The IFI staff and board of directors, along with my wife, children, and I, are shocked and brokenhearted by the cowardly assassination of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University yesterday. Our hearts are heavy as we think of his wife Erika and their two small children. We are praying for them, and for the staff of Turning Point USA and TPUSA Faith, who are grieving the loss of their founder and leader.
Our grief is deep, and our anger real, as we consider, once again, the depths of human wickedness. Jeremiah 17:9 reminds us: “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked.” That sobering truth is on full display in the cold-blooded murder of Charlie Kirk, whose only “crime” was speaking the truth and upholding the Gospel.
Yet we cling to the Apostle Paul’s assurance that believers “do not grieve as others who have no hope” (1 Thessalonians 4:13). Charlie’s life and testimony remind us that death does not have the final word for those in Christ.
A Strong Advocate of Truth
Charlie was a courageous defender of truth. His breadth of knowledge on a wide range of issues was thoroughly impressive. But even more than that, his life reflected a love for God, family, and our nation—values he shared passionately from the heart and inspired millions.
I first met Charlie in 2010 at a Palatine Tea Party event. Though still in high school, he was the evening’s opening speaker—and he spoke with authority, armed with facts and statistics. I followed him as the second speaker and remember thinking how extraordinary it was that someone so young could hold a room with such confidence and clarity. His poise and insight left a lasting impression.
Raised in the Chicago suburbs of Arlington Heights and Prospect Heights, Charlie attended Wheeling High School and earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Few could have predicted that he would rise to become an international conservative spokesman, media personality, and trusted ally of President Trump and his family.
We take great comfort knowing that Charlie’s faith was genuine. He stood firm in Christ, unwavering in his conviction that mankind’s only hope is found in the only Son of God, Jesus. Today Charlie rests with the Lord he served so boldly—and heaven itself surely resounded with joy at his welcome.
Going Forward
This assassination reminds us once again that we are engaged in a war—not of flesh and blood, but a spiritual battle that manifests in chaos, death, and destruction.
In the Olivet Discourse, Jesus warned that in the last days, “the love of many will grow cold” because of the increase of lawlessness and wickedness (Matthew 24). The “love” He described is agape—the selfless, sacrificial love that characterizes true Christian faith. That love withers when hearts grow hardened by sin and the influence of worldly values.
The Apostle Paul likewise warned that “in the last days perilous times will come, for men will be lovers of themselves…” (2 Timothy 3:1–3). We are seeing that reality unfold in our time.
How, then, should we respond? We must pray fervently, proclaim the truth boldly, and love steadfastly—even as we remember that many remain captives of Satan’s lies. Our calling is clear. We must continue to work
“in humility correcting those who are in opposition, if God perhaps will grant them repentance, so that they may know the truth, and that they may come to their senses and escape the snare of the devil, having been taken captive by him to do his will” (2 Timothy 2:24–26).
If we are to truly honor Charlie Kirk’s legacy, we must stand firm in the faith, put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:11), and overcome evil with good (Romans 12:21). That is how the church advances—not by fear, but by faith; not by hatred, but by love; not by retreat, but by courageous faith, rooted in Christ.
Stay Focused in Prayer
May God bring healing, courage, and comfort to the Kirk family. And may He use this tragedy to stir Christians across our state and nation to return to His design for flourishing, to walk in repentance, and to live as people of peace.
To honor Charlie’s legacy, let us stand firm in the faith, put on the full armor of God, and overcome evil with good. Now is the time for Christians to pray without ceasing, speak truth without fear, and love without wavering. In a world darkened by lies and violence, we must shine the light of Christ with courage and conviction. (See Mark 1:14-15; Luke 13:3; Romans 5:18-21; Acts 2:38 and Acts 3:19; Joel 2:12-13)
MORE INFO:
VIDEO: Charlie Kirk Delivers a Powerful Message to the Church
7 Horrific Incidents of Violence Against Conservatives
