Redeemed Zoomer

Richard Ackerman (born December 17, 2002), 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 Ackerman was raised without religious affiliation in a family of Jewish and Italian heritage. At age 14, he converted to Christianity after attending a Presbyterian Church (USA) music camp. 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.

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.

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.

YouTube channel Ackerman produced content across three YouTube channels and an Instagram account before achieving viral success with Redeemed Zoomer in 2022. His most-viewed video, "All Christian denominations explained in 12 minutes," had accumulated approximately 15 million views as of May 2026. 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. At least four Episcopal priests who participated in Operation Reformation-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.

Views

Theological 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. Ackerman has stated that he believes the federal government of the United States should be "explicitly Christian".

He is against same-sex marriage and homosexuality and in the past described conversion therapy as "the only healthy form of therapy." In December 2023, he stated that "Uganda is doing nothing wrong regarding LGBT." (The Ugandan Anti-Homosexuality Act, 2023 had been passed earlier that year.)

Though Ackerman is ethnically Jewish, he has identified himself as being supportive of supersessionism, citing that modern Jews "aren't the chosen people." Ackerman has stated that antisemitism is incompatible with Christianity.

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." He has also criticized what he has described as right-wing "extremist Internet circles," specifically Groypers over personal attacks related to his Jewish heritage.

Personal life Ackerman met his future wife, Anna Marburger, in July 2020 while attending SMU. They married on August 17, 2024.