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🌟 Season 4 of the Fortitude Podcast is Here 🌟

This isn’t just the start of a new season—it’s the testimony of what God can do when a couple chooses to say yes to His calling, even through the hardest seasons.

Heather and Amos open Season 4 by sharing the real journey behind Fortitude: the valleys, the rebuilding of trust, the sacrifices of motherhood and leadership, and the courage to keep showing up for each other, their children, and their community.

They talk about what it means to carry God’s mission together—navigating family dynamics, shifting roles, and the weight of responsibility—yet still finding joy, purpose, and healing in the process. They don’t stand here today on their own. They stand because of the countless prayers, the love of family and friends, the Fortitude community, and the powerful moments shared at conferences and gatherings that reminded them: this calling is bigger than them.

This season opener is raw, emotional, and full of gratitude. It’s a reminder that God doesn’t call the equipped—He equips the called. And with His strength, we can rise, rebuild, and walk boldly into our purpose.

➡️ Next week, we continue this momentum with a special conversation featuring Chantelle—a story you won’t want to miss.

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As a fan of our podcast and mission to spread Hope and Healing through the message of Jesus Christ - We would appreciate your financial support!
We are 100% listener supported!

TO GIVE TO FORTITUDE:
- Patreon: patreon.com/FortitudePodcast
- Stripe: https://buy.stripe.com/cN2dQScGw0Il2Pu288
- Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/fortitude10 

PERSONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES:
- Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FortitudePod
- Twitter: https://x.com/FortitudePod

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Rerun: Bloom Where You’re Planted with Paul DeJong (Episode 42)

In this powerful conversation, Heather and Amos welcome back their dear friend Paul DeJong for part two of his story. Paul, the former owner of Landscape Garden Centers in Sioux Falls, shares the journey of retiring after his Parkinson’s diagnosis and the life changes that followed.

He opens up about the challenges of letting go of independence, moving into assisted living, and learning to accept help with humility. Paul also reflects on faith, resilience, and how to “bloom where you’re planted”—choosing gratitude, connection, and purpose even in difficult seasons.

This episode is about more than Parkinson’s. It’s about hope, community, legacy, and God’s faithfulness in the midst of trials. You’ll hear stories of support, friendship, and the book project Paul is now pursuing to capture Sioux Falls’ urban forest history.

Paul’s perspective reminds us that life is about relationships, faith, and finding joy right where we are. His humility and humor will both inspire and challenge you.

Listen in and be encouraged to bloom, no matter where you’ve been planted.

Rerun: Bloom Where You’re Planted with Paul DeJong (Episode 42)

In this powerful conversation, Heather and Amos welcome back their dear friend Paul DeJong for part two of his story. Paul, the former owner of Landscape Garden Centers in Sioux Falls, shares the journey of retiring after his Parkinson’s diagnosis and the life changes that followed.

He opens up about the challenges of letting go of independence, moving into assisted living, and learning to accept help with humility. Paul also reflects on faith, resilience, and how to “bloom where you’re planted”—choosing gratitude, connection, and purpose even in difficult seasons.

This episode is about more than Parkinson’s. It’s about hope, community, legacy, and God’s faithfulness in the midst of trials. You’ll hear stories of support, friendship, and the book project Paul is now pursuing to capture Sioux Falls’ urban forest history.

Paul’s perspective reminds us that life is about relationships, faith, and finding joy right where we are. His humility and humor will both inspire and challenge you.

Listen in and be encouraged to bloom, no matter where you’ve been planted.

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As a fan of our podcast and mission to spread Hope and Healing through the message of Jesus Christ - We would appreciate your financial support!
We are 100% listener supported!

TO GIVE TO FORTITUDE:
- Patreon: patreon.com/FortitudePodcast
- Stripe: https://buy.stripe.com/cN2dQScGw0Il2Pu288
- Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/fortitude10 

PERSONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES:
- Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FortitudePod
- Twitter: https://x.com/FortitudePod

Send us Fan Mail

🎧 Episode 63 is LIVE: Miracle at the Mall

Listen now wherever you get your podcasts.

🔗 Book link: https://a.co/d/6Kie6Y7

Some moments change the world.

Some miracles leave a scar.

And some mothers walk through the unimaginable… and still choose faith.

Today, we share one of the most heartbreaking and hope-filled stories ever told on the Fortitude Podcast.

Kari Hoffman’s 5-year-old son, Landen, was thrown from the 3rd floor of the Mall of America by a stranger.

The world watched in shock.

But God never left the room.

In this exclusive episode, Kari opens her heart and shares:

• The moments no news camera ever saw
• The prayers whispered over her son’s hospital bed
• The supernatural strength it took to forgive
• And the miracle that followed

This isn’t just her testimony—it’s an anchor for anyone who’s ever cried out, “God, where are You in this?”

💬 “I couldn’t fix it. But I could believe for him.” — Kari Hoffman

Today, her book Miracle at the Mall is also available. This story will stretch your soul and bring you face to face with a faith that held through the fire.

🧡 Listen to the episode.

📖 Get the book.

📲 Share this story with someone who needs light in the dark.

Because even when it looks impossible—grace still wins.

#FortitudePodcast #Episode63 #KariHoffman #MiracleAtTheMall #LandenStrong #FaithInHardPlaces #GodStillHeals #IAmFortified #PodcastLaunch #TrueStory #HopeWins #Forgiveness #Resilience #ChristianPodcast #TraumaToTestimony

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As a fan of our podcast and mission to spread Hope and Healing through the message of Jesus Christ - We would appreciate your financial support!
We are 100% listener supported!

TO GIVE TO FORTITUDE:
- Patreon: patreon.com/FortitudePodcast
- Stripe: https://buy.stripe.com/cN2dQScGw0Il2Pu288
- Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/fortitude10 

PERSONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES:
- Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FortitudePod
- Twitter: https://x.com/FortitudePod

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🎧 Episode 62: Living Without a Stomach – Heather Parmeter’s Story of Faith, Risk, and Radical Resilience

At just 29 years old, Heather Parmeter sat across from a doctor and heard the impossible:

She had an 83% chance of developing the same aggressive stomach cancer that had taken both her mother and grandfather.

If she waited for symptoms to appear, she’d have only a 4% chance of survival.

So Heather made a decision most of us could never imagine:

She underwent a prophylactic total gastrectomy—removing her entire stomach before cancer had the chance to form.

This episode isn’t just about a rare hereditary disease.

It’s about reclaiming your life before fear defines it.

It’s about listening to your body, protecting your future, and finding purpose in the most painful places.

🕊️ Inside this powerful conversation, Heather opens up about:

• What led her to genetic testing and why it changed everything
• What it actually means to live without a stomach
• The mental, physical, and emotional road to healing
• How faith, family, and truth helped her push forward
• Why she’s now an advocate for others navigating the unknown

Her story is raw. Her voice is steady. Her purpose is clear.

This isn’t just an interview—it’s a message of hope for anyone standing at the edge of hard choices.

🎙️ If you’ve ever felt afraid, uncertain, or overwhelmed by what’s ahead—this episode is for you.

🔗 Subscribe and listen now on [Spotify], [Apple Podcasts], or wherever you get your podcasts.

🧡 Follow us on Instagram @fortitudeministries

📲 Share this episode with someone who needs to hear it

👍 Rate and review to help more people find stories like this

#FortitudePodcast #HeatherParmeter #StomachCancerAwareness #FaithAndHealing #Episode62 #HereditaryCancer #RadicalResilience #RealStoriesRealFaith #HopeInHardPlaces #IAmFortified

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As a fan of our podcast and mission to spread Hope and Healing through the message of Jesus Christ - We would appreciate your financial support!
We are 100% listener supported!

TO GIVE TO FORTITUDE:
- Patreon: patreon.com/FortitudePodcast
- Stripe: https://buy.stripe.com/cN2dQScGw0Il2Pu288
- Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/fortitude10 

PERSONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES:
- Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FortitudePod
- Twitter: https://x.com/FortitudePod

Send us Fan Mail

Episode 61: The Boldest Chapter – with Alicia Schumacher

What if clarity doesn’t come from having a perfect plan—

but from losing everything that made you think you had to?

In this powerful episode, Heather and Amos sit down with Alicia Schumacher, founder of Bold Minds and Bold Identity Studio, to talk about identity, reinvention, and the raw reality of starting over.

After nearly 20 years in marketing, Alicia’s life took a sharp turn—grief, health crisis, and deep personal loss. What came next wasn’t a rebrand. It was a resurrection.

This conversation dives deep into what it means to lead with faith, rebuild through surrender, and find purpose in the parts of your story you never wanted to tell.

We cover:

• Navigating life and leadership with ADHD
• The unseen layers of grief, stillness, and obedience
• Why your story—not your image—is your brand
• Learning to trust clarity that comes from within
• And how your boldest chapter may not be your loudest—but your realest

Whether you’re leading, healing, or in a season of quiet surrender—this episode will remind you:

You’re not behind. You’re becoming.

🎧 Listen now.

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you tune in.

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As a fan of our podcast and mission to spread Hope and Healing through the message of Jesus Christ - We would appreciate your financial support!
We are 100% listener supported!

TO GIVE TO FORTITUDE:
- Patreon: patreon.com/FortitudePodcast
- Stripe: https://buy.stripe.com/cN2dQScGw0Il2Pu288
- Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/fortitude10 

PERSONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES:
- Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FortitudePod
- Twitter: https://x.com/FortitudePod

Send us Fan Mail

“Wrecked for More” with Pastor Phill Tague

This episode will challenge what you think you know about calling, grace, and leadership.

What happens when God doesn’t just save you—but stops you?

Phill Tague knows. He was the guy with all the answers, all the hustle, and all the wrong direction—until God called him out, broke through his pride, and gave him something far more dangerous: purpose.

Before Ransom Church.

Before preaching.

Before the platform.

He was a modern-day Saul. And this is the story of how he became a bold Paul.

In Episode 60 of Fortitude, Phill Tague sits down with Heather and Amos to unpack:

• How getting wrecked by grace launched his real ministry
• The trauma, questions, and truth that surfaced from being adopted—and how it shaped his identity as a leader
• What spiritual surrender actually looks like when it’s not sanitized or staged
• Why men in ministry often fake strength—and how God uses brokenness instead
• The heart behind his new book Jesus Be the Centerfold—a raw critique of “airbrushed Christianity” and a call back to covenant faith

If you’re done with feel-good faith, Sunday showmanship, or surface-level leadership—this one’s for you.

This episode is a gut-check. A truth bomb. A grace collision.

Listen now.

Spotify | Apple | YouTube | Everywhere you get your podcasts.

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As a fan of our podcast and mission to spread Hope and Healing through the message of Jesus Christ - We would appreciate your financial support!
We are 100% listener supported!

TO GIVE TO FORTITUDE:
- Patreon: patreon.com/FortitudePodcast
- Stripe: https://buy.stripe.com/cN2dQScGw0Il2Pu288
- Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/fortitude10 

PERSONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES:
- Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FortitudePod
- Twitter: https://x.com/FortitudePod

Send us Fan Mail

In this deeply moving episode, Amos and Heather sit down with Benson Langat—a former elite runner from Kenya, now a sought-after coach, mentor, and founder of Bensane Run Coaching & Sports Consulting.

Together, they explore the tension between performance and purpose, the gift of slowing down, and the powerful role faith plays in Benson’s coaching philosophy. From his early days of chasing medals to learning how to lead from a place of rest, Benson shares stories that speak to the heart of endurance—on and off the track.

Listeners will walk away with insight on:

• Building mental toughness through spiritual grounding

• The role of gratitude in peak performance

• Why Psalm 23 anchors Benson’s life and leadership

• What it really means to be fortified as a man of faith

Plus, you’ll get a preview of Benson’s upcoming appearance as a featured speaker at the I AM Fortified Sons & Moms Conference this June.

This episode is for anyone who feels like they’re racing through life—and needs permission to pause, breathe, and run at the pace of grace.

About Benson Langat:

Benson is a former competitive athlete from Kenya, now a coach, mentor, and founder of Bensane Run Coaching & Sports Consulting. He blends physical training with mental performance coaching to help people unlock their full potential. Benson’s journey of faith, discipline, and transformation continues to inspire communities across South Dakota and beyond.

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As a fan of our podcast and mission to spread Hope and Healing through the message of Jesus Christ - We would appreciate your financial support!
We are 100% listener supported!

TO GIVE TO FORTITUDE:
- Patreon: patreon.com/FortitudePodcast
- Stripe: https://buy.stripe.com/cN2dQScGw0Il2Pu288
- Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/fortitude10 

PERSONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES:
- Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FortitudePod
- Twitter: https://x.com/FortitudePod

Send us Fan Mail

In this compelling episode of Fortitude Podcast, we sit down with South Dakota DCI Special Agent Brian Freeouf, a man who has spent his life fighting for the most vulnerable—often from the shadows.

From serving undercover to stop predators targeting children, to leading high-tech forensic investigations, Brian’s journey is anything but ordinary. But what makes this episode truly unforgettable isn’t just Brian’s career—it’s his heart. With humility, wisdom, and a deep reliance on God, Brian reminds us that true authority doesn’t come from a badge or title—it comes from walking faithfully with Christ.

You’ll hear about:

• His undercover work with the Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) Task Force
• How prayer and Scripture keep him grounded in darkness
• His experience as a leader at Fountain Springs Church and on youth mission trips
• His quiet morning discipline, life advice, and even his past as a DJ
• The verse that anchors his soul: Matthew 28:18–20 – “ALL AUTHORITY… I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS.”

This episode is a must-listen for parents, leaders, and anyone fighting silent battles. As Brian puts it, “Never miss a chance to say nothing… because God often speaks in a whisper.”

Bonus: Brian will be one of our featured speakers at the upcoming Son & Mom Night on Thursday, June 12th at Ransom Downtown, Sioux Falls—where his message will inspire a room full of families to live with truth, resilience, and holy courage.

Listen now and be reminded that there is strength in stillness, and that God is near to those who stand for others—especially when no one else is watching.

#FortitudePodcast #BrianFreeouf #FaithInAction #MenOfHonor #ProtectOurKids #DigitalIdols #GreatCommission #SouthDakotaVoices #SonAndMomEvent

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As a fan of our podcast and mission to spread Hope and Healing through the message of Jesus Christ - We would appreciate your financial support!
We are 100% listener supported!

TO GIVE TO FORTITUDE:
- Patreon: patreon.com/FortitudePodcast
- Stripe: https://buy.stripe.com/cN2dQScGw0Il2Pu288
- Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/fortitude10 

PERSONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES:
- Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FortitudePod
- Twitter: https://x.com/FortitudePod

Send us Fan Mail

Jon Setzer is a dynamic speaker, coach, and former professional athlete with a passion for inspiring others to unlock their full potential. As the founder of Setzer Elite, Jon combines his experience as a professional football player with his gift for communication to deliver powerful messages on faith, leadership, resilience, and personal development.

With a background in college and professional football, Jon understands the mindset, discipline, and perseverance required to excel in both sports and life. His engaging storytelling and high-energy approach make him a sought-after speaker for youth events, athletic programs, corporate teams, and faith-based organizations.

Jon’s mission is simple: to challenge and equip individuals to honor the standard of excellence in everything they do—on the field, in their faith, and in life. Whether speaking to young athletes, business leaders, or church communities, Jon’s message ignites transformation and inspires action.

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As a fan of our podcast and mission to spread Hope and Healing through the message of Jesus Christ - We would appreciate your financial support!
We are 100% listener supported!

TO GIVE TO FORTITUDE:
- Patreon: patreon.com/FortitudePodcast
- Stripe: https://buy.stripe.com/cN2dQScGw0Il2Pu288
- Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/fortitude10 

PERSONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES:
- Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FortitudePod
- Twitter: https://x.com/FortitudePod

Send us Fan Mail

In this episode of Fortitude, hosts Heather and Amos Kittleson sit down with Bintu and Luc, a remarkable couple with a compelling story that spans continents. Bintu shares her journey from the Congo to Belgium, her escape from war, and her mission to bring hope and education back to her homeland through her nonprofit, Future Hope Africa. 

Luc, who was atheistic most of his life, recounts his unexpected path to faith and how it led him to meet Bintu. They met in 2019 and were married shortly after in May 2021. Despite their diverse backgrounds, both have come together with a shared purpose. From anecdotes about life in Africa and Europe to insights on overcoming cultural and personal challenges. 

Bintu Bio: Grew up in Bukavu, the capital of South Kivu, adjacent to Lake Kivu and Rwanda. Throughout the 1990’s violence emanating from neighboring Rwanda and an indigenous civil war in the DRC (Zaire at the time) created much instability, chaos and death across the region. Bintu and her siblings fled Bukavu, stayed in Nairobi, Kenya for a year, and Bintu eventually travelled to Belgium and began university studies in the city of Mons, south of Brussels.  While in Mons she attended the English-language “International Baptist Church” which is attended by Americans posted to the nearby NATO facility (SHAPE). 

As Bintu continued her studies in Belgium her thoughts were never far from Bukavu and the families suffering there. While many people fled the Zaire/DRC and made new lives in Europe or the United States, Bintu envisioned returning to Bukavu to use her education to improve life for her fellow Congolese. In Belgium she earned her Bachelor’s degree in French Education and an MS in Social Development.

As security slowly returned to South Kivu, Bintu returned in 2008 to begin the process to open an education center in Bukavu. She and a few colleagues eventually started two centers—one assisted local teachers in improving French language instruction, the other provided homework assistance and tutoring in French and Swahili to children.

— In 2012 - American supporters incorporated a 501(c)3 organization, Future Hope Africa (FHA) to provide a financial and spiritual foundation to E-Asbl.

— Since 2016, the “FHA - Kanega Education Centre No.1” organizes and conducts entrepreneurial seminars that teach Biblically-based business models to adults, as well as leadership classes to prepare youth for the future. 

Bintu remains FHA’s Director of Operations at the Bukavu center and travels to Europe and the U.S. advocating Christian education for D.R. Congo.

https://www.futurehopeafrica.org/

https://www.facebook.com/nmujambere

Email: [email protected] 

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As a fan of our podcast and mission to spread Hope and Healing through the message of Jesus Christ - We would appreciate your financial support!
We are 100% listener supported!

TO GIVE TO FORTITUDE:
- Patreon: patreon.com/FortitudePodcast
- Stripe: https://buy.stripe.com/cN2dQScGw0Il2Pu288
- Venmo: https://www.venmo.com/u/fortitude10 

PERSONAL GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES:
- Youtube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@FortitudePod
- Twitter: https://x.com/FortitudePod