Ravi Zacharias memorial: Pence, Tebow celebrate Christian apologist's life and legacy

by

Vice President Mike Pence, baseball player Tim Tebow and other leaders took part in an online memorial service Friday for renowned Christian evangelist Ravi Zacharias, who died on May 19 from a rare form of cancer. He was 74.

The popular author, speaker and founder of Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM) spent the greater part of his life defending Christianity. He revealed he discovered his faith while facing suicide at the age of 17.

LAUREN GREEN: REMEMBERING RAVI ZACHARIAS -- CHRISTIAN LEADER'S DEATH MARKS THE END OF AN ERA

The celebration of Zacharias' life and legacy was held at Passion City Church in Atlanta and watched online by more than 75,000 online at RZIM.org/RaviMemorial.

Ravi Zacharias died May 19, from a rare form of cancer. (Ravi Zacharias International Ministries)

Pence called Zacharias a "gentle giant of the faith" and his death a "personal loss." When Pence was governor of Indiana, Zacharias spoke at the 2014 state prayer breakfast at his invitation.

"Yesterday President Trump said by making the intellectual case for Christianity, Ravi Zacharias was instrumental in helping millions of people around the world come to know the love and mercy of Jesus Christ," Pence said.

RAVI ZACHARIAS TRIBUTES POUR IN FROM PENCE, CHRISTIAN LEADERS

The vice president, who visited the Zacharias family at RZIM's headquarters in Alpharetta on May 22, added: "In the late Billy Grahm, it's been observed that God gave us the greatest evangelist of the 20th century. In Ravi Zacharias, God gave us the greatest Christian apologist of this century."

In addition to Pence and Tebow, tributes from family and friends – including RZIM president Michael Ramsden, Brooklyn Tabernacle senior pastor Jim Cymbala and Passion Movement founder Louie Giglio – musical artists Matt Redman and Lecrae will perform.