The Shock

“This is crazy.”

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“I’m freaking out.”

“I’m utterly heartbroken.”

“What has happened to our country?”

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It was September 10, 2025. I was a senior at Patrick Henry College, Purcellville, VA. I sat in the upstairs hallway on a couch, getting ready for a class, when these texts popped up on an inactive interns chat from my summer internship. A month after the internship ended, I was surprised to read such passionate texts from 3 people fired off at 3:19 pm.

“Can someone explain what is going on?” I asked the chat.

“Charlie Kirk got shot in the neck,” someone replied.

Shock hit my spirit. My heart pumped faster, my breath grew shorter. “This can’t be real,” I thought as I stared into my phone, wide-eyed and confused.

I knew the name, Charlie Kirk. I listened to his videos off and on throughout late high school and early college. I knew what he stood for, and I knew he was an incredible debater. When I came across Charlie, I listened simply for pleasure – to watch him stand up to liberals. A couple of his videos would appear on my feed, and I would watch them for a little while, then move on.

But Charlie Kirk shot? My stomach turned, and my heart fluttered when I watched the immediate clips of his death. This brilliant young mind and speaker, like no other, debating passionately and confidently, suddenly convulsed and went silent, mouth open, eyes closed, as blood poured from his neck.

I shuddered.

Two days later, I plugged my AirPods into my ears, turned the keys to my grandparents’ lawnmower, and turned on Erika Kirk’s first public address after Charlie’s passing. She stood next to Charlie’s studio chair, and, full of grief, told the nation how loving a husband and father he was, how hard it would be to live alone, and how difficult it was to tell her children what happened to their father.

Tears filled my eyes as I steered the mower.

I was dating my wife at the time, intending to marry her one day. Seeing the love in Erika’s tear-stained eyes and hearing the brokenness and longing in her hoarse voice left me resolved to be the most loving and gentle husband to my future wife.

I believe that was one of the first moments when Charlie Kirk inspired me, that September 12, after his passing.

Ten months later, after graduation and my wife and I’s wedding, I’m here at Intercessors for America, writing about Charlie Kirk’s trial.

I became curious about Charlie. One day, as I’m getting ready for work, I play one of his debates. I listen as I drive. I listen during lunch break. I listen on my way home. I started consuming lots of Charlie Kirk videos while multitasking.

And I became so thankful for Charlie Kirk!

As a 22-year-old young man, Charlie Kirk has been an incredible influence on me in many ways. And I want to share three powerful ways Charlie Kirk has been an inspirational role model.

Courage

Charlie Kirk has filled me with confidence.

He was only 11 years older than me and ran most of his career in his twenties. Yet he exemplified a kind of boldness in his debates that rendered his age irrelevant. It did not matter how much older his opponent was when he debated people more “experienced” and credentialed. Charlie spoke to people of all ages like his peers. He did not degrade college students, nor did he act shy or timid around older or more popular opponents or allies on either side of the aisle.

Charlie considered people like Ben Shapiro, Donald Trump, Michael Knowles, Tucker Carlson, and more as his friends. He fearlessly debated opponents such as Cenk Uygur, as well as many doctors and professors, on COVID-19 and Critical Race Theory.

Surrounded by thousands of students, he debated for hours as they brought up difficult topics; some screamed at him, others called him stupid, and some tried to shut him down. But Charlie always spoke calmly and gently to students and others, not giving in to peer pressure or public opinion, unafraid of disagreement, openly welcoming it, and eager to discuss ideas.

Humbleness   

Charlie Kirk’s courage had a beautiful blend of humility. He did not fire back at overbearing students with slander or with the intention of “roasting” them. His goal was clear: to debate ideas with people, to understand where they were coming from, and to try persuading them through reason, not manipulation, to understand his point of view. What made Charlie stand out was his self-control.

I sometimes saw the people Charlie debated and noticed how annoying or intimidating they made themselves appear with their gaslighting or rapid-fire facts. I would think to myself, “I probably would have gotten hurt or flustered right there.” But not so with Charlie. He kept debating these people, ignoring the insults and asking questions until he made his views clear to his opponent. Or sometimes, I would think, “All of these people watching, and some of these overbearing opponents would really make me forget everything.” But not so with Charlie. He kept on speaking with such resolve, brilliance, and compassion for others, knowing exactly how to respond.

Learning/Diligence

Charlie Kirk’s wisdom, knowledge, and intelligence astounded me. He really was a lifelong student dedicated to learning and understanding the world. With no college degree, Charlie devoured classical texts on literature, philosophy, politics, economics, and religion. He studied the wisest and most intelligent writers: Aristotle, Aquinas, the Founding Fathers, Solzhenitsyn, Sowell, and so many more. And the best part? He remembered everything!

Charlie also studied hundreds of statistic and memorized them by heart so that, in any political, cultural, ethical, or religious debate, he could cite data to support his arguments and beliefs.

Charlie was also an incredibly hard worker whose diligence and passion created an unstoppable, unforgettable force for good. He was sometimes on the road for 310 days a year, encouraged people to read 100 books a year, published about 6 books, and spent hours debating a plethora of ideas with others, all while running a large organization, running a show, managing people, connecting with donors, and being a loving husband and caring father.

Charlie Kirk worked hard like no one else. And he warned people that the path to success requires a lot of effort and toil that most people do not imagine they must give.

Charlie’s exceptionally sharp mind and driven attitude made him a name no one will ever forget. A man who passed away at only 31 years old, and yet accomplished so much and inspired so many people, including me.

Charlie’s Legacy

Do you know what has really stood out to me the most about Charlie Kirk? Not his memory, nor his boldness, nor his passion. What I respect most about Charlie Kirk is his self-control, maturity, and wisdom. Charlie stayed cool under fire. He debated people with love and a desire to instruct and lead them to the truth of God’s Word.

He always said that self-control is better than self-esteem, that we must recognize the fundamental truths that God exists, and humans are not Him because they are flawed, sinful, and evil in nature. From this core truth stemmed all of Charlie’s debates about ideas.

Charlie Kirk embodied the spirit of the Founding Fathers of America. He reflected Christ’s character wherever he went. He spoke with wisdom, confidence, and command beyond his years. He did not let anyone despise his youth. He did not let slander or insults shut him down from asking questions and debating ideas. He faced everyone in his path with boldness and humility. Charlie was truly anointed and blessed by God to do His kingdom work.

Charlie Kirk still is a blessing to me. I thank God for His anointing on this wonderful man and for how He used him to encourage me to become a better husband, son, brother, friend, employee, and future father each day.

And so, on September 10, we reflect on the legacy Charlie Kirk has left behind and the impact he has had on millions of Americans and people worldwide. An evangelical Christian, a servant and soldier of Christ, a man after God’s own heart, and my brother in Christ. Although we never met, I love you, Charlie, my brother. Thank you for encouraging me daily to become a better man. Thank you for fighting the good fight for our nation and for God’s kingdom.

I smile knowing that you’re in heaven worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ, hearing our Father tell you, “Well done, my good and faithful servant.”

What are your fond memories of Charlie Kirk? And how are you praying for his family? Share your scriptures, prayers, and thoughts in the comments below.

Photo Credit: Joe Raedle / Staff / Getty Images.