About FBM's Founder

Dr. Candy Gwen Lopitz completed her undergraduate work in Behavioral Science at Mercy College in New York. Early in her counseling career, she worked with domestic abuse survivors, adult survivors of child abuse and substance abusers, among others. In 2006, she founded Freedom Beacon Ministries to provide counseling support to cult defectors and spiritual abuse survivors while also promoting cult awareness education to the general public.

The issue of cults is personal for her. After escaping the cult that she was raised in, Dr. Lopitz experienced firsthand a sudden and complete loss of her social network, including her parents who disowned her when she defected from their cult. At just 18 years of age, she was faced with suddenly needing to learn how to navigate outside culture and the new challenges it would inevitably bring. It would also prove to be a long and arduous road spiritually, as she was left to unravel the cult's belief system and forge a path ahead that would eventually lead her to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Her first book, Spiritual Battery, was published in 2011. It was written for spiritual abuse survivors and those who want to understand their particular issues in order to support them in their recovery. In addition, the book addressed the aberrant theology of cults that deceptively claim to be Christian. Candy was ordained as a minister of counseling and education through the National Association of Christian Ministers that same year. She also received recognition for her work from the USA Honor Society and was inducted into the Biltmore Who's Who Registry of Professionals.

The press release can be read here: Biltmore Who's Who Selects Candy Gwen Lopitz as an Honored Member of the Executive and Pro by Biltmore Who's Who (1888pressrelease.com)

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In subsequent years, Dr. Lopitz became progressively concerned about the false teachings and occultic practices she saw seeping into the contemporary church. FBM began to sound the alarm about these issues as well, adding "discernment ministry" to its description. Lopitz would go on to complete post-graduate work at Andersonville Theological Seminary in Georgia, focusing on biblical counseling and ministry leadership. She would later also complete a certificate in Apologetics from Biola University. In 2023, she began working on a new book entitled, Departure From the Faith, intending to expose many of the most egregious doctrines and practices that have infiltrated the modern church.