Submitted photo: Julian Dismute, a 2009 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate, speaks to a business group during a recent session.

WEST DES MOINES — Julian Dismute had to visit some dark places in order to find the true light — and meaning — in his life.

Today, Dismute — a 2009 Fort Dodge Senior High graduate — is a successful motivational speaker, a faith-based learner and a future leader in the Fellowship of Christian Athletes organization through the Des Moines Public School District. His mission is to spread energy and positivity through a passionate belief that people have an inner strength waiting to be discovered.

Dismute would know. About six years ago, he needed to hear that message for himself.

“After basketball didn’t work out, I tried to do what so many others do: find a job and start working my way up the corporate ladder,” said Dismute, a former Dodger hoop and football star. “Without basketball in my life for the first time (competitively), I really didn’t know who I was. I was married with a young son at home, but inside, I was lost. I thought I was trying to make things better, but every day, it seemed to get worse.

“In 2016, I really felt ready to check out and end it all. I was tired and didn’t have any desire to go on. That’s when I cried out to God. He showed up and said to me, ‘Julian, be who I called you to be. Everything else will work out.’ It was a turning point.”

Dismute doesn’t necessarily feel like his mind was saved overnight. His soul, on the other hand, began to find peace. And a new path was forged.

“I’ve been on this journey of motivational and inspirational speaking since 2017 now,” said Dismute, who currently lives in West Des Moines with his wife, Manson Northwest Webster graduate Amber (Allbee) Dismute, and their son, Kyrie. “I went through a lot of therapy and had to do a lot of healing. It wasn’t easy. But I’m here, trying my best to better myself and those around me.

“I continue to grow closer to God every day. He has moved me. I do some preaching, some mentorship, I lead a men’s group, and I’m on a leadership team at my church (Dismute also earned his leadership coaching certificate in 2021). I try to spend a lot of time in and around sports, connecting my faith and motivation with my background in athletics.”

The move toward FCA seemed to be a natural path for Dismute, who will be playing an active role as an organizational representative in the five Des Moines Metro schools: Des Moines Lincoln, Des Moines Roosevelt, Des Moines Hoover, Des Moines East and Des Moines North. Dismute is currently in the fundraising stage of the process, which he would like to have completed by the first week of June.

“I have some big goals and some big plans,” said Dismute, who speaks in and around the Des Moines area through his “House of Pillars” organization with Amber, a mental health and wellness coach. “God is sending me to these schools and I need to be prepared. I want to use the summer to build relationships with coaches and settle in for the next school year. I’m trying to spread the word about FCA and the opportunties it will provide students.

“It takes a village. Right now, a big part of my life is spent trying to empower others — especially with kids in need of direction and guidance at an impressionable age.”

Dismute knows some of the pitfalls and perils teens face. He saw his fair share of adversity growing up, losing both parents and fighting the temptations of his inner demons.

“My mom and dad both died at an early age, and knowing what I know now, an organization like FCA would’ve been a really good outlet for me at the time,” Dismute said. “It’s an opportunity to see you’re not alone, to discover a sense of meaning and direction, and choose life and light instead of living in darkness.

“Maybe a lot of these kids don’t understand what faith in Christ is all about. To be able to actually engage with them and build that trust…equipping them with the tools to discover who they truly are and empowering them would be a beautiful thing.”

Dismute wants to provide a proper perspective to teens as well when it comes to athletics.

“You think it’s so important at that age, and in a lot of ways it is, but there’s more to life than sports,” Dismute said. “It took a lot of wrong turns to realize that myself. Teens have so many gifts and talents inside of them. Sometimes, it’s as simple as showing someone believes in them. Not just as athletes, but students, citizens and future leaders.”

FCA was founded in 1954, and operates in 107 different countries around the globe today. According to its website, “(For nearly 70 years), FCA has been challenging coaches and athletes on the professional, college, high school, junior high and youth levels to use the powerful platform of sport to reach every coach and every athlete with the transforming power of Jesus Christ. FCA focuses on serving local communities around the globe by engaging, equipping and empowering coaches and athletes to unite, inspire and change the world through the gospel.”

To support Dismute’s FCA cause, visit https://my.fca.org/juliandismute