Tribute to Ravi Zacharias

I love to listen to Ravi Zacharias. He has had a daily radio spot on a local radio station and I would often listen to him on my commute to work. I was saddened to hear of his recent death from a rare kind of cancer.

Ravi had a way with words. He could explain difficult concepts in a way which made sense. He developed as an amazing Christian apologist whose books, speeches, college ministries and radio broadcasts reached millions. He had an international presence also.

Ravi was born in 1946 in Madras into a family of Hindus with links to the Anglican Church. His full conversion to Christianity came when he was 17, while recovering in a New Delhi hospital from a failed suicide attempt. He was impacted by Jesus’ words in the gospel of John “because I live, you will also live.” He promised God that he would vigorously search for truth.

Ravi has, fittingly I believe, been compared with GK Chesterton, CS Lewis, and Billy Graham. His contribution to the field of Christian Apologetics (why Christianity is true) is uncontested. He had a stage presence and manner which amplified his message. Ravi had a heart for people; he treated skeptics as he would a lifelong friend.

I have long been fascinated by the field of Christian apologetics. I wrote a book called Sacred Strands, the Story of a Redeemer Woven Through History. In it I show how the similarities between ancient mystery religions and Christianity are because both drew from the same revelation to the earliest people, the Patriarchs as mentioned in the Bible. You can purchase the book on Amazon or on my website.