“If the foundations are destroyed,
What can the righteous do?”
Psalm 11:3 NKJV
Proverbs 11:3, Proverbs 28:6, Philippians 4:8, Romans 13:11–14
Hello Friends, James Goll here…
This Prophetic DISCRNR episode carries a different tone, because there is a great need for clarity in the prophetic community and in the Body of Christ in this hour.
Some have wondered why my voice has been quiet. It is not because I do not care, and it is not because I have not been listening. It is because there is a time to speak and a time to refrain, and I have been seeking the Lord for the right word of wisdom needed for this season.
I have taken many hours in preparation, research, and dialogue. I have interacted with leaders, and I have interacted at length with the Executive Board of God Encounters Ministries. We have cried out to the Lord for discernment and for wisdom. Please note, that I am speaking today in behalf of my own sphere of God Encounters Ministries.
DESIRE FOR A FIRM FOUNDATION
Psalm 11:3 asks, “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do.” When foundations are compromised, structures do not stand. When integrity is weakened, things which have appeared to be strong, begin to tremble.
I am concerned that when there are gaping doors of sin patterns that are hidden, unmanaged, or excused, it does more than harm individuals. It can become a portal of weakness that impacts families, communities, and even cities and nations. We cannot point our finger outward and demand that the world clean up its act, if we, as believers in Christ Jesus, do not pursue holiness and integrity within our own spheres. Scripture reminds us that judgment begins with the house of God, and that is a call to humility, not superiority.
This is why I believe integrity is the need of the hour. Integrity is not perfection, but it is the unwavering determination to do what is right. It begins at the heart and the motivational level, and it expresses itself in honesty, wholeness, and alignment between what we say and how we live.
A Biblical Foundation for Integrity
The Word is clear. Proverbs 11:3 says, “The integrity of the upright guides them, but the crookedness of the treacherous destroys them.” Integrity guides, and crookedness destroys. Proverbs 28:6 says, “Better is the poor man who walks in his integrity than a rich man who is crooked in his ways.” Integrity is not a garnish, it is the foundation beneath everything we build.
In the New Testament, we find in Philippians 4:8 (ESV) that we are commanded to set our minds on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, and commendable. In a time of noise and clutter, we must choose the discipline of our thoughts, and refuse to be swallowed by endless commentary, speculation, and reaction.
UNDERSTANDING THE TIMES
We are living in days where integrity, transparency, accountability, purity, and appropriate action are being demanded in the Church. There have been public situations, claims, and investigations across various parts of the charismatic world, and they have created grief, confusion, and in some cases, deep pain for victims and for believers who now feel shipwrecked in their faith.
This is not the hour to lower the bar. It is the hour to raise it, to seek the Lord, and to restore a lost jewel to the bride’s garment. That jewel is integrity.
CLARITY ON MY PERSONAL INVOLVEMENT
Because my name has occasionally been connected to the conversation around Shawn Bolz, I want to give a clear timeline. I have known Shawn since his late teen years, as a student at the Grace Training Center in Grandview, MO. In those early years, I saw a young man who was gifted, creative, and appeared sincere in his desire to serve the Lord.
My family moved from the Kansas City area to Nashville, TN around 27 years ago. I never had Shawn as a speaker at any of our God Encounters conferences. I never had him teach in any of my online classes over the last decade. In fact, I was not aware of any allegations involving interns or sexual misconduct until a month ago. Years earlier, a couple of leaders shared concerns about the possibility of using information from social media for words of knowledge, but I did not have facts, testimonies, or direct evidence. At that time, I took those concerns to trusted leaders. I prayed. But I had no more substance to act on those concerns.
I wrote an endorsement for Shawn’s book Translating God. The first edition was released in 2015, a decade before the current public situation. In Mike Winger’s long-form video, my endorsement was read in a way that it appeared to place it alongside the recent public moments, and that created a false impression that I knew what I did not know. I did not have knowledge then of what has become public now, and if I had known, I would not have written that endorsement. I am sorry for any confusion or pain that this may have created for people now, and I want to be clear about the timeline and the context.
I have also been wrongly labeled as “the newspaper prophet,” stemming from a broadcast around 2020, in which a guest, Mike Winger, remarked that I received revelation from reading newspapers. That phrase has been repeated and expanded by others into accusations that I am false. The reality is that I do not read newspapers and I do not surf the web. I have communicated with the leaders involved in an attempt to seek a resolve.
Please hear my heart, I am not here to cast stones. I am here to speak to my own sphere, and to offer a response rooted in Scripture, humility, and responsibility before the Lord.
COMMITMENTS TO CHANGE for GEM & Myself
We are taking action within our stewardship, not merely speaking words. The following steps are being implemented in coordination with our GEM Board and publishing partners:
• Three Book Revisions:
The Prophet (Destiny Image), which included a foreword by Shawn Bolz, has been removed from sales. A revised edition is being prepared so the contents can stand without confusion or unnecessary pain.
The Lost Art of Practicing His Presence (Destiny Image), which included a foreword by Mike Bickle, has been removed from sales and will be reissued without a foreword.
Strike the Mark (Whitaker House), which included a foreword by Mike Bickle, has been removed from sales and a revised edition has been printed without a foreword.
• Review of Declared Words:
I will work intently with the Executive Board of God Encounters Ministries and other qualified leaders, to review public declarations. This relates especially to yearly declarations. There will be a public review and follow-up, rather than simply moving on. While this application is only for our sphere, if it was adopted into a wider realm, it could be revolutionary.
I felt the Holy Spirit shared with me, “If we, the prophetic community, would be better at self-monitoring, there would be less need for external policing.”
• Prophets and Teachers Model:
As in the past, I will seek input from trusted teachers when wrestling with matters of interpretation, strengthening the Acts 13 model of prophets and teachers ministering together.
I will seek more understanding on the differing views and applications of Matthew 18. I also see the need to do teaching again on issues that I consider foundational. I will attempt to bring greater clarity to prophetic generalizations. We are all learning, and we must choose to stay teachable.
I am deeply sorry for any confusion or pain that has been created by my actions or words, these forewords, or by any of the book endorsements I have made. I am committed to doing what is right in the stewardship God has given me.
A CALL FOR KINGDOM SOLUTIONS
Beloved, let’s avoid distraction, drama, and weariness. Guard your devotion to Christ Jesus. Stay anchored in Scripture and prayer. Seek truth. We are called to be an army of light, living transparent and honest lives, fleeing carnality, leaning on Jesus, and keeping our priorities right.
Integrity is a treasured jewel that must once again adorn the bride’s garment. Let us seek integrity as we continue the process of becoming more like Him.
Blessings to Each of You!
James W. Goll
