By the Editors at Lighthouse Trails

We once were alerted to an online article, written by a pastor who said that the church does not need “discernment ministries” anymore. While the pastor’s comments that such ministries are making great money by doing this kind of work were erroneous, it was the pastor’s rationale and conclusions about discernment ministries as a whole that were most troubling. His rationale was that discernment ministries should not be criticizing and challenging leaders and teachers within the church (but rather outside the church; e.g., cults, Mormonism); his conclusion was that the church does not need discernment ministries and people should stop listening to them. He lumped all discernment ministries together, suggesting that they are all jealous of each other and spend a lot of time fighting amongst themselves. (By this reasoning—that discernment ministries are invalidated because of fighting and jealousy—then there also should be no marriages, families, churches, organizations, or virtually any human institution because institutions are made up of sinful humans who do at times fight and struggle between each other.) He suggested that many of these discernment people will end up dying early anyway because of the high level of stress involved. Needless to say, we found such an article very sad because we knew there would be people who would read it and would be persuaded by the pastor’s words to stop listening to discernment ministries (potentially leading to the greater harm of stopping being discerning).

There is one thing true in what this pastor stated, and that is that there can be quite a bit of stress involved with discernment. But, again, his rationale is faulty. It would suggest that since being discerning (or having a discernment ministry) is stressful, it must be wrong to do so. But if we look at the lives of the apostles, the Old Testament prophets, and many martyrs who have lost their lives over the last 2000 years for standing for truth, no doubt, their lives were stressed and difficult. To speak the truth is not easy, and to speak the truth within the church is downright tough. Few knew this more than the apostle Paul:

Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. (2 Corinthians 11: 25-27)

illustration: The Beheading of Paul

Even though Paul determined to put his trust in the Lord and serve Him only, what he went through sounds pretty stressful. Why was he willing to go through those sufferings and persecutions? Because he had full confidence that he was called to warn and to preach for the edifying and exhorting of the body of Christ:

[I]f ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister;  who now rejoice in my sufferings for you . . . warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: whereunto I also labour, striving according to his working, which worketh in me mightily. (Colossians 1: 23-24, 28-29; emphasis added)

At Lighthouse Trails, we by no means claim to be of the caliber of the apostle Paul. Nor do we want to be looked upon as such. We are just one part of the body of Christ, working diligently in a work we believe God has called us to do. We do not claim to be anything special, but we do claim that God in His wisdom has a place in the body for such a ministry as ours (Paul addressed this in 1 Corinthians 12; vs 21:  “And the eye cannot say unto the hand, I have no need of thee: nor again the head to the feet, I have no need of you”).

We know there are some who name themselves among “discernment ministries” who are guilty of not exhibiting the fruits of the Spirit when writing and reporting. They are at times vitriolic, unkind, practice mean name calling, and go after a figure’s personal effect rather than staying focused on the teachings, doctrines, beliefs, and promotions (and actions when they are harming others). It has been a criteria of Lighthouse Trails from our beginning that any author or writer we represent by publishing his or her works is allowing the fruits of the Spirit (e.g., love, gentleness, goodness, meekness, etc., Galatians 5:22-23) to be prevalent in his or her work.

Scripture says that as the days on this Earth grow darker and darker, spiritually speaking, more and more proclaiming Christians will turn away from the truth of God’s Word and the Gospel of Jesus Christ (e.g., “some shall depart from the faith, giving heed to seducing spirits, and doctrines of devils,” 1 Timothy 4:1). Lighthouse Trails editors and authors are determined to continue in the work in which we have been called in spite of the fact that we are often falsely accused, unjustly discredited, and misjudged. Whether the Lord takes us home early or allows us to live long lives, it is our prayer that we will endure faithfully until the end. Perhaps, in time, people will stop listening to discernment ministries altogether. If and when that day comes, we pray there will be enough pastors and churches who are speaking the truth and warning “night and day.” In the following passage by Paul, we can see that his heart was for the building up of the body of Christ, no matter the cost to him. May we all, as believers in Jesus Christ, strive to have this same attitude:

 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: so being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God.  Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: as ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, that ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. (1 Thessalonians 2:7-12, emphasis added)

CONCLUSION

The following is a list of discernment ministries that Lighthouse Trails has come to know and look to over the past twenty-plus years; they are ones that meet the biblical criteria described above. Though these particular ministries may not agree with each other on every aspect, we have seen no greed, worldly ambition, jealousy, mean spiritedness, or dishonesty in these ministries. While they, like Lighthouse Trails, do not claim to be perfect or infallible, they always point readers back to the Word of God and uphold the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Is there a need for discernment ministries in today’s church? We believe the answer to that question is a resounding “yes.” And we believe the apostle Paul would agree.

Discernment Research Ministries

The Berean Call

Deception in the Church

Guarding His Flock Ministries

Kjos Ministries

Learn to Discern Granny

Let Us Reason Ministries

Light for the Last Days Ministries

Lighthouse Trails Research Project

Media Spotlight

Spiritual Research Network

The Word Like Fire

Understand the Times (website currently being redesigned and updated)

Discernment Resources published by Lighthouse Trails

(image from istockphoto.com; used with permission)

photo: Corrie ten Boom and her father, Casper ten Boom, around the time of the Nazi occupation in Holland

LTRP Note: Lighthouse Trails is the publisher for 5 of Corrie ten Boom’s previously out-of-print books (the 5th to be released in 2026). The following story is from her book In My Father’s House.

By Corrie ten Boom

War. It was early in the morning when we heard the bombs. We knew the sound of the explosions were coming from Schiphol, the airport near Haarlem. I ran to Betsie’s room and found her sitting up in bed, pale and shaking. We put our arms around each other and trembled with each blast; the wavering red glow was so eerie in the darkness of our once-peaceful skies.

We were afraid, but had learned from childhood how to cast our burdens on the Lord. We prayed like frightened children, running to their father for help and protection.

“Lord, make us strong . . . give us strength to help others.”

“Lord, take away our fear. Give us trust.”

It was a crisis of fear in both of us, but Jesus gave us the victory over it. We were never so frightened as we were during that night, not even when war and occupation destroyed our whole family life and everything we had known for more than a half a century. Was that night the Lord’s way of inoculating us in preparation for the future?

In the five days of war that followed, many people came to the house; Father was a pillar of strength for all of them; he prayed with everyone who asked. Sometimes the shock of what was happening would engulf me, and while Father was bringing trust and peace to those in turmoil, I would go to the piano and play Bach. No other music gave me so much rest.

The darkest time during those five days was when our royal family left, our Queen Wilhelmina for England and Crown Princess Juliana for Canada. We knew then that our case was hopeless.

There were not many times that I cried, but when I heard about the royal family leaving the country, I was heartbroken and wept. For the Dutch people, the Queen was our security—we loved her.

Then Holland surrendered. I walked in the street with Father, and everyone was talking to everyone else; in that moment there was a oneness, which I had never seen before. We were together in the great suffering, humiliation, and defeat of our nation. Although my heart was aching with misery, there was encouragement that people could be so united.

The German army marched through the Barteljorisstraat: tanks, cannons, cavalry, and hundreds and hundreds of soldiers. The narrow little street where Dot and I had played games—the alley where I had seen the drunks when I was only five and prayed for “all the people in the Smedestraat”—the path we had taken on Sunday to St. Bavo’s—all were filled with soldiers.

As the conquerors swept in, I noticed some of them were red-faced, shame written in their expressions. After the war, a German told me, “With every step I took in Holland, I felt ashamed. I knew I was occupying a neutral nation.”

Churches were packed in those days; the Psalms, which were written in times of great suffering, gained a new value. Ministers who had never preached about the Second Coming of Christ now chose their texts from the many places in the Bible on that subject.

In the beginning, we saw little change in our daily life, but gradually the enemy began to impose restrictions. At first the curfew was ten o’clock, which was not difficult for us, but later it was moved back to eight, then six. No one could leave his house; there was absolute blackout, and every window was covered with black paper as soon as the sun was down.

Telephones were cut off, food was rationed, and often after standing in long lines with our ration cards, we would find that the stores were empty.

One beautiful Sunday afternoon, Betsie, Father, and I were walking through our park, south of Haarlem, when the Gestapo descended and took all of the young fathers around us, who were out walking with their families, leaving distraught wives and crying children behind.

All Dutch people have bicycles, and sometimes the Gestapo set up a bicycle blockade. Everyone who rode by was summoned to give up his vehicle. If you were fortunate enough to keep your bicycle, you learned to ride without tires, because they were confiscated and taken to Germany.

We were not even safe in church. Once during a service in the cathedral, the Germans guarded the doors so that nobody could move. Then they opened one door and ordered every man from eighteen to forty to come out. They were sent that same day to Germany—many of these men were never seen again.

For more than thirty years since World War II, I have been a tramp for the Lord in more than sixty countries on all the continents of this troubled world. Many people have asked me about my childhood, youth, and the years before The Hiding Place. A person doesn’t spring into existence at the age of fifty; there are years of preparation, years of experience, which God uses in ways we may never know until we meet Him face to face. (from In My Father’s House by Corrie ten Boom)

photo: Museum of the Bible, Washington, DC (Wikipedia)

LTRP Note: The following is from The Berean Call’s August article about The Museum of the Bible located in Washington, DC.

By Rob Yardley
President of The Berean Call

…my heart standeth in awe of thy word. I rejoice at thy word, as one that findeth great spoil.—Psalm 119:161-162

The Museum of the Bible (hereafter MotB) in Washington, DC is located just three blocks from the US Capitol. It is an impressive six-story structure with 430,000 square feet of space, and one would hope that it would reflect the awe we feel as we consider God’s Word. The MotB has dozens of potential areas of focus, including the miraculous fulfilled prophecies in the Bible; the historical and scientific accuracy of the Bible in all of its details; why an all-powerful, perfect God has allowed widespread wickedness on earth and cruelty in nature (and God’s ultimate solution); the Lord’s unique relationship with the nation of Israel and the church; the Lord Jesus Christ, Israel’s Messiah, who came to be “…the Christ, the Saviour of the world” (John:4:42); and the Bible’s precise anticipation of the days in which we’re living, to name a few. Unfortunately, the MotB goes to great lengths to avoid these and other critical subjects.

On May 1, 2016, a year and a half prior to the opening of the Museum of the Bible, the Times of Israel wrote an article expressing concern that the MotB might be…biblical. The article quoted historian Noah Charney as saying, “The proximity of the museum to the world-class Smithsonian and the Capitol has raised eyebrows…. How will it fit in among the venerable institutions lining the Mall?”1 He need not have been concerned about those issues. The MotB seems to be modeled after the Smithsonian Institution, favoring secular/skeptical scholarship over biblical scholarship in every area addressed. Click here to continue reading.

“You have been lied to. You were told that the occult/satanic activities of the 1980s and early 1990s were a hoax, false memories, satanic panic, village folklore, and nothing more. You were told none of it was real.”—Gregory Reid

Author Gregory R. Reid has just released his new book, The Real “Satanic Panic” Story: Documenting the Reality of Occult Crime and Ritual Abuse (published by YouthFire Publications), and Lighthouse Trails is pleased to carry and help distribute this unforgettable eye-witness account of the truth about occult crimes and satanic ritual abuse.

From the back cover of The Real “Satanic Panic” Story:

“Satanic Panic”: A term derived in the late 1980s and early 1990s to convince people that satanic ritual abuse and occult crimes are nothing more than a rare occurrence.

It has been said that if someone tells a lie big enough and long enough, people will eventually come to believe it.

The dark forces that are behind occult crime and ritual abuse want everyone to believe that what they are doing is not really happening—is not real. But it is real, and it is happening.

This book is for people who want to know the facts—not the hype. It is for people who don’t want fake news but want the real story.

Author Greg Reid has carefully documented what he witnessed regarding occult crimes and ritual abuse. He knows what he is talking about from his roles as an investigative reporter, a law-enforcement trainer, and a survivor of ritual abuse himself.

With a sense of urgency and responsibility to bring to light the reality behind the “Satanic Panic” urban legend, and for the sake of the victims of satanic ritual abuse, this book is for all who seek truth.

Copies of the book will be available through Lighthouse Trails on October 1st, but you may pre-order it from Lighthouse Trails here, or you may buy it now from Amazon.

Book Information:
304 pages with photos
ISBN: 978-0976804574
ORDER AT LIGHTHOUSE TRAILS
ORDER AT AMAZON
Published by YouthFire Publications

Warning: Trigger Alert—Some of the information in this book is very graphic and disturbing. Please read it with prayer. If you are a survivor, please be cautious in reading it without support.

SUPPORTING LIGHTHOUSE TRAILS: For those who would like to support Lighthouse Trails, we always appreciate both your prayers and your giving. And for those who have faithfully done that over the years, we thank you with all of our hearts. We know that some people may have the impression that Lighthouse Trails does quite well financially because we sell products that we publish and because our resources have had such a far reach; but, the truth is, it takes everything made through sales to keep Lighthouse Trails operating. Publishing, at least for small presses such as ours, is rarely a high-profit business. It would take a best seller to see that, one that the masses of people love. And because we are not just a business, but even more so a ministry, we keep our prices as low as we can, give away many resources, and have also made much of our material available for free on the research site and blog. That's not how big corporations run things as that would hurt the bottom line (profit), but we see the needs out there, and we trust God to keep us going as long as He sees fit.

We thank you in advance for seeing the value in a ministry like Lighthouse Trails and coming along side us with your prayers and support.

It is our prayer that we will faithfully be humble servants of the Lord’s work for years to come should the Lord tarry. If you would like to donate to Lighthouse Trails, you may send a donation by mailing it to: Lighthouse Trails, P.O. Box 307, Roseburg, Oregon 97470. Or you may call 866/876-3910. There is also a donate option on our store website.

Lighthouse Trails is not a non-profit 501 (c) 3 organization, so your donations will not be tax deductible.