Were Brad and Lori Anne Thompson extortionists who entrapped Ravi Zacharias in a sexting scandal for money? Or, will they be victims of Zacharias-an alleged sexual predator, who preemptively prosecuted all of them once they attempted to hold Zacharias answerable?
This question for you is central to a 2017 sexting scandal concerning Zacharias and Lori Anne Thompson, and evaluating latest facts reported in Parts One and component a couple of this collection.
But some proof that relatively contradicts this narrative was a need letter the couple’s attorney during the time, .
The page said that Zacharias got a€?caused permanent problems for the Thompson family.a€? And it claimed that rather than a€?protracted and public court,a€? the Thompsons would sign a release of Zacharias along with his ministry for a€?the amount of $5 million cash.a€?
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Four months later on, Zacharias responded with a federal suit, accusing the Thompsons of a€?coaxing your into an improper online relationshipa€? within a months-long strategy to extort money from him.
One, they mentioned that Brad Thompson had formerly prosecuted a pastor with his chapel, declaring the pastor got made use of their place to coerce Mr. Thompson into generating a€?ill-advised loans and investment.a€? Per Zacharias’ lawsuit, Thompson dismissed his suit up against the pastor in 2010 a€?after the activities inserted into a settlement.a€?
Furthermore, Zacharias’ lawsuit alleged that a€?sometime after the payment, the Thompsons started experiencing big financial worry,a€? therefore offering additional objective for their so-called extortion system.
But a deeper study of these occasions, while the situation around all of them, casts doubt regarding the statements in Zacharias’ suit.
In 2008, Brad Thompson, a commercial contractor and business proprietor, sued Pastor John Visser and Maranatha Christian Reformed chapel (CRC) in Belleville, Ontario, for nearly $one million in damage.
Per Christianity this 2017 article throughout the sexting scandal, the lawsuit had been fallen. And also the a€?pastor had been briefly suspended, but his chapel and denomination ultimately endured by your.a€?
Visser’s denomination wouldn’t the stand by position your. They merely provided him a 90-day suspension, as opposed to deposing your, which was the recommendation of this CRC’s Judicial laws panel, which examined Visser in 2012.
The CRC Synod figured Visser got a€?guilty of punishment with the company of a minister.a€? And to the Thompsons, the Synod unearthed that a€?Pastor Visser abused their office for inappropriate stops and/or self-interest by obtaining and/or letting a counselee . . . to buy companies that (Visser) with his group had.a€?
Eventually, the denomination enabled Visser to return on the pastorate, but just after posting into the denomination’s requirements that Visser find outside supervision for his counseling ministry.
I talked with Brad Thompson in what taken place between him and Visser. (Though Brad mentioned he and Lori Anne cannot speak about their relationship with Zacharias because of their NDA, the guy stated he and Lori Anne are liberated to talk about other things. Additionally they can speak about certain accusations Zacharias built in his 2017 declaration about all of them.)
Brad mentioned both he and Lori Anne concerned Christ as adults from damaged backgrounds, and are keen on Visser’s church due to its healing ministry and a€?heavy shepherdinga€? product. (Lori Anne has authored a lot more detailed in regards to the couples’s experience at her blogs.)
Brad mentioned both he and Lori Anne went along to Visser for counseling. And Brad mentioned it absolutely was relating to this guidance connection that Visser coaxed Brad into loaning him cash over and over.