax division leader Matt Branaugh pointed out that, on April 23, the federal Department of Labor released a new minimum salary requirement for exempt employees that took effect on July 1. Another increase is scheduled for January 1, 2025.

The minimum annual salary for exempt employees increased from $35,568 to $43,888 on July 1 then is moving to $58,656 on January 1, 2025. Automatic increases every three years are scheduled to begin on July 1, 2027.

Natasha:

Who did Christina highlight in her Ministries Making a Difference column?

Warren:

The Word for the World is using AI called AiBT (artificial intelligence immersed Bible translation) to develop first drafts of the Bible in languages that do not have Scripture in their “heart language.” The new capabilities will fast track the process, accomplishing much of the initial translation work and getting it into the hands of indigenous Bible translators trained by the ministry who will then use “community and exegetical reviews and checks along with human Bible consultant reviews” to finish translating Scripture into their mother tongue. The Word for the World has 5 stars, an “A” transparency grade, and a 100 donor confidence score in the MinistryWatch database.

Natasha:

And there’s news from Nazarene Compassionate Ministries.

Warren:

The group mobilized a disaster response team to deploy to areas of the Philippines impacted by floods and a fatal landslide, local churches partnered with them to set up “Child-Friendly Spaces,” distribute relief goods, and minister to victims. Nazarene Compassionate Ministries has 5 stars, an “A” transparency grade, and a donor confidence score of 100 in the MinistryWatch database—the highest score in each of the three categories.

Natasha:

Warren, any final thoughts before we go?

Warren:

Webinar – How To Read A Form 990.

AI Text to Audio experiment on podcast.

Final days to donate and receive WORLD.

Natasha:

The producer for today’s program is Jeff McIntosh. We get database and other technical support from Stephen DuBarry, Rod Pitzer, and Casey Sudduth. Writers who contributed to today’s program include Kim Roberts, Tony Mator, Marci Seither, Adelle Banks, Catherine Pepinster, and Christina Darnell.

I’m Natasha Cowden, in Denver, Colorado.

Warren:

And I’m Warren Smith in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Natasha:

You’ve been listening to the MinistryWatch podcast. Until next time, may God bless you.