DeGroot mentioned case of bankruptcy filings confirmed Visser’s providers owed around $800,000 to about 12 people in Maranatha or her people, including the Thompsons. DeGroot also supplied paperwork of Thompson’s financial loans to Visser’s organizations.
Thompson mentioned when he noticed that Visser was not going to pay your straight back, the guy filed case against Visser and also the chapel to try and recover his money. (Thompson said their attorney recommended suing for $1 million because plaintiffs usually become 50 % of whatever they inquire and Thompson could incur legal charge.)
Thompson extra which he and Visser never attained funds as Zacharias’ fit alleged. As an alternative, Thompson stated he dropped the fit because Visser went broke.
Thompson said he could have nonetheless pursued the suit resistant to the chapel and also the denomination. But alternatively, the guy and Lori Anne decided to operate around the CRC denomination to bring responsibility.
a€?Significant Investment Distressa€?
Both Brad Thompson and Ian deGroot laughed while I questioned if Thompson was in a€?significant economic distressa€? after his alleged a€?settlementa€? with his pastor, as Zacharias’ lawsuit alleges.
Likewise, Tamara Battiste, Lori Anne Thompson’s sis, stated: a€?Thompson is actually a millionaire . . . They just don’t require money. They usually have never-needed cash.a€?
Tax returns the Thompsons provided reveal that from 2010-2017, the Thompsons made between $193,000-$552,000 all of those ages. In 2017-the 12 months the Thompsons delivered the requirements letter to Zacharias- the happy couple made $443,000.
The happy couple also offered nicely to charities and ministries during those ages. In 2015, the Thompsons contributed significantly more than $102,000 to foundation. In 2016 and 2017, the happy couple donated about $50,000/year to foundation.
James search, President of UCB Canada-the prominent Christian transmission community in Canada-said Brad Thompson had been among UCB Canada’s major followers in advance of 2017.
Search mentioned Thompson backed the airtime for Ravi Zacharias’ radio program on UCB Canada. Search mentioned that’s precisely why Thompson had been welcomed to sponsor a table on luncheon where Brad and Lori Anne satisfied Zacharias.
Over time, look mentioned he’s gotten to know Thompson really and explained your as an a€?honorable guya€? and a€?someone of stability.a€?
Why the Requirements Page?
a€?As Lori Anne and I realized much more about predation and grooming therefore the level of sufferers that predators has . . . we understood we’d a moral responsibility, or a godly obligations, ahead of the Lord, not to do-nothing,a€? Brad said.
Brad said the couple considered several options. One, was going directly to the panel of Ravi Zacharias Global Ministries (RZIM). However, the couple rapidly ignored the theory because they thought Ravi Zacharias, his spouse, and his awesome daughter, Sarah-who’s now Chief Executive Officer of RZIM-were all members of RZIM’s board https://www.datingrating.net/eharmony-vs-okcupid/.
RZIM not any longer posts the labels of the panel users. But in 2014, when RZIM last released an IRS kind 990, Zacharias, his spouse, with his girl, Sarah, were regarding board. We achieved out over and over to RZIM, asking who had been on the board in 2017, but RZIM failed to respond to my matter.
Thompson stated the guy and Lori Anne in addition considered going to the ny instances or some other major publication. Although few chosen against they because the guy stated both were suffering head of suicide and mayn’t deal with the general public embarrassment that will deliver.
However, the happy couple stated they did launch their own statements to many blog writers simply because they had been confident word wouldn’t wide spread to their own hometown in Ontario.
Yet Thompson mentioned he and Lori Anne both thought the only method to render Zacharias grab them really was to submit the requirements page. He said their particular attorney, level Bryant, recommended the $5 million figure while the couple respected his view.