Christian leaders across the U.S. are reflecting today on the life and legacy of evangelical Christian and conservative advocate Charlie Kirk who was assassinated on Wednesday in front of a crowd of 3,000 people.
Kirk had been a member of Dream City Church in Phoenix, Arizona, and last night, his Pastor, Luke Barnett, spoke about him as the church paused to remember his life during its Wednesday night service.
“He is a lover of Jesus Christ. Charlie loved the Lord, and he had a personal walk with Jesus. And I want to say I’ve been so motivated by him because he is a man who lives his faith unashamedly,” Barnett said.
“You witnessed a really good man, a moral man… a good man died,” Barnett said. “Today is a turning point in America. This event is a turning point in America.”
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Since the shocking murder took place at a Utah Valley University event, many more Christian leaders have responded with the following statements:
“Charlie Kirk is a martyr, and Charlie Kirk is with the Lord. To live is Christ and to die is gain. His voice and witness of Truth will not be silenced but will rather inspire courage in a generation of young men and women who will continue to boldly proclaim the message of Life and Hope. Jesus is Lord.” – Pastor Jack Graham
“I cannot express how incredibly proud I have been of his faithful Christian witness and the way he has honored the Lord Jesus Christ with his life. Charlie was known as an intellectual giant, a very compassionate young man, and one who was tirelessly devoted to this nation’s welfare and our glorious republic.” – Pastor Jack Hibbs
“Yesterday, Charlie Kirk was engaged in one of the most quintessentially American things possible. He was peacefully debating his fellow citizens in a spirited conversation. A bullet may have ended his life here on earth, but he is now safely in the arms of Jesus. I remember the day I met him. He was there with his beautiful girlfriend Erika, who he would end up marrying. A brilliant mind and profound speaker, Charlie was a national treasure. I’m filled with grief for Charlie’s wife and children. God is indeed near to the brokenhearted, and I’m praying He wraps His arms around them.” – Pastor Jentezen Franklin
“What happened today at Utah Valley University is senseless and horrific. Violence like this simply cannot continue in America. Father God, please be near to Charlie Kirk’s wife and children at this time. I can’t imagine the horror they are living through right now. Comfort them with your Holy Spirit as they grieve. Please be near to the students at Utah Valley as they grapple with the evil they witnessed today. Father, please heal our land. Have mercy on us. Lead us to respond in peace, not in anger or violence.” – Pastor Wendell Vinson
“Our hearts and prayers are with the entire Kirk family as we grieve the death of Charlie Kirk. We are deeply saddened by the news of this horrific shooting. In moments like these we remember the words of the psalmist, ‘God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.’ (Psalm 46:1). Almighty God, we need You. We pray for Your comfort and for an abiding sense of Your presence to draw near as our nation grieves this loss. Amen.” – Pastor Samuel Rodriguez
“I received the news of Charlie Kirk’s tragic death with disbelief and anger. Enough is enough. My 17-year-old daughter, who recently started a TPUSA chapter at her school, is devastated. My prayers are with his family and all impacted by this senseless violence.” – Jimmy Graham
“Right now, I am praying for Charlie Kirk’s family, his wife and his precious children. I am praying for our nation to be united. United doesn’t mean we all agree. It means we all agree that violence is never the way.” – Dr. Alveda King
“Charlie… was not only a bold and unwavering voice for biblical truth in our culture, but also a devoted follower of Jesus Christ, a husband, and a family man. He will be deeply missed. As shocking as this news is, we can take comfort in knowing that Charlie is now in Heaven. The moment he took his last breath here on earth, he took his first breath in the presence of the Lord.” – Pastor Greg Laurie
“At the end of every life, there are only a few things that truly matter. Those things were true of Charlie Kirk: he knew his Creator. He acted on his convictions. He sought to anchor those convictions in the truth of the Gospel. And now, he has entered into glory. It now falls to us to rise to the challenge of this moment. … The future of our nation depends on maintaining free and peaceful debate (which Charlie did so well), rather than silencing each other by force.” – Kristen Waggoner, Alliance Defending Freedom
