Kingdom Case 16: How To Have Authentic Faith | J-Fitz

In this conversation, Jethro Casie interviews J-FITZ, the founder and creative director of Godflow, a Christian clothing brand. They discuss topics such as developing an authentic faith, discovering one's purpose, and being in alignment with God. FITZ shares his personal journey of finding authenticity and purpose through his faith and creative pursuits. He emphasizes the importance of curiosity, seeking God for oneself, and being open to the opportunities and blessings that come from being in alignment with God. In this conversation, Fitz and Jethro discuss various topics related to faith, purpose, and relationships. They explore the importance of curiosity and childlike faith in seeking God's kingdom. Fitz shares his personal journey of discovering his purpose and the challenges he faced along the way. They also discuss the concept of romance and how it has changed since they invited God into their lives. Fitz emphasizes the need for obedience, authenticity, and having fun in the pursuit of success. They conclude with a prayer for those in darkness and a desire for deeper intimacy with God.

FITZ's Instagram -> https://www.instagram.com/fitzthedesigner/
GODFLOW Merch -> https://godflow44.com/

Transcript

Jethro Casie (00:01.121)
Welcome back to another episode of Case by Casey. Today we have someone who's crafting a brand that will last forever. He's the founder and creative director of Godflow, a Christian clothing brand who's on a mission to make faith fly again through the lens of design and fashion. His vision is to increase connection to God globally and help people live abundant lives. From changing his major six times in college to being clearer than ever on his purpose, I welcome

J. Fitts or Mansoor Fitts. a case by. Yeah, yes, I want to I want to talk about that, because like I was going through like your Instagram and a lot of things that I noticed in common was one, like you're super authentic in terms of like, yeah, how you portray yourself on Instagram. So. I want to start in terms of like developing an authentic faith as well. So when was like

FITZ (00:33.844)
Thank you for having me, brother. Appreciate you.

Jethro Casie (01:00.673)
the first time where you realize that your faith was authentic. And then before that, or after that, you could talk about when your faith wasn't like, was inauthentic as well.

FITZ (01:13.069)
That's a good question.

FITZ (01:20.63)
Well, a pivotal moment for me was when I attended SCAD before Morehouse College. I got a lot of attention and people didn't understand how I was the guy who wore the leather jacket with the Jordans and still talked about God and still was fly and still was fresh. So, faith in me.

from what I remember my freshman year in college, I became more intentional with just being authentic with my faith and representing, starting the journey of representing what a fly man of God looks like. And to answer the second half of your question when it wasn't, I would say during my upbringing, it never was.

Never was, my faith was never in a bad place. I would just say, you know, until you get on your own, it doesn't, it feels like your faith is kind of stifled. And you don't, you don't feel the full comfortability to express yourself how you truly want to express because you're in the confines of family and you're limiting your authenticity.

Jethro Casie (02:29.635)
Whoa, what do you mean by that?

FITZ (02:48.553)
because you care what they think. And when I transferred to SCAD and went to the campus in Savannah, I got the autonomy to just be me.

Jethro Casie (03:05.409)
Amen. And it's funny, because is that the school in Atlanta that you're talking about? Or is there a different one?

FITZ (03:11.178)
So that's the same school, but they have a location in Atlanta, Savannah, Lacoste, France, and I believe Hong Kong. Yeah.

Jethro Casie (03:19.939)
Okay. Amen. Yeah. And I want to touch upon like your, your fashion journey as well, but that reminded me of like the, the Bible or the story of Abraham where like it wasn't until he left his father's house or God's home, like leave his father's house and like everybody he knew to go out into like the, land that would end up being theirs. And yeah, it's interesting. Cause in that story, took him like mad long like 20, 30, however many years to actually to move by faith.

FITZ (03:45.833)
20 years, yep.

Jethro Casie (03:48.705)
So for you, were you raised, were you always raised in the church? If so, when do you feel like you gave your life to Christ? When was the, like, you Jesus is like, really Lord, like, I love you Jesus type of thing.

FITZ (04:03.205)
Yeah, great question, bro. I grew up in a Christian household from day one. Like my parents wasn't playing that, you know? You know what I'm saying? Like my dad, was very, he was very like me at my age. Very like me at my age. And he was always passionate about the Lord in his twenties. Of course now, but in his twenties, as from what my mom tells me.

My dad just had like a heart for God, genuine heart for God. I don't, it's one character in the Bible, maybe you can help me, but was it Joseph? Like, wasn't Joseph the one who had a heart? He was a man after God's heart or something like that. David, David, okay. So just like David, my heart has, my heart posture has always been like that for God. And...

Jethro Casie (04:48.737)
Yeah, David, yeah.

FITZ (05:01.359)
I remember in middle school going to teen church and being fascinated, bro. I hear a sermon and I'll just be like, you know, like, I want more. You know what I'm saying? I want more. So my heart has always been like that. And, it wasn't until I got cut from varsity basketball in high school that I needed.

Jethro Casie (05:17.579)
Amen.

FITZ (05:27.267)
a deeper foundation, a deeper conviction that drove me to really rely on God even more when I was experiencing pain and a misunderstanding of where my purpose was going to go.

Jethro Casie (05:44.673)
Well, so what was your understanding of your purpose when you were like in high school or even growing up? Because what I've noticed, Fitz, is like a lot of people who are... Maybe it's... A lot of people who are probably called like how the Bible says like many are called, but few are chosen. Now I'm thinking of it. Thank you, Holy Spirit. But now I'm thinking of like, I think like it doesn't say like many Christians are called. It just says many are called. So I think maybe now is what the Holy Spirit is telling me. It's like it's not just believers. It could be...

That's why the Bible also says in Joshua, if you listen to, or if you keep the law on your heart, you'll have good success. So there's success in the world. So you can still be successful, have everything you want, be in your purpose, but without, at least that's what I think, without Jesus, it's not good success, or without following God's law, it's not good success. for you, what was your purpose before, or what you thought your purpose to be?

FITZ (06:23.695)
Mm

FITZ (06:45.035)
Before basketball or after basketball?

Jethro Casie (06:48.023)
Yeah, but before basketball and high school, like growing up before you came to the understanding of, I'm not sure if God flows your purpose, but I'm sure it's like one of the extensions of it.

FITZ (06:57.089)
Before I got cut from basketball, I believe my purpose was to...

FITZ (07:08.993)
Chase pretty girls.

FITZ (07:13.45)
Get fresh. Get fresh.

Jethro Casie (07:18.069)
Yeah.

FITZ (07:20.004)
Play basketball, become this NBA phenom, become the next Derrick Rose, become this multi -millionaire so I can provide for my family.

Jethro Casie (07:27.171)
Mm. Mm.

FITZ (07:36.531)
spend time with my girlfriend at the time.

That's what it was before.

Now, it's interesting what I'm about to say. What it is after, it made a shift,

Jethro Casie (07:48.461)
Yeah.

FITZ (07:56.16)
It's interesting how when something goes left in our life

That's a pivotal opportunity for God to reveal himself.

And when I got cut, I remember asking myself, God, show me my purpose. I say this at 16 years old, God, show me my purpose. Show me my purpose. And I remember walking through the cross country trail, just processing it. I'm not, I spent all this time and effort and energy and devotion training for basketball, trying to be better and all that. And then what I noticed that

The Holy Spirit told me, bro, like two weeks later.

your purpose is to inspire. And I walked into an art room. I walked into the art room at the school I was going to. I just started drawing, streetwear, different shoes, designs, all of that, building my portfolio. And bro, when I say two months after that, my teacher and professor at the time, she sent my work to the High Museum of Art in Atlanta.

FITZ (09:18.143)
and the High Museum Art contacted me to be in their museum, in a student exhibit. Bro, the time span is short. And that's why I say, I always promote this. When you're in alignment with God, that's when things really start flowing and start working for your life. And people can look at your life. I love the point you made earlier. You said like, people who...

Jethro Casie (09:20.972)
Wow.

Jethro Casie (09:25.655)
Yeah.

FITZ (09:46.706)
may not be connected with Christ who are multi -millionaires and have all this seemingly success, I believe with Christ, your success has a great foundation. And so by me seeking God and asking him what my purpose was, I felt the Holy Spirit telling me to inspire and bro, ever since then, that's what I've been doing.

Jethro Casie (10:15.413)
Amen. And you know, know, it's funny that you said that because I was looking through like when I was like doing my research and obviously preparing for the podcast, like a lot of the people would be like, man, you're so inspirational. Like, yeah, you're you're inspiring. Like you made one post like like years back. Like, do you like why do you follow me? And people are like, because you're like inspirational. It's interesting that people will see like the purpose or the gift or the assignment that God has given you. like because I think for many people, they don't know.

what their purpose is. I think probably like many people haven't like genuinely like asked God or had that period where they had to be broken and actually go to God and be like, yo, I don't know what I'm doing anymore. So I want to touch upon that because you've been somebody who's like super the word they I think would best describe is like introspective. Like you really reflect and it's very interesting because

Jethro Casie (11:12.641)
I feel like I got to know you so much just by being on your social media page, but how did you come to like, I guess, know yourself first? How did you come to like know who Fitz was?

FITZ (11:24.977)
It's beautiful. Woof. Bro, great question. I grew up not given the autonomy to go outside like that and hang out with friends. I did every now and again, but it was rare. So I spent so much time alone in my room and I would read so many books, bro.

I would read so many books, like my mom gave me a book at 14 or 12 and it was about Discover Your Genius and it had...

the workings and readings of like Brunicelli, Da Vinci, Einstein, Charles Darwin, Queen Elizabeth. And bro, I've read philosophy, read poetry, I read things about spirituality. I was reading the Bible, I was reading different spiritual books, conversations with God.

I became so obsessed with personal development and I would look at interviews, know, Evan Carmichael before class, before school started, I would listen to Will Smith, Evan Carmichael, Denzel Washington, you know, and I would study the different minds of Pharrell Williams, Asa Alraki. I would hear Asa Alraki just talk about confidence and how he is authentic.

Jethro Casie (12:40.941)
Yeah.

FITZ (12:53.816)
about authenticity and that really rubbed off on me and so throughout this time to develop my own.

vision, signal and fragrance of what authenticity looks like. I'm naturally an introvert. So by spending time alone after all these years, I was able to develop my thoughts. Like each day I'm journaling through this whole period. 12, 14, journaling, taking notes, taking notes before class, in my dorm room, that's Gazz sitting on my bed.

Jethro Casie (13:10.529)
Yeah.

Jethro Casie (13:26.135)
Wow, okay.

FITZ (13:34.875)
sitting on that little twin full -size bed, like taking notes, listening to Stephen Furtick. I tapped into Stephen Furtick when I got the scat at, what was that? What was that, 17 and 18, and I'm just listening to Stephen Furtick elevate. I'm I'm falling in love with myself by spending time with myself and also spending time with God. And I built.

Jethro Casie (13:59.383)
Mm. Mm.

FITZ (14:03.672)
I built this character, I built like fits. I built this character of who I desire to be and I haven't stopped since then.

Jethro Casie (14:15.175)
And that's the thing I noticed you were like, cause I've noticed that like a lot of people who, and this is I meant to say before, a lot of people who are, or who I can see and I feel like, I feel like you can tell when somebody's gonna be like a somebody type of thing. Or at least I feel like God's like, given me like the ability to see like, so when we first met you, like there's like, whether it's the anointing, the grace favor, whatever, I think it's the anointing that people carry.

Yeah, when I met you, I was like, wow, this dude's like, you can just tell some certain people are different. But it's like, you also have that like six, however many years, you've been like self -improving since like 12 years old, which is like a huge gap. Where do you think, like, did the wisdom just come from God? Because like even journaling, like I didn't start journaling until like 19 years old. I didn't even like think about it. I thought journaling was for like a lack of a better word. like.

like foolishness in a sense. yeah, so where do you think the wisdom came from? Was it just from God? Like, do know if your parents were praying for you to get like wisdom and like understanding? Like, cause that's, that's just a next level to me. That's such an early age at least.

FITZ (15:14.183)
I appreciate that, bro. I know I will have to give all the glory to God because, I didn't, like...

I know my parents, you know, they pray for me. My dad prays for me every day before he goes to work. He tells me that my grandparents pray for me. I have a praying family. And so we have...

Loved one is praying for you, bro.

That's a part of that secret sauce. Like people genuinely care for you. So I would say that. And then, my curiosity. I was attributed to my curiosity. I've always had this deep conviction of not accepting a mediocre life.

FITZ (16:15.096)
Bro, I won't do it. I won't allow it. I'll tell you this quick story. I'll tell you this quick story. my family has lived in two homes, two family homes, And when I was younger, my dad had this friend, a friend of his, his name was Mr. Barry. And one day, I'm bro, I'm like...

Jethro Casie (16:19.393)
Yeah.

FITZ (16:41.345)
Six years old, seven years old, very young.

One day.

Mr. Berry, may be descriptive, his home was very nice and it didn't look like a typical home. His home looked like it could belong in Florida, like Fort Lauderdale or Miami or something like that. Beautiful, the landscape was lovely. He had this, he had a dog, this black female dog.

Her name was Mika and Mr. Berry, he was so inspiring to me because of his lifestyle. And so bro, at seven years old one day, I'm walking in the neighborhood, I'm on my Honda, I'm on my Honda motorcycle that I got for Christmas. I'm on my street and I see this big truck, like a big.

Tractor trailer truck with all of these cars on it.

FITZ (17:51.584)
Now they park in front of Mrs. Berry's house. Bro, I'm seeing her. I'm seeing her.

FITZ (18:01.267)
I'm seeing like four cars on one truck. They take one Benz off. They take the convertible Benz off. They take the sedan Benz off. Then he had a new, he had a...

What was it? He had a black edition. That's what like, he had like these type of cars that are aspirational. Like you will see on like MTV Gems, movie, MTV Gems, music video, like one on six in parts. And I just saw all these cars. It was taking off on like three, four cars in one time. Like this is just the upgrade though. You know what saying?

Jethro Casie (18:27.768)
Yeah.

Jethro Casie (18:46.947)
Mm.

FITZ (18:48.678)
all in different colors. I'm like, what is, this is abundance. This is my introduction to abundance. So one day I got a chance to go in his house and my dad, I was with my dad and we went up to his bedroom and he was showing my dad like these new suits he got or whatever. And I walk in the bedroom and I see a spread of GQ magazines.

on his bedside table, going to his closet, it's silks, it's velvet. He got like these luxury lambskin throws on the day bench in the bed. I'm like, yo, what is this? And not knowing that this was a huge catalyst to infuse my taste level, my expectations for my life, and my exposure. I always say that exposure is...

Jethro Casie (19:30.455)
Yeah.

FITZ (19:48.859)
one of the greatest opportunities you can get in life because once you see it, you can't unsee it. That's what the word talks about. It's important for us to keep our lenses clean. It's important for our eyesight. It says if the eyesight is clean, I'm paraphrasing, but it's harder for a person to see it. So by what we focus on our vision, a lot of people in life, they just haven't.

Jethro Casie (19:53.101)
Mm. Mm.

Jethro Casie (20:11.213)
Mm

FITZ (20:16.87)
They just haven't had the opportunity to see better, so they're not going to desire better. I have had an immense amount of opportunities where I was exposed to...

FITZ (20:33.711)
the best of the best. And I thank God every day for giving me that exposure because now my appetite is different.

Jethro Casie (20:47.521)
And how has that played a role in terms of like so you're so this is like seven years old you said

FITZ (20:54.865)
This is very young, this is before 10.

Jethro Casie (20:57.525)
Okay. So then you have this encounter where like, yeah, God puts this person into your life. He was like a family friend, it sounds like, or? Okay. Yeah. So you have this family friend who's in your life and now obviously you are going to high school. get to college. And actually before that, want to touch upon like, so you started like, you're designing your design career, like right after the varsity and

But then you know, was that always something that you had a passion for? How did you kind of, you just decided to, like the Holy Spirit just kind of led you to draw on

FITZ (21:29.328)
I've always been artistic. I remember in third or fourth grade, I didn't win. came in third place at like a, I went to World Changers Christian Academy and I did this design contest and I got third place. But I didn't really take it serious after that. I just always been, even like writing in elementary school, I would always try to write as neat as possible. And then people before they would turn their work in, they would come to me and

They were like, is this neat enough or whatever? You know, so I've always been keen to detail. And so it just translated when I got to high school and throughout like my journey and career. And so it just came, it came natural to me. It came natural to me.

Jethro Casie (22:16.575)
When you say keen to detail, what do you like? How does that like how important is that in terms of being like an artist and even more so like like like spiritually as well? Like how does that because it sounds like a gift to me because I think I'm very non detail oriented. So like even spiritually, do you feel like that changes the way like you've encountered God in terms of because I've seen like even like on your Instagram, you're very like like you.

You emphasize details, I feel like. So yeah, how has that even led to the way God speaks to you?

FITZ (22:49.571)
When you think of God, let's lay it out. God is a God of order. God is a God of beauty. God is a God of righteousness. God is a God of destruction, fair destruction.

God is the architect of design. And so when you lay, when you look at, when you look around and look at earth, that's really how I gained a reverence for God and why I have a tremendous belief of God because the proof is in the pudding. Look around you, look at the stars at night. Who created that? Okay, you don't have an answer. Okay, it was God.

I don't want to hear the big bang theory. understand everyone comes from different backgrounds, when something just like Michelangelo and like the Sistine Chapel, I believe the Sistine Chapel. Just like when you see a work of art so beautiful and mesmerizing.

Jethro Casie (23:39.33)
Yeah.

FITZ (23:55.859)
And people look at art and they cry. That's because it's connected to a beauty beyond this earthly realm. Michael Angelo, Miles Davis.

FITZ (24:12.886)
There are certain artists and creatives on this planet, I'll say Kanye West. There are certain artists that are connected to the divine. That's why it makes so much sense. It's like a perfect formula. And that's what I aspire to. That's where I glean my inspiration. I'm seeking to, the more I connect with God, the more that...

art, designs, ideas, it flows through me. And so when I look at God, I see the architect of design and I'm a vessel, you know, like I'm a part of his team, you know.

Jethro Casie (24:56.759)
That's deep because like I feel like the way The name that you know God by is also like the way he'll manifest in your life So like when you say like the architect of design or like if somebody knows him as like Jaira or somebody knows him as like his advocate Whatever the case may be like that's how God will show up in your life So like you have that revelation and now obviously people listening have that revelation of like he's the architect or like he's the author of your life and and it's

It's so interesting because that same way that that gif thing can be used like for good, the anime could also use to pervert it just like how their songs. I'm not saying this was the case, but who knows, maybe. But like people who would like listen to, I remember my friend, like he'd listen to.

to like Juice WRLD before he passed away. And I remember being in his car, this was before I was saved, but I was in his car and I was like, yo, this song is so like, I'll just listen to it. I'm like, I'm sad. Like what is going on? So that gifting could also be used to like dampen your soul, dampen your spirit, actually push you away from God. But I want to touch upon like.

What's your testimony, bro? Like, what has God done in your life? What's your testimony?

FITZ (26:28.318)
God bless me with the opportunity to.

FITZ (26:34.505)
I have my work in the High Museum at 15 years old.

Jethro Casie (26:39.996)
Can you explain how big of a deal that is? I like, well, what does that like mean?

FITZ (26:51.369)
People see the value in your art and you get selected and you get to become a part of a group of very talented artists, creatives, designers, and you get to be acknowledged. And you get to be acknowledged. It's pretty cool. It's pretty cool. Watch what I'm to say next though.

High Museum, all of what I'm about to say to the viewers and all that, all of what I'm about to say is by God's grace.

High Museum at 15 years old.

The first...

FITZ (27:36.305)
first fashion design graduate in Morehouse history, in Morehouse College history.

Last year, I was chosen as one of nine designers in the world to join the Nike Serena Williams design team.

FITZ (27:55.417)
When I was a junior in college, I speak a little bit French, a little bit. I walked into the bookstore at Morales College and I overheard these ladies speaking French. I went up to introduce myself, bonjour. That's all I know. And they say, ain't jumping out. say, That's all I got.

These were two ladies. One of the ladies was from Paris and another one was from the Caribbean. And they were looking for a fashion designer to join their team.

And so this was an upcoming direct to consumer DTC luxury women's wear brand.

I got the opportunity.

to work with them while I was in college, while going to the fashion class, or while going to classes at Spellman and Clark. so I'm in meetings, virtual, I'm in meetings with firms and pairs and creative directors and pairs, and then I'm going to class and I'm turning in homework assignment.

FITZ (29:22.958)
So my exposure, like I said, like by God's grace, and this is just a testimony of.

when you're in alignment with God and also your authenticity.

There's a beautiful flow that happens in your life where you not only are being obedient, you're having fun.

Jethro Casie (29:50.283)
So how do...

How do people be in alignment with God? What's been your experience with that? Is that something that you've learned to do in terms of to be in alignment God? Because I'm sure people listening, like me listening, I'm like, yeah, the grace, the favor, the whatever's working behind the scenes that we can't see. Obviously something's happening because you're in your assignment. So how have you learned to be in alignment with God? And how do you know?

Maybe the better question is, how do you know when you're not in alignment with God?

FITZ (30:40.054)
You're in alignment with God when...

FITZ (30:46.197)
A consistent series of events, opportunities, and great things in your life happens with a compound effect that you didn't necessarily go after. Apply for your energy by the frequency that you were rising on.

FITZ (31:15.488)
you start to attract what's for you.

And a lot of people call it the law of attraction, the law of vibration, the universal law. That's a real thing. God is a God of order, remember? So, ooh, when you're in the right order.

FITZ (31:38.316)
things, opportunities people attract to you because they recognize your signal. know Jethro, he's having a good day. Why is he having a good day? he read his word this morning. Okay, okay, okay. he opened the door for a young lady who was looking at him crazy, but he still opened the door. he forgave someone. okay, okay. Jethro's having fun. He's having fun.

He's doing something that he enjoys, he's his podcast, what fits. He's in his purpose, he's being of service. He's doing things he enjoys. One thing I don't like about the faith community, I don't like, I despise how...

FITZ (32:28.149)
the church sometimes in the faith community has, and you know what? I believe it's the enemy. I believe it's Satan.

FITZ (32:42.877)
Satan comes to kill, steal, destroy.

FITZ (32:50.333)
If he can corrupt something that has the potential to be good and pure, he's absolutely gonna do that without your permission. He's gonna come in and lay everything ablaze.

FITZ (33:08.468)
how you know how you're in alignment to go back. You're moving, you're honoring order in your life. So how I did that personally.

My curiosity was signaling something. It's more than just women. It's more than just being with pretty women. It's more than just looking fly. I need to be connected. So I was just curious. I said, you know what?

Let me just start reading the Bible to see what this is. Let me start asking questions. I started praying like, like, reveal yourself to me in all my life through nature, when I talk to people, allow me to connect with the people you want me to connect with.

FITZ (34:04.415)
things that started to flow and I think people instead of coming from a judgmental standpoint on this religion or this religion if someone is Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist whatever, Buddhist whatever, approach

FITZ (34:24.219)
approach your relationship with God with curiosity.

Learn for yourself, not based off of what your parents tell you, your friends tell you. Develop your own intrinsic intimacy with God for yourself, to prove it to yourself. You wanna know something that can really help people?

Jethro Casie (34:47.99)
Yeah.

FITZ (34:50.319)
God, this is a prayer. God.

FITZ (34:57.497)
Make yourself real to me.

FITZ (35:03.965)
A lot of people are saying things about you. A lot of people are saying you're in church and all of this. Reveal yourself to me where I can understand and fall in love with you. And I did that, And authentically, I began to discover and passionately.

FITZ (35:30.243)
Learn God for myself.

FITZ (35:35.133)
and over time the intimacy builds.

Jethro Casie (35:40.8)
And I think something that's really important in that is like at the end of the day, the Bible says like seek and you shall find. like a lot of people and God's put on my heart to like touching upon like curiosity as well, like being curious about at least for me, this is my viewpoint, like being curious about like other people's beliefs and religions. I think it might have been apostle Paul where he was like to the Jews, I became a Jew to the

Gentiles I became a Gentiles to whatever faith like you become not like them like you're Like obviously like you don't believe what they believe but you try and like be who they who they are and I think a lot of the times When you're trying to share your faith their people were trying to share their faith It's more of like like Jesus is Lord like just accept them But you got to like meet people where they're at just like how God met us where we were at and in terms of like

So when you made that prayer, reveal yourself, or Lord Jesus, or God, reveal yourself to me. How that then began to happen, what were some of the encounters, the experiences that you've had?

FITZ (36:37.679)
Yeah.

Jethro Casie (36:53.217)
And when was this? Like how old was this? Like the same time period? Was this when you were in college already?

FITZ (37:00.44)
This is around college. My first year of college, I really became connected with God, because I was on my own. And when you're on your own, you get to make your own decisions. And yeah, this is around that time.

FITZ (37:22.276)
How did that go? It was just natural, bro. It was just natural. I would be in, check this out. I would be in secular situations.

talking about God.

Jethro Casie (37:36.913)
Hey man.

FITZ (37:38.231)
You know what

FITZ (37:43.875)
be.

FITZ (37:47.671)
at a kickback, I'll be, bro, like I don't even keep it P like, or some instances where I was in a situation with a young lady and you know, she wants to have sex and the Holy Spirit is like,

FITZ (38:15.265)
And Jethro, like, she's on top of me. And I'm saying no.

Jethro Casie (38:17.675)
Yeah. Yeah.

FITZ (38:21.091)
Why the desire is not there. She looking at me like.

Jethro Casie (38:24.587)
I go so much.

FITZ (38:26.841)
Hey, hey, I saw this happen several times. So I say all that to say like when God sees that you're curious and Matthew 6, 33, Seek ye first the kingdom of God and all his righteousness and all these things shall be added unto you. The word says be childlike. Those who aren't childlike won't enter into this kingdom. Won't enter.

Jethro Casie (38:31.778)
Yeah.

FITZ (38:55.341)
won't receive the kingdom of God.

that curiosity and...

curiosity.

something God birthed, the Holy Spirit birthed something in my heart to where I just always wanted to spread like his love, his flavor, like his, I just wanted to transfer that light and.

FITZ (39:27.22)
Yeah.

Jethro Casie (39:28.823)
man, that's powerful because damn, should I say this? Something, this was before I met my girlfriend, something similar happened to me, like right as I was like walking, starting to like walk with God, reading my Bible, cause I was still like, like wrestling, like, should I like, man, waiting for marriage is BS, like why would I wait for marriage? Like, that doesn't make any sense. Like the same exact situation happened to where like I was,

met up with this girl, blah, blah, blah, talking. And then like we were about to like do something and I was just like, I was just like, no, like the, now looking back on it was the Holy Spirit like leading me, but I was just like, and that was my first time like denying my flesh. And since then it's been like such a like easier journey, especially in terms like, like waiting for marriage. But so, so what do you, I know that you're, you're romantic at heart and something that I noticed is that you were always

like seeking or preparing yourself for like your your future wife during that like preparation phase I guess what was was there anything that the Lord was trying to or revealing to you that you needed to work on because I'm sure you're maybe like speaking to to women or whatever the case maybe you like had relationships well what was like something that you had to like be introspective about yourself with and and kind of change for that right person to come

FITZ (41:00.681)
Bro, I'm gonna be completely transparent. God is still working on further than where I was. God is still working on me in that aspect when it comes to women and choosing and developing me for my future wife.

FITZ (41:22.015)
Some of those things, your question is, what were some of those things that got revealed to me and that I had to work on?

Jethro Casie (41:29.697)
Yeah, or another question that just came is also like, how has God changed your definition of romance since you've like, had him into your life?

FITZ (41:44.245)
Jeez! Ooh, that's one of the ones. was god -shaming.

FITZ (41:59.038)
Romance

It's physical but it's also a spiritual tango with the right person. You know what I'm saying? It's beautiful.

Jethro Casie (42:11.384)
Yeah.

FITZ (42:20.944)
You may, you know, people may share that with a few souls. You know what I'm saying? That doesn't happen to everyone. know, romance is not just about.

being on a date, you know, and paying for her food.

romance with God.

FITZ (42:45.884)
I don't even know how I can explain it, bro.

FITZ (42:55.601)
the piece.

FITZ (42:59.355)
It's a piece, it's a desire, and it's insatiable.

willingness to.

continue to learn, learn your woman, learn your lady. And I believe that comes from a spiritual place, because when we think about proverbs and when we read the passage of, know, husbands love your wife like Christ loved the church. That's a real de -statement. don't think, it's tough, like you gotta be cold.

Jethro Casie (43:36.471)
That's tough. Yeah.

FITZ (43:40.485)
You gotta be, I'm still working on it. You gotta be cold to love your, love your wife, love your spouse like Christ loved the church. First of all, do you know how Christ loved the church?

Jethro Casie (43:52.706)
He died.

the worst death possible.

FITZ (43:58.424)
You know, so that's what I have for that. It's a continuous journey. What would your answer be to that?

Jethro Casie (44:05.299)
Yes, so when you were speaking and you were talking about the word romance, the revelation that the Holy Spirit just brought to me is that I googled it. was like, what does romance actually mean? Because I was like, is it just a thing between a girl, like a man and a woman? But the definition of romance is a feeling of excitement and mystery associated with love. And then it reminded me of...

like David and Jonathan and how they said that they were, what was the word? I'm forgetting the word, but he like loved him. Like he was his own like soul. I forgot the word that they used, but yeah, I think romance for me has changed in the sense of, I was answering this with my girl actually before the podcast, which is funny, but I'm gonna say a different answer because I don't even remember what I said, but I think romance for me has changed from.

being just.

Jethro Casie (45:03.695)
I never invited God into my relation. I never had a relationship before, but into whatever I was doing before, like the situationships. And I think that's the biggest difference is when you try and look at other people through the lens of God and especially your significant other. it's like choosing to love somebody. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is not jealous. It's all these different things. And it's like you actively have to choose love just like God.

like chose us. that's been my, I guess, definition of romance changing is just.

And I don't think like I have a, not like I have, I don't have a choice, but if I'm going to call myself a follower of Christ and I'm going to see myself as a child and a son of God, like I, I'm, it's my duty to love others, like as Christ, like love the church. So that would be my response.

FITZ (45:58.146)
All right, all right, brother. I like that, I like that.

Jethro Casie (46:00.744)
So, so Fitz, I believe like you're gifted, you're anointing. What's like the tough part of being somebody who's super focused on your purpose? you're trying to be as much as possible in your ensignment. You're doing what you're doing, you're feeling like God's goodness in your life.

I brought it up in the beginning, I saw there was like sophomore year of college where you changed your major six times and you were going to, I guess I'm not really sure what was happening in your life, but you can talk to it. But how did you go from there or what was being there? Like, I'm not sure if that was a bad time or whatever the case may be.

FITZ (46:50.379)
Man, bro, I was in development. I was in the dirt. I was in the dirt and I transferred from more out. Well, I didn't do this out of my own willingness. My mom told me, said, I'm transferring you to Morehouse. I want you to be able to get a job.

you know, like that was her energy. And so, bro, I went through a crisis, an identity, a purpose, creative.

FITZ (47:24.971)
A lack of

a scarcity of creativity crisis. Cause I thought, you know, my life is going this way. I'm going to go SCAD. doing this, this, you know, was modeling at SCAD. I was, things were picking up for me. And as soon as I made up my mind at SCAD that you know what? I want to pursue fashion. I transferred to Morehouse. Morehouse was an all liberal arts institution. And so they didn't have like art. They didn't have what I wanted.

do. And so before I ended up, before by God's grace, being able to create my own major, I took a whole bunch of majors trying to find myself. You know, I was in English, I came in a business major, then I went to psychology, then I went to English, then I went to urban planning, then I went back to business, then I just, you see what I'm saying?

Jethro Casie (48:25.869)
Yeah.

FITZ (48:25.93)
Until I had enough was enough. I really suffered during that time. I really suffered. I felt depressed. I went to the therapist. The therapist couldn't even help me. I was really going through it, bro. I felt lost and I felt like God forgot about me. I felt like God didn't honor my authenticity. I felt betrayed.

And I prayed, of course, that time.

FITZ (49:02.151)
At the time he showed me that there were certain things that I needed at Morehouse, certain people that I needed that were, that was instrumental and great for the man I am today. So I went through, a, I dated, bro, I dated a new spellman night every year. I dated a new girl from the spellman every year, bro. I gained relationships there, bro. Like, I like,

That's what it's about, bro. Like I'm even going through this now, like surrendering to what I want for my life and constantly allowing God.

space to do his thing. You know what I'm saying? You know, not my will, but your will be done. You know what I'm saying? As it says in Jeremiah 29, 11, for I know the plans I have for you, said the Lord, plans to prosper you, not to harm you, plans to give you a better future, a hope for a better future. So there was the, there's a plan. Like anyone that's looking at this, that's going through, you know, the dirt, recognize that there is a plan.

Like I'm really, I was just talking about this with my bro today. I'm going through something right now where I have to make a pivotal decision in my life. And now I'm at the spiritual maturity to respect when God puts me through a trial and a tribulation. Because when you look at the patterns, like look at the pattern in your life, every trial and tribulation, everything that was really difficult.

FITZ (50:48.207)
was the opportunity for you to evolve, grow and level up. None of it, none of what you're going through.

FITZ (51:06.105)
is not for his glory. None of it is without purpose. A lot of times we take it personal. like, did this, this, my life not going like this, what, I wanted this, I didn't get that. Well, it's a constant journey. Like you said, being a follower of Christ, you gotta die to sell. And we still have our desires. I have my desires all day. And as we get back into that alignment, as we get back into that flow,

Jethro Casie (51:12.727)
in that.

Jethro Casie (51:30.381)
Yeah.

FITZ (51:35.931)
high flow, things start to pick up steam. know what I'm saying? Things work out but we must submit. You know, we must submit to God. You know, we must surrender to God for things to work out.

Jethro Casie (51:54.011)
And I want to touch upon that. Like what was the inspiration of God flow and what's like? Yeah, you've been you've been you had the business for four years now, five years.

FITZ (52:07.237)
since 2018.

Jethro Casie (52:09.608)
wow, okay, so it's been six years. What's been like?

FITZ (52:11.063)
In September of Yeah.

Jethro Casie (52:14.497)
Okay, well, what's been the biggest lesson or what's been the biggest mistake that you've learned in these six years, whether, and you can talk about like if somebody's listening and they want to be like, like somebody who has their own fashion brand, they want to be like a fat, a, yeah, somebody in fashion or whatever perspective that you want to take it from. But what's been the biggest mistake that you've made in these six years regarding like God flow, your brand and what's like the lesson that you learned from that.

FITZ (52:42.745)
Great question bro. Well, first I'll speak on the reason I started Godflow. So Godflow was originally created to...

Jethro Casie (52:55.498)
you

FITZ (52:56.247)
refresh the narrative of what faith and God represents. God flow.

is to restructure the image of how believers are viewed. I have a disdain how people

FITZ (53:21.253)
perceive individuals of faith lame corny. I don't like that. I've never been lame or corny a day in my life. It doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense. So I want to...

Give a better perspective and the whole mission of God Flow is to make faith fly again.

to make faith fly again by inspiring and empowering individuals to develop that connection with God through the lens of design and fashion. And it's all about authenticity, it's about power and it's about inspiration. And so that's what God flow represents. Like when people put on God flow, I want them to feel like powerful. I want them to feel inspired to like if...

Jethro Casie (54:10.391)
that.

FITZ (54:16.01)
If God gave you the skills, if God gave you put it in those desires in your heart, why not drive the Lambo? I don't get it. Why not have the woman of your dream? Why not enjoy your life? Why not live a life of abundance? Because abundance is our birthright. The word says.

I come to give you life and life more abundantly. You know what saying? They'll be reading their word. You know what I'm saying? They'll be doing it. They'll be like, they'll be doing it. And so abundance, bro, like that's saying abundance is in my blood cells. You know what I'm saying? Like my mom's, my granddad and my grandparents, know, their last name is King.

Jethro Casie (54:57.954)
Yeah.

Jethro Casie (55:16.312)
Mmm.

FITZ (55:17.216)
You know what I'm saying? like, come from the King family, so like, I can't really, you know, I can't really.

Jethro Casie (55:20.705)
Amen.

FITZ (55:27.795)
accept mediocrity for my life. And my mission, a part of my mission and purpose is to wake people up, like inspire people, let people know that it's okay. And I would say to answer your second question, the third question, the biggest mistake I made in God flow was...

FITZ (55:57.706)
The thing is, the thing is like, with mistakes, where I'm at now with God flow, I couldn't have gotten there throughout all the trials and tribulations that I

You know, like first collection, I just put it out there to see if I could do it. So first collection, I did that, know, I was selling out of my car. At the time I had a Acura TSX, white Pearl white Acura TSX just selling out of my car, selling on campus, you know, doing photo shoots, video shoots in the parking garage with.

students around campus. Second collection, technically we're on like the second or third collection and it's the provision collection we're working on next year.

FITZ (56:56.328)
It took time, bro. I want people to hear my heart when I say this. You have a vision in your head, how God gave several people in the Bible a vision.

Just because you have a vision doesn't mean that it's time for that vision to harvest.

Write with me on this.

The coat of many colors, who is the role? Joseph. Hey, let's...

Jethro Casie (57:26.033)
Joseph.

Jethro Casie (57:30.339)
you

FITZ (57:31.622)
Now Joseph, God gave this beautiful vision to Joseph.

FITZ (57:40.018)
He had haters. The haters was his own family, his brother. His brothers.

Joseph got sold into slavery by, believe it was the Ishmaelites, I believe it was the Ishmaelites. And, his brothers sold him and the Ishmaelites, were there and they bought Joseph, right? So Joseph, you know, he's in this dungeon, this cell, and he does not understand what is going on. He's like, you gave me this vision.

He gave me this favor. My dad, my father, my earthly father loves me. Gave me this nice coat. You know, my brother is hating on me. Why am I in the dungeon? Why am I in darkness right now? So anyway, some security guards, you know, they come now to check on things.

FITZ (58:41.132)
Even in darkness, his gift was activated because he got the opportunity to interpret their dreams. So years went by before he got out. And one day when the king needed help interpreting his dreams, he pulled Joseph out of the dungeon, came up to the palace with the marble floors. And

He got the opportunity to utilize his gift. Proverbs 18, 16, a man's gift makes room for him and brings him before great men. That goes for men and women.

FITZ (59:25.177)
Your gift will make room for you. My gift made room for me when I was at Nike. I got a call. I never applied to Nike. Never applied to Nike. Never. I never wanted to work for Nike. I got a call. I quit my nine to five. One day I went to New York. Holy Spirit just said, go to New York. I've never been to New York before. Went to New York. I'm on Soho. I'm...

Jethro Casie (59:32.748)
Wow.

Jethro Casie (59:47.597)
Yeah.

FITZ (59:54.181)
I'm walking down SoHo, visiting Rick Owens, Mason Margiela, Uniqlo, Ritzy, all these really nice stores in Times Square, inspired. I walk back with my buddy Tiago, shout out to Tiago. Go back to his apartment, Lower East Side, Manhattan, and sit on his couch. And I pick up my phone and I see an email and it says, Fitz, we've been watching you from like,

Jethro Casie (01:00:03.053)
Yeah.

Jethro Casie (01:00:25.244)
That's crazy. Whoa.

FITZ (01:00:29.347)
So I can't make this up, bro. I can't make this up. And I say all that to say, going back to the story of Joseph, everyone that's looking at this podcast has a gift, has a calling, and has a conviction on their life.

FITZ (01:00:47.659)
If you're in the darkness right now, you're... You being in the darkness is not...

Your final place is not your final destination. Darkness is not your final destination.

FITZ (01:01:06.135)
The darkness teaches us. I just got out of the darkness.

for another lesson, like the darkness teaches us. Think of, let's use an analogy. My bro, Emil, who's an artist in Atlanta, he gave me this great, he's from Trinidad, he gave me this great analogy.

FITZ (01:01:30.658)
Think of you being in the darkness like a seed being planted on the ground.

FITZ (01:01:38.572)
The seed needs the proper nourishment, patience, and time to become a great flower, a great plant, a great tree. Now, patience goes by, time goes by, development.

If you leave a seed out above service, it's not going to go through its gestation period. Everyone is looking at it. Look up the law of gestation.

It takes time for things to develop. And sometimes I pride an ego and say, I deserve this now, I deserve this now.

Whoa.

You wanting things now may not always align with God's plan. You know, it says in the word, his thoughts are higher than our thoughts. So God is looking at the picture from a completely different view than you're looking at it right in front of you. You see what I'm saying? And so the darkness, the being underground, be proud of...

Jethro Casie (01:02:41.975)
different view. Yeah.

FITZ (01:02:54.198)
get an opportunity to be developed so that one day you can be somebody. One day that you can grow and evolve into something beautiful, but that takes time. That takes not being seen. Like that takes, you know, for me working on my craft at times when people didn't see, you know, like people see social media, they can look at me on social media, they can look at you, they can look at everybody on social media and you see a shell of who someone is.

But really who someone is, when they close the door, behind closed doors, what are the thoughts they're thinking about themselves? What are they doing behind closed doors? Behind closed doors, I have moments where I wasn't being righteous, I wasn't being aligned. You know what I'm saying? And there are other times behind closed door, I'm studying Virgil Abloh, I'm reading books.

doing the necessary work, foundational work, to become who I believe my spirit is telling me that I am. And it takes that work, it takes the work. I'm doing work right now. And I want everyone to just be inspired by that because like, like you, if you're in a situation that you don't wanna be in.

Jethro Casie (01:03:59.339)
Amen.

FITZ (01:04:16.354)
That's not it. It's just a season. It's just a season. You know, I heard, I'm driving today listening to one of my favorite groups called The Vision. And he says, pain doesn't last forever. It's just a long day.

Jethro Casie (01:04:20.29)
Amen.

FITZ (01:04:38.882)
Pain don't last forever, it's just a long day. So you can't base a difficult moment you're going through.

and think that's like the rest of your life. That's such a sad perspective. That's such a sad, I've been there at times, by God's grace and by great friends in my life, they make sure that I don't get lost in the abyss of darkness. know what I'm saying? And yeah, bro, like God flow, it's been a journey, it's steady going. Recently brought on two interns.

Jethro Casie (01:05:09.996)
Amen.

FITZ (01:05:18.86)
these past month and they helping me. I can't do it all by myself and that's something else I would say. Brand owners, creatives, designers, whatever you're trying to do, stop trying to do everything by yourself and be so stubborn. When you bring the right people on board, ask God. God bring me the right team. I've been praying that for years and by God's grace bro, we getting a team together.

Jethro Casie (01:05:19.189)
Hey man.

Jethro Casie (01:05:48.896)
Amen.

FITZ (01:05:49.218)
Who's gonna stop me when I got God, when I got my team, you know what I'm saying? Who's gonna stop me, my lady on my side, who's gonna stop me? You know what I'm saying? You know, I got the right support. It's time to turn up for real.

Jethro Casie (01:05:56.993)
Amen.

Jethro Casie (01:06:04.351)
Amen. And I think that's powerful. I think that's deep because like I didn't have this idea of destiny helpers before I came to Christ and there really are people who God has, it's for like, some people are just for a season, some people are there to stay with you. But yeah, there are people like who are, one, waiting for you to like be that destiny helper to them.

FITZ (01:06:04.886)
It's time to turn it up.

Jethro Casie (01:06:28.951)
And then there's people who are gonna like lift you up and bring you to your next level who God's just like, and that's what favor is. And I learned recently that like grace is just unmerited like favor. Like we didn't do anything to deserve it. We can never do anything to earn it, but God just gives us grace. So these are some final questions that I ask every guest just to understand what is the kingdom's secret to success. So.

For you Fitz, what's the kingdom of secrets of success that you've learned so far on this walk with Christ?

FITZ (01:07:06.42)
obedience, have fun.

FITZ (01:07:12.14)
honor your authenticity. Be curious. Be insatiably curious. It's going to get you places.

Jethro Casie (01:07:25.34)
And if someone's listening fits and they haven't given their life to Christ, why should they?

FITZ (01:07:35.478)
If you don't...

FITZ (01:07:39.83)
You may become successful, but you won't reach fulfillment. And if you don't,

constantly gonna wonder why.

You have this hole in your heart that you can't fill with anything material.

You just have this hole, this gap. And when you give your life to Christ...

FITZ (01:08:10.87)
You not only...

FITZ (01:08:16.819)
You not only elevate your life.

FITZ (01:08:23.404)
You start to gain more meaning and purpose in your life. And that whole, instead of darkness, it becomes a light.

and then other people can see the light in you and then other people can be inspired and get saved as well. And so...

by being that light that influences other people. See what I'm saying? Why, why, why, you know what the fuck said this?

FITZ (01:08:54.786)
Person with light, why would you hide in the darkness?

FITZ (01:09:00.81)
no like why you know what I'm saying I'm preaching to myself

I'm preaching to myself, bro. I'm preaching to myself, like.

You bro, you bro, just like bro, when I mess you bro, you have light inside of you.

Jethro Casie (01:09:21.827)
Thank you, Jesus.

FITZ (01:09:23.382)
and it's beautiful to see, it's beautiful and it's fly to see you represent. You know what I'm saying? Like God flow like we rock stars for Christ. You know what I mean? You know what I'm saying?

Jethro Casie (01:09:35.243)
Amen.

FITZ (01:09:40.642)
What? That's my answer bro.

Jethro Casie (01:09:43.167)
Amen. And then the, well actually, yeah, the last and maybe most important question before we end off in prayer is where can listeners find you connected to you find God flow.

FITZ (01:10:00.32)
Yes, connect with me on Instagram at Fitzthedesigner, that's F -I -T -Z, the designer. And check out, know, Godflow. Godflow on Instagram is Godflow44. And then our website is Godflow44 .com. So we just dropped a new collection called the Provision Collection, which stands for God Provides for Us During Our Wildest Storms.

And yeah, check out the journey. I love to connect.

Jethro Casie (01:10:33.707)
Amen. And yeah, if you could just end off in prayer, whatever God puts on your heart to say to the people, to say to me, I could use some prayer. But yeah, just to end this off in prayer.

FITZ (01:10:47.65)
Father God, I thank you for this opportunity. Thank you to Collab and do this wonderful podcast with my brother Jethro. Thank you for the energy that's in this room. Holy Spirit speak to everyone that views this. We pray that this podcast and get out and reach millions, however many that.

However many people that you intend for this to be looked at, I pray for people who are in darkness right now. Give them hope for a future, Lord, like it says in Jeremiah 29, 11. Give them purpose, give them inspiration, allow them to see a better perspective, allow them to zoom out of their life and to gain the...

hunger and taste for something better. Father God, I pray over everyone that abundance is our birthright. I affirm that great things are happening, great things are being developed. Being in development is a beautiful thing because you can transform, learn more about yourself and evolve. And the journey of being a believer is to constantly die at the self. And it's about

Having fun, it's about having fun as well. Like authenticity, you know what I'm saying? Like it's about developing that deeper intimacy with God. And I pray that everyone viewing this, this reached 10 million, a hundred million people. I pray that with your grace, with your favor and with your provision that people can start to develop deeper intimacy with God and they could feel empowered.

because they're doing it from a space of authenticity and curiosity. And yes, I pray for my brother, Jethro, everything that's going on in his life. I pray for continuous abundance in his life, help him with anything that he's going through, help everyone who's looking at this, anything that they're going through, cover us. And I thank you, Lord, for this opportunity. And let's turn up for real. In Jesus' name we pray, amen.

Jethro Casie (01:13:05.698)
In Jesus name fits everybody. Amen.