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Redeemed Zoomer

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American Presbyterian YouTuber and activist (born 2002)
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Redeemed Zoomer
Ackerman in 2025
Born
Richard Ackerman

(2002年12月17日) 17 December 2002 (age 23)
EducationSouthern Methodist University (BA, BS)
Spouse
Anna Marburger
​
(m. 2024)​
Instagram information
Page
Years active2021–present
Followers58.1 thousand
X information
Handle
Years active2022–present
Followers38.2 thousand
YouTube information
Channel
Years active2020–present
Subscribers703 thousand
Views114 million
Ackerman's opening statement during a debate on the compatibility of Christianity and evolution.
Last updated: June 5, 2026
Websiteredeemedzoomer.com

Richard Ackerman (born December 17, 2002),[‡ 1] known online as Redeemed Zoomer, is an American Presbyterian activist and YouTuber. He founded Operation Reformation, (formerly Operation Reconquista) in 2023 and operates the Redeemed Zoomer YouTube channel, which has over 700,000 subscribers.

Biography

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Ackerman was raised without religious affiliation in a family of Jewish and Italian heritage.[1] [‡ 2] At age 14, he converted to Christianity after attending a Presbyterian Church (USA) music camp.[2] He lived in New York City prior to enrolling at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas, where he began uploading content to the Redeemed Zoomer channel in 2022.[3] [‡ 3]

In May 2025, Ackerman graduated from SMU with a Bachelor of Arts in music and a Bachelor of Science in pure mathematics, having initially intended to pursue a career as a mathematics professor.[‡ 4]

In June 2025, he announced plans to pursue a Master of Arts in Reformed theology at Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, Iowa, with the stated intention of seeking ordination within the PCUSA.[‡ 5]

YouTube channel

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Ackerman produced content across three YouTube channels and an Instagram account before achieving viral success with Redeemed Zoomer in 2022.[1] His early content was created in his dorm room, often late at night.[4] His most-viewed video, "All Christian denominations explained in 12 minutes," had accumulated approximately 15 million views as of May 2026.[1]

Ackerman also produces gameplay commentary videos, which feature him playing Minecraft while discussing topics such as theology and history. He additionally hosts weekly or semi-weekly livestreams on YouTube in which he interacts with viewers.[2]

Style and content

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Ackerman's content focusses on Christian theology, denominational differences, and church history. He is primarily known for Microsoft Paint-style explainer videos, characterized by his use of the Comic Sans font.[1] [4]

Operation Reconquista

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Ackerman is the founder of Operation Reconquista (which has since been renamed Operation Reformation), a Confessing Movement organization aimed at preserving theologically conservative congregations within mainline Protestant Christian denominations, with the eventual goal of restoring them to theological conservatism, rather than founding more conservative splinter groups.[2] [‡ 6] He also co-founded Presbyterians for the Kingdom, a nonprofit organization seeking to advance theological conservatism in the PCUSA. The organization sent representatives to the 2024 PCUSA General Assembly.[1]

As of May 2026, Ackerman maintains a Discord server with 15,000 members, intended to organize Gen Z and Gen Alpha participants from mainline Protestant denominations, including the United Methodist Church, the Episcopal Church, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, the Anglican Church of Canada, and the Church of England.[5] At least four Episcopal priests who participated in Operation Reconquista-affiliated Discord groups, including one who registered as a "chaplain-adviser" later faced disciplinary proceedings on safeguarding grounds due to the presence of users as young as 13. An investigation conducted by The Living Church in 2024 found no evidence of suspicious or secretive activity on the server.[6]

Views

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Theological

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Ackerman is a member of the PCUSA and has described his views as aligned with traditional mainline Protestantism, particularly with respect to worship practices, church architecture, and theological doctrine. He has been critical of modern evangelical and non-denominational Christianity, which he has characterized as "pop-Christianity" influenced by televangelists and celebrity pastors, and has instead advocated renewed engagement with Reformation-era theology and ecclesiology.[‡ 7] Ackerman has stated that he believes the federal government of the United States should be "explicitly Christian".[‡ 8]

He is against same-sex marriage and homosexuality and in the past described conversion therapy as "the only healthy form of therapy."[‡ 9] He once stated that "Uganda is doing nothing wrong regarding LGBT."[‡ 10]

Though Ackerman is ethnically Jewish, he has identified himself as being supportive of supersessionism, citing that modern Jews "aren't the chosen people."[‡ 11] [failed verification ]

Political

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Ackerman has stated he formerly identified as a Zionist, but no longer supports Israel.[‡ 11] Ackerman has stated that antisemitism is incompatible with Christianity.[1]

Ackerman has expressed criticism of both right-wing and left-wing politics, particularly progressivism. He has advocated for laws criminalizing abortion.[‡ 12]

Ackerman has described himself as a "never-Trumper," stating that he views U.S. President Donald Trump as "way too pro-gay and pro-abortion."[‡ 13] He has also criticized what he has described as right-wing "extremist Internet circles,"[‡ 14] specifically Groypers over personal attacks related to his Jewish heritage.[‡ 15]

Personal life

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Ackerman met his future wife Anna Marburger in July 2020 after enrolling at SMU. They married on August 17, 2024.[‡ 3]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f Murphy, Fiona (August 2, 2024). "Meet Gen Z's proselytizing Presbyterian reformer". Religion News Service. Archived from the original on May 28, 2025. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  2. ^ a b c Miller, Patrick (November 8, 2023). "Meet the Zoomers' Martin Luther". Christianity Today. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  3. ^ "Reconquering Mainline Protestantism?". Juicy Ecumenism. March 21, 2024. Archived from the original on July 9, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.
  4. ^ a b Boorstein, Michelle (March 8, 2026). "Religion influencers have become like Yelp for faith seekers". The Washington Post . Retrieved May 20, 2026.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Dell, Jacob (July 27, 2023). "Return of the Exiles: A How-to Guide for Restoring Faithfulness to Mainline Churches". The Living Church. Retrieved June 5, 2025.
  6. ^ Petersen, Kirk (April 16, 2024). "'Weaponizing' Clergy Disciplinary Canons for Ideological Purposes". The Living Church. Retrieved June 5, 2025.

Primary sources

In the text, these references are preceded by a double dagger (‡):

  1. ^ Ackerman, Richard (December 17, 2023). "the-stage". Discord. Retrieved April 2, 2026.
  2. ^ Ackerman, Richard [@redeemed_zoomer] (April 17, 2025). "No, just part Italian and part Jewish" (Tweet). Retrieved July 11, 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).[non-primary source needed ]
  3. ^ a b "Anna & Richard". TheKnot.com. Anna and Richard Wedding.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)[non-primary source needed ]
  4. ^ Ackerman, Richard [@redeemed_zoomer] (May 15, 2025). "RZ's graduation" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).[non-primary source needed ]
  5. ^ Redeemed Zoomer (June 6, 2025). I got into a PCUSA seminary! (school announcement) - KingdomCraft . Retrieved June 25, 2025 – via YouTube.
  6. ^ "Operation Reconquista About Us". Operation Reconquista. Archived from the original on July 8, 2024. Retrieved July 9, 2024.[non-primary source needed ]
  7. ^ Ackerman, Richard (December 19, 2024). "Restoring Protestant glory: A new generation's mission for Christian revival". Blaze Media . Archived from the original on November 7, 2025. Retrieved July 11, 2025.
  8. ^ Ackerman, Richard [@redeemed_zoomer] (July 3, 2024). "The American government should be explicitly Christian" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 21, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  9. ^ Ackerman, Richard [@redeemed_zoomer] (October 24, 2023). "Gay conversion therapy is the only healthy form of therapy" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 29, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  10. ^ Ackerman, Richard [@redeemed_zoomer] (December 20, 2023). "What's your most conservative and most liberal take? I'll start: / Liberal: climate change is real and it's a problem / Conservative: Uganda is doing nothing wrong regarding LGBT" (Tweet) – via X (formerly Twitter).{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link)
  11. ^ a b Ackerman, Richard [@redeemed_zoomer] (May 16, 2024). "I'm ethnically Jewish. I used to be a Zionist cuz I idolized my heritage as many New Testament Jewish Christians did. It was a hard pill to swallow to realize the Jews aren't the chosen people, but I had to admit it's Biblical. Israel is in rebellion against God" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 25, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  12. ^ Ackerman, Richard [@redeemed_zoomer] (April 26, 2024). "Women who get abortions are murderers and must be legally treated as such" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 29, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  13. ^ Ackerman, Richard [@redeemed_zoomer] (February 13, 2024). "I've said many times I'm a never-Trumper. Trump is WAY too pro-gay and pro-abortion for me" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 29, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  14. ^ Ackerman, Richard [@redeemed_zoomer] (July 21, 2025). "I had an edgy rightwing stage a few years ago but got over it after seeing the rotten fruits of those extremist internet circles" (Tweet). Archived from the original on July 21, 2025. Retrieved July 21, 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
  15. ^ Ackerman, Richard [@redeemed_zoomer] (July 10, 2024). "them constantly insulting my Jewish ethnicity even though I've repeatedly denounced Judaism" (Tweet). Archived from the original on August 25, 2024. Retrieved July 11, 2025 – via X (formerly Twitter).
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