Summary
Ravi Zacharias International Ministries ("RZIM") is a Bible based ministry with the main focus towards worldwide evangelism undergirded by apologetics, reaching the thinker and opinion makers of the world. With a commitment to strengthening the church, the organization trains emerging leaders through its programs and leadership development curricula. RZIM recognizes that historically the benefits and ethics of any culture are powerfully influenced and molded by the intellectuals and entertainers of society. Moral values do not only enter through the door of reason, but also through the window of the arts and media. With this in mind, this ministry is geared to communicating the Gospel to people on their territory, and presenting the credibility of Christianity as the only reasonable option by which people should live. RZIM was founded by Ravi Zacharias.
This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Contact Information: [ Back to top ]
| Mailing Address: | 4725 Peachtree Corners Cir., Ste 250
Norcross, GA
30092-2553 |
| Website: | www.rzim.org |
| Phone: | (770) 449-6766 |
| Email: | You need to enable javascript to see the email |
Organization Details [ Back to top ]
EIN: 133200719
| CEO/President: |
Dr. Ravi Zacharias |
Tax Deductible: |
Yes |
| Chairman: |
Mr. Ron Eastman |
Fiscal Year End: |
September 30 |
| Board Size: |
16 |
Financial info from: |
990 |
| Founder: |
Dr. Ravi Zacharias |
Member of ECFA: |
Yes |
| Year Founded: |
1984 |
Member of ECFA since: |
1986 |
Ravi Zacharias International Ministries ("RZIM") is a Bible based ministry with the main focus towards worldwide evangelism undergirded by apologetics, reaching the thinker and opinion makers of the world. With a commitment to strengthening the church, the organization trains emerging leaders through its programs and leadership development curricula. RZIM recognizes that historically the benefits and ethics of any culture are powerfully influenced and molded by the intellectuals and entertainers of society. Moral values do not only enter through the door of reason, but also through the window of the arts and media. With this in mind, this ministry is geared to communicating the Gospel to people on their territory, and presenting the credibility of Christianity as the only reasonable option by which people should live. RZIM was founded by Ravi Zacharias.
This organization is a nonprofit. Contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law.
It is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).
Ravi Zacharias International Ministries'uses the following to express its mission:
The primary mission of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) is to support, expand, and enhance the preaching and teaching ministry of Ravi Zacharias, distinctive in its strong evangelistic and apologetic foundation, intended to touch both the heart and the intellect of the thinkers and opinion-makers of society with the Truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]
- In Penang in northern Malaysia, over 200 participants were registered in the apologetics seminar held by RZIM.
- RZIM’s Canadian ministry has several media projects in the works – they are filmmaking in London for an apologetics DVD. They also are starting a project with Campus Crusade for Christ (UK) working on a similar product for a commonwealth-wide release.
- They have been invited to several universities including missions in western Ontario and a tour of four universities in the west of Canada put together by The Navigators.
- In the United Kingdom, RZIM has the goal over the next ten years to see a thousand apologists trained in Europe and enabled to go and reach their generation with the Gospel.
- They are planning an annual week of training in central Europe that will be translated into multiple languages.
- In India, RZIM has been able to share with over 1,225 Christians through their different training programs for Christian leaders.
- They also have been able to offer full-fledged courses in apologetics and the philosophy of religion in some of the premier seminaries in India.
- RZIM held an apologetics seminar in Abu Dhabi, in the Middle East, in January of 2004.
- RZIM is planning to stage the Middle East RZIM Conference for Christian expatriates from twelve Middle East nations.
- RZIM Wellspring International was started in February of 2004. Its purpose is to come alongside existing organizations aiding individuals, primarily women and children, in disadvantaged situations overseas.
- In Indonesia, RZIM is promoting a drug-free lifestyle for teenagers. This is accomplished through school rallies, clubs, literature, counseling, mentorship, and national campaigns.
- In Chennai, India, the ministry has a school for 385 children whose parents cannot afford to send them to government-provided schools. They also operate a home for the elderly destitute.
- In Mumbai, India, RZIM has an outreach to prostitutes and drug addicts (including street children), a medical clinic for prostitutes and their children (the only facility in the city providing free meals and medication), a twenty-four-hour care center for the children while the women are working in the red light district, and the provision of permanent homes for women who are willing and able to escape the industry. The women are taught a vocation such as sewing and are assisted in becoming self-sufficient, or given the option of staying in the safe and comfortable environment provided for them for the rest of their lives. There is also a 12-month program and housing facility for those involved in drug abuse.
- In Thailand, the ministry is partnering with an orphanage providing a home to 50 children who have lost their parents to HIV/AIDS. They also offer education scholarships and financial assistance for women wishing to continue their education and lacking the resources to do so.
Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]
Ravi Zacharias Interational Ministries' uses the following to express its Statement of Faiths:
We believe there is one God who is infinitely perfect, existing eternally in three persons: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We believe Jesus Christ to be true God and in His incarnation to have been true man. He was born of the Virgin Mary, conceived by the Holy Spirit, died for our sins and was raised from the dead for our justification. He is now seated at the right hand of God in majesty, making intercession as our High Priest. He will come again to establish His kingdom of righteousness and peace.
We believe the Old and New Testaments to be the infallible word of God, inerrant as originally given, verbally inspired by God and the complete and sufficient revelation of His will for man's salvation and conduct.
We believe man was originally created in the image of God. Through disobedience and self-centeredness he incurred both physical and spiritual death. Thus, all are now born with a sinful nature, separated from God and can be saved only through the atoning work of Jesus Christ. All who are unrepentant and unbelieving will be lost in a Christless eternity of conscious torment; for those who believe eternity will be spent in God's presence, in His distinct joy and bliss.
We believe the church consists of all those who believe in the Lord Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior. They join together for worship, prayer, fellowship, the proclamation of the Gospel and observance of the ordinances of Baptism and the Lord's Supper.
We believe in the second coming of our Lord Jesus Christ as both personal and visible. This is our blessed hope and serves as an incentive for holy living and faithful service.
We believe in the Great Commission to proclaim the Gospel of our Lord to the uttermost parts of the earth.
Ravi Zacharias has spoken in over fifty countries, including the Middle East, Vietnam and Cambodia (during the military conflict) and in numerous universities worldwide, notably Harvard, Princeton and Oxford University. He has addressed writers of the peace accord in South Africa, President Fujimori's cabinet and parliament in Peru, and military officers at the Lenin Military Academy and the Center for Geopolitical Strategy in Moscow. He is well-versed in the disciplines of comparative religions, cults and philosophy and held the chair of evangelism and contemporary thought at Alliance Theological Seminary for three and a half years.
Mr. Zacharias was born in India in 1946 and immigrated to Canada with his family twenty years later. While pursuing a career in business management, his interest in theology grew; subsequently, he pursued this study during his undergraduate education. He received his Masters of Divinity from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. Mr. Zacharias has been honored by the conferring of a Doctor of Divinity degree from Houghton College, a Doctor of Laws degree from Asbury College and a Doctor of Divinity degree from Tyndale College and Seminary, Toronto.
At the invitation of Billy Graham, he was a plenary speaker at the International Conference for Itinerant Evangelists in Amsterdam in 1983, 1986 and 2000. Mr. Zacharias has been a visiting scholar at Cambridge University, where he studied moralist philosophers and literature of the Romantic era. While at Cambridge he also authored his first book, A Shattered Visage: The Real Face of Atheism. His second book, Can Man Live without God, was awarded the Gold Medallion for best book in the category of doctrine and theology, and has been translated in ten languages. Deliver Us from Evil (1996) followed with an accompanying video series. Cries of the Heart (1998) was his fourth book and his first children's book, The Merchant and the Thief, was released in 1999, with a second to follow in September 2000. Mr. Zacharias' latest book, Jesus Among Other Gods (July 2000), examines Jesus' distinctive response to questions of identity and origin.
Mr. Zacharias is listed as a distinguished lecturer with the Staley Foundation. His weekly radio program, "Let My People Think," is broadcast over 850 stations worldwide, and he has appeared on CNN and other international broadcasts. In January 2000, "A Slice of Infinity," his daily radio program, began airing. He is president of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries, headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, with additional offices in Canada, India and the United Kingdom. Mr. Zacharias and his wife, Margaret, have three children; Sarah, Naomi and Nathan. They reside in Atlanta.
This organization has not offered MinistryWatch.com with specific needs to be posted on the profile. At such a time that MinistryWatch.com receives a response from the ministry, it will be posted immediately.
Research Analysis
Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]
| Transparency Grade of : A |
| Criteria category | Grade | Other Comments |
| Timeliness: | 100 | |
| Financial Information: | 100 | |
| Foundational Clarity: | 100 | 11/16/2007 1:30:13 PM: Descriptive information was abundant and thorough. |
| Level of Cooperation: | | |
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MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]
| Ranking Category | Rating | Overall Rank | Educational Media Sector |
|---|
| Overall Efficiency Rating |  | 280 of 352 | 29 of 40 |
| Fund Acquisition Decision |  | 325 of 352 | 36 of 40 |
| Resource Allocation Decision | | 294 of 352 | 30 of 40 |
| Asset Utilization Decision | | 121 of 352 | 11 of 40 |
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2007 MinistryWatch.com Shining Light top ministry list
2006 MinistryWatch.com Shining Light top ministry list
Ravi Zacharias International Ministries listed by MinistryWatch.com as a Shining Light ‘Top 30’ Exemplary Ministry. This is the 3rd year it has made the MinistryWatch.com “Shining Light” list.
MinistryWatch.com desires to see overall giving to Biblical Christian values increase and as such we developed this format to highlight those ministries which are exemplary. The list is a sampling of the “best ministries” and outstanding examples when we consider Philippians 4:8 and weigh and take account of those ministries that are excellent and worthy of praise.
These ministries are called ‘Shining Lights’ because they are indeed models of letting their Christian light shine before men so that the Gospel may be proclaimed and God be glorified. Consequently, we are shining a figurative light on them so that donors may be aware of their good works and other ministries may learn from their examples.
While identifying the best ministries is challenging given the selfless work that so many do for the cause of Christ, MinistryWatch.com believes that the list of 30 excellent ministries will be helpful to many. Each of the ministries has the following important features in common:
- They have a legitimate non-profit ministry and purpose.
- Have shown a willingness to treat donors fairly via a Transparency Grade of “A”.
- Are unashamed of being identified as an evangelical Christian ministry.
- MinistryWatch.com researchers knows of no significant issues that would be of concern to donors.
A high MinistryWatch.com Financial Efficiency Rating was not a requirement for inclusion on this list although most do have good ratings. Many factors were reviewed and strengths in other areas can offset weakness in financial efficiency when determining whether a ministry should be of interest to donors seeking to be good stewards of their giving. Only you can decide for yourself with confidence if a ministry shares your values and with your giving plan.
This is just another step in our mission of encouraging Christians to give more of their talents and resources to Kingdom-building efforts. In short, we wish to help spread the Gospel of Christ by helping Christians give more and more effectively to the works of the Lord. If the Lord uses our list as part of that process, we will have been a blessing to both those ministries who have been ‘good and faithful servants’ with the Lord’s resources and to Christian donors who are seeking to be good stewards of their giving.
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MinistryWatch.com’s Take
August 2005
By Michael Spicher
Evangelism and Apologetics to a Postmodern Culture
Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) exists “to support, expand, and enhance the preaching, teaching, and vision of Ravi Zacharias. Distinctive in its strong evangelistic and apologetic foundation, it is intended to touch both the heart and the intellect of the thinkers and opinion-makers of society with the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.” RZIM is unique because it stands in the gap between the church and the rest of the world to reach the minds of men and women with the credibility of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. RZIM attempts to recapture the ground that has been lost to skepticism and secularism. RZIM has four main areas that they focus on which are summed up in their vision statement. First, they focus on EVANGELISM, and they especially focus on the skeptics, cultural influencers, and critical thinkers. Second, they approach APOLOGETICS with ideas that confront current issues and the perceived needs of society. Third, they honor SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINES that help individuals to center their minds and hearts on the glory of God. Finally, they offer TRAINING, in order to assist alongside of local churches in fulfilling the mandate in 1 Peter 3:15: “to set apart Christ in our hearts as Lord and always be prepared to give a reason for the hope that is within us, to do this with gentleness and respect, all for the glory of God.”
Ravi Zacharias the Man
Ravi Zacharias has been speaking all over the world for about 33 years, and he has spoken in some of the most prestigious universities on the planet, including Harvard, Princeton, and Oxford. He has also had the privilege to speak to military and government officials in South Africa, Peru, and Moscow. And he has had the honor to speak at the National Day of Prayer in Washington, D. C. Furthermore, he has spoken twice at the Annual Prayer Breakfast at the United Nations in New York, which is what begins the UN session each year. As can clearly be seen, Zacharias is one of the most sought and prolific speakers of our generation. His voice can truly be heard by most people throughout the entire world. He has the keen ability to speak to political leaders, philosophy professors, other types of intellectuals, and yet he can also speak compassionately to those suffering from a major crisis like the shootings in Columbine. Zacharias is arguably a man who can speak anyone’s language.
It all began when he was born in India in 1946, and he moved to Canada with his family about 20 years later. He originally intended to pursue a career in business, but instead developed a strong interest in theology. He began to delve into theology while he was working on his bachelor’s degree. This lead him to go for his Master of Divinity degree from Trinity International University in Deerfield, Ill. Having become very knowledgeable in the areas of comparative religions, cults, and philosophy, he held the chair of Evangelism and Contemporary Thought at Alliance Theological Seminary for more than three years. He has received an honorary Doctorate of Divinity from Houghton College and Tyndale College and Seminary, and a Doctor of Laws from Asbury College.
Along with his speaking, Zacharias has authored many books. His first book, “A Shattered Visage: The Real Face of Atheism” (Baker Book House, 1994), has already been updated and republished by Baker in 2004 under the name “The Real Face of Atheism.” His second book, “Can Man Live without God”(Word Publishing), also came out in 1994, and it won the Gold Medallion for best book in the category of doctrine and theology. “Deliver us from Evil” (Word, 1996) came out next, and this one was later developed into a video series.”Cries of the Heart” (Word, 1998) was his fourth book. Zacharias also put out two children’s books, “The Merchant and the Thief “ (Chariot Victor, 1999) and “The Broken Promise” (Chariot Victor, 2000). “Jesus Among Other Gods” (Word, 2000) came out next, and it was nominated for the Gold Medallion. Then, Zacharias began a series of imaginary conversations between Jesus and famous people. “The Lotus and the Cross: Jesus Talks with Buddha” was published by Multnomah in 2001, and the second one, “Sense and Sensuality: Jesus Talks with Oscar Wilde,” appeared in 2002. “Light in the Shadow of Jihad” (Multnomah, 2002) was his personal reaction to the September 11th tragedy. “Recapture the Wonder” was published by Integrity in 2003, and “I, Isaac take Thee, Rebekah,” a book on marriage, was published by W Publishing Group in 2004. Some of his books have been translated into other languages, such as Russian, Korean, and Thai.
He is the president of RZIM, which has headquarters in Atlanta, Ga. They also have bases in Canada, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United Arab Emirates. Zacharias has two radio broadcasts. One is called “Let My People Think,” which goes out weekly to over 1500 nations worldwide. The other one is called “Just Thinking,” and this one goes out on weekdays. Zacharias and his wife, Margie, have their home in Atlanta They have three children, Sarah, who is married to Jeremy, Naomi, and Nathan. They live in Atlanta as well.
The Four-fold Emphasis Expounded
Evangelism - One of the main things that RZIM does to be effective in evangelism is that they go present the Gospel of Jesus Christ to people on their own territory. They lecture, debate, and teach people on their own territory, whether it is a school, a radio program, or a TV show. The leadership of RZIM confront the leaders, thinkers, and decision-makers of society up close and personal, rather than merely from a distance through books, TV, radio, and the Internet (though they utilize these things as well).
Apologetics - Ravi Zacharias and his team are on the cutting edge of thinkers and movements in our culture. They defend the Christian faith with information that is current and relevant. They are well-educated in order to handle the task that they have in apologetics. Zacharias gets to speak in some very prestigious places because he has gained their respect as a thinker and intellectual. Zacharias has proven his ability to talk with the most educated in our society again and again. “With a team of people based in six countries, RZIM is committed to reaching this generation around the world – in the university, the arts, politics, business, and the church. Through open forums, community outreach, and various media, we seek to remove the barriers to the cross for the skeptic and we prepare Christians to give a reason for the hope within us” (from RZIM.org).
Spiritual Disciplines - In all of his teachings to the church, Ravi Zacharias always emphasizes the importance of prayer, bible reading, and other spiritual disciplines in the life of the believer. Knowledge is not enough. It certainly seems that the main way that RZIM helps Christians develop their spiritual disciplines is through their printed materials. Zacharias’ books and all of the literature that are available through RZIM.
Training - Through Wycliffe Hall/Zacharias Trust, one can earn a certificate of evangelism and apologetics. This program attempts to meet the following objectives: 1) give students a basic grasp of theology; 2) help students present the gospel more effectively in contemporary societies; 3) prepare them to answer questions posed to Christians from other worldviews; 4) help the student develop a spiritual lifestyle that will sustain them in ministry and in lifestyle; 5) provide opportunities for supervised practical training and experience in evangelism and apologetics. The good thing is that anyone can do this program; you do not have to have any prior degrees in theology or philosophy. The program lasts only one academic year.
Getting Involved with RZIM
On its website, RZIM outlines three main ways for people to get involved in the ministry. First, RZIM asks for prayer. The opportunities they have for ministry continue to grow, and they ask for prayer in discerning God’s direction and wisdom. Second, they seek people’s involvement as serious students of God’s Word. They have many resources available to help guide in the study of the Bible and things pertaining to Christianity. Third RZIM needs financial assistance in order to keep going.