On May 19, 2020, the global Christian community lost one of its most influential thinkers. At Ravi Zacharias’s funeral, U.S. Vice President Mike Pence paid tribute, saying:
“God gave us Billy Graham, the greatest evangelist of the twentieth century.
And in our time, He gave us Ravi Zacharias, the greatest apologist.
Ravi was the C. S. Lewis of our generation.”
Founded in 1984, Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) became a global platform through which Ravi addressed the question of why Jesus Christ alone is the truth. Across more than seventy countries, he responded to skeptical and anti-Christian questions with intellectual rigor rooted in philosophy, theology, and logic. While this fruit must ultimately be attributed to God’s providence, Ravi’s leadership played a decisive role. This article examines his leadership through principles observed in the life of Moses.
1. Leadership Begins with Direction
A leader’s most fundamental responsibility is to define direction. This requires clarity regarding both personal calling and organizational purpose. Yet even with such clarity, decisive leadership remains difficult because real-world decisions are rarely simple choices between right and wrong.
As Moses led Israel toward the Promised Land, the Red Sea confronted him with an impossible dilemma—advance and perish, or retreat and be destroyed. At such moments, organizations survive and fulfill their mission only through decisive leadership.
Ravi faced a similar crossroads. Living a stable life as a seminary professor, he sensed a growing call toward a new direction in ministry. With no guarantee of success and at the age of thirty-seven, he resigned his professorship. Indecision cannot lead. Leaders are formed through decisive action that sets direction. Ravi’s decision gave birth to RZIM and laid the foundation for his enduring legacy.
2. Leadership Requires the Endurance of Criticism
Leadership inevitably invites criticism. Those at the front draw attention, scrutiny, and resistance. Moses faced relentless opposition during Israel’s wilderness journey—even from Aaron and Miriam.
Ravi once wrote candidly in a newsletter:
“As the leader of RZIM, I must make countless decisions. Inevitably, some disagree. I have been misunderstood by close friends, relationships have become strained, and I have felt deep pain when people chose to walk away.”
The leadership path is never painless. Achievement amplifies criticism. Leaders are not called to please everyone; decisive leadership often creates discomfort. Those who do nothing avoid criticism—but they also avoid leadership. Fear of criticism paralyzes direction, and without direction, leadership ceases.
3. The Greatest Obstacle Is the Leader Himself
The most formidable barrier leaders face is themselves. Even Moses failed here. In anger, he struck the rock instead of speaking to it as commanded (Num. 20:10–12), forfeiting entry into the Promised Land.
Organizations grow only to the extent of their leader’s capacity. Greater outcomes require either greater leaders or leaders who grow. Yet self-leadership remains the most difficult task.
Ravi’s leadership capacity expanded through disciplined spiritual life and lifelong study. Despite global recognition, his highest earned degree was a Master of Divinity; all ten doctorates he received were honorary. This is encouraging for leaders who equate competence with credentials. Intellectual authority is not conferred by degrees but forged through sustained study.
Abdu Murray, a former Muslim and attorney who came to faith through Ravi’s ministry, reflected:
“After twenty-five years of traveling and teaching with Ravi, I often knew what he would say by the lecture title alone. Yet he consistently offered fresh insights I had never heard before. That is impossible without constant study.”
4. Leadership Is Completed Through Successors
Moses’s leadership culminated in Joshua’s leadership. Leadership is not fundamentally about tasks or institutions; it is about people. At its core, leadership is the art of relating to people with dignity and respect.
A recurring theme at Ravi’s funeral was this: whether engaging heads of state or hotel staff, he treated everyone equally—recognizing the image of God in each person.
The greatest legacy of leadership is not achievement but succession. Identifying and developing successors late in one’s career is already too late. Paul emphasized reproducible leadership (2 Tim. 2:2), and Jesus’ final command—“make disciples”—underscores the same principle.
In his final years, Ravi intentionally transitioned leadership, appointing next-generation leaders to regional and global roles within RZIM. Over two decades, he trained and sent approximately 100 young apologists, supporting their ministry in 13 countries.
As John Maxwell observes:
“Leaders impress people with their success,
but they impact people by making others successful.”
Ravi’s greatest legacy lies not only in his ideas but in the leaders he formed.
At Billy Graham’s funeral, Ravi once said, “A great spokesman for the Lord has departed, but his message will continue.”
Now, at Ravi Zacharias’s passing, we may say:
A great apologist has departed,
but his thought and leadership will continue to shine.