Ian deGroot, Thompson’s accountant whom familiar with act as the treasurer for Maranatha, corroborated Thompson’s story

DeGroot stated bankruptcy proceeding filings revealed Visser’s team due around $800,000 to about 12 members of Maranatha or their own businesses, including the Thompsons. DeGroot in addition offered records of Thompson’s loans to Visser’s people.

Thompson said as he recognized that Visser wasn’t likely to shell out your back once again, he registered case against Visser additionally the church to recover their cash. (Thompson said his lawyer recommended suing for $one million because plaintiffs ordinarily bring half of whatever ask and Thompson could sustain appropriate charge.)

Thompson put that he and Visser never reached a settlement as Zacharias’ match alleged. Rather, Thompson said he dropped the match because Visser gone bankrupt.

Thompson mentioned the guy could have still pursued the suit contrary to the church additionally the denomination. But rather, the guy and Lori Anne chose to work around the CRC denomination in an attempt to push liability.

a€?Significant economic Distressa€?

Both Brad Thompson and Ian deGroot critical link laughed while I requested if Thompson was at a€?significant financial distressa€? after their alleged a€?settlementa€? with his pastor, as Zacharias’ suit alleges.

Similarly, Tamara Battiste, Lori Anne Thompson’s aunt, mentioned: a€?Thompson was a millionaire . . . They don’t wanted money. Obtained never-needed funds.a€?

Taxation statements the Thompsons gave show that from 2010-2017, the Thompsons produced between $193,000-$552,000 each of those years. In 2017-the year the Thompsons sent the need letter to Zacharias- the couple produced $443,000.

The happy couple additionally gave generously to charities and ministries during those many years. In 2015, the Thompsons donated a lot more than $102,000 to foundation. In 2016 and 2017, the couple donated about $50,000/year to foundation.

James search, Chief Executive Officer of UCB Canada-the premier Christian transmission system in Canada-said Brad Thompson was actually one of UCB Canada’s biggest supporters before 2017.

Hunt said Thompson paid the airtime for Ravi Zacharias’ radio plan on UCB Canada. Look said that’s the reason why Thompson had been invited to sponsor a table from the luncheon where Brad and Lori Anne met Zacharias.

Over time, look said he is reached learn Thompson well and defined your as an a€?honorable guya€? and a€?someone of integrity.a€?

Precisely why the Requirements Letter?

a€?As Lori Anne and I learned more and more predation and brushing and the number of victims that predators posses . . . we realized we had a moral duty, or a godly responsibility, ahead of the Lord, not to ever do nothing,a€? Brad stated.

Brad stated the happy couple weighed several options. One, got going right to the board of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). However, the couple quickly ignored the concept since they thought Ravi Zacharias, his girlfriend, and his awesome child, Sarah-who’s now President of RZIM-were all members of RZIM’s panel.

RZIM no longer posts the names of the panel people. However, in 2014, whenever RZIM past published an IRS type 990, Zacharias, his partner, along with his daughter, Sarah, were regarding panel. We attained out over and over to RZIM, asking who was simply on the board in 2017, but RZIM couldn’t address my personal question.

Thompson mentioned he and Lori Anne in addition thought about going to the nyc circumstances or other major publication. However the couples decided against they because he stated both of them are struggling with views of suicide and couldn’t manage the public humiliation that could bring.

However, the happy couple stated they performed launch their particular comments to a few bloggers because they had been confident word would not spread to their own home town in Ontario.

However Thompson mentioned he and Lori Anne both thought the only way to make Zacharias grab all of them honestly was to send the need page. The guy mentioned their unique attorney, tag Bryant, recommended the $5 million figure therefore the partners dependable their view.