The news of the murder of Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University last Wednesday shocked me to the core. It left a deep emptiness in my heart and in the hearts of many others.
As the founder of Project Hood, I not only mourn a conservative titan, but also a friend, a supporter and a brother in the fight for a better America. The Charlie I knew was more than a political voice – he was a man of action, conviction and a pious Christian whose generosity reached far beyond the headlines.
I know because I was one of those he blessed with his time and resources. He never sought the public spotlights for his good deeds, and I also kept silent – so far. With his departure from this earth to our Heavenly Father, his good works deserve to be known for becoming known.
I met Charlie, a resident of Chicago, in the early days of Project Hood, when both visions – his turning point USA and my mission to transform the south side – just shot. He was then so young, barely 18, but his goal and clarity of the goal could not be denied. He knew why he was put on this earth and he lived with a passion that touched me, a wiser man two decades older.
Youth leaders mourn the godfather of Campus Conservatism ‘Charlie Kirk after murder
Charlie didn’t just spoke about change – he built it. He saw a shared dedication to a better America in Project Hood, and he offered guidance, shared insights and connected us with incredible supporters who believed in our mission to often overlook opportunities and hope to that society.
His donations to our galas were generous, but it was his personal encouragement – those text messages say: “Keep going, pastor, we are with you” – that meant the world. Charlie had a gift to make you feel and appreciated, no matter how big or small your role is in the fight.
A participant who carries an American flag joins a candlelight vigil in Seatning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, who was murdered earlier that day at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah. (David Ryder/Getty images)
Charlie was ready to participate with us in Washington, DC, for a great fundraising, a moment that I really looked forward to, because I hadn’t seen him for a while. He was ready to walk next to us for that part of our walk through America, to borrow his voice and platform to lift those who need it the most. That he was taken from us before that day is a tragedy that cuts deeply. His death is a grim memory of the risks we are confronted with if we dare to speak, to challenge the status quo and stand for what we believe.
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If someone in the same arena – fighting for change in a world that can be hostile to the truth – I feel the loss of Charlie on a personal level.
His murder forces us to confront the growing threats against those who speak out. But Charlie’s life teaches us that fear cannot win.
Charlie Kirk was proud champion of Christianity on campuses throughout the country: “I am nothing without Jesus”
He was confronted with opposition with courage, which never shunned from the harsh conversations or the cultural battles that defined his work. He built Turning Point USA in a movement that inspired millions of young people to embrace conservative values, not through fear but through hope, reason and relentless passion.
The murder of Charlie Kirk forces us to confront the growing threats against those who speak out. But his life teaches us that fear cannot win.
The Bible tells us in John 15:13: “Nobody has greater love than this: putting someone’s life for your friends.” Charlie may not have chosen to put down his life, but he lived it in the service of others: his family, his country and the countless young people he inspired.
His death is a call for action for all of us. We cannot make fear remain silent. We cannot let violence dimming the light of truth.
The Charlie Kirk box will be removed on September 11, 2025 in Phoenix, Arizona, from the Air Force Two on Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport. (Eric Thayer/Getty images)
Charlie’s inheritance demands that we continue, honor him by continuing the work he defended – building communities, promoting and being fixed in our beliefs.
When I heard of the shooting, I went to X, and the first thing I saw was a post of his wife, Erika: “Psalm 46: 1 – God is our refuge and strength, a very current help in problems.”
Charile Kirk and his wife, Erika Lane Frantzve and their two children at Christmas in December 2024. (Charlie Kirk via Facebook)
In a moment of unimaginable loss, her verse reminds us that even when life feels crushed, God remains a refuge and strength. This emphasizes that in grief faith did not know any pain, but anchores when everything feels unstable.
The death of Charlie Kirk is a call for action for all of us. We cannot make fear remain silent. We cannot let violence dimming the light of truth.
I offer my deepest condolences to his wife, Erika, and their two young children. Charlie was a dedicated husband and father. His family, friends and the community of the Turning Point USA know that the impact of Charlie will live on through the lives he has touched and the movements he has built.
Charile Kirk and his wife, Erika Lane Frantzve and their two children, prior to his murder on September 10, 2025. (Erika Kirk via Instagram)
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While I think about the life of Charlie Kirk, I am reminded of his not -alternating belief in the American dream, a dream for which he not only fought for himself, but for all of us. Let us honor him by wearing that dream, not deterred by the darkness of the moment.
Charlie, we love you, God bless you, and we will continue to fight.
Click here to Van Pastor Corey Brooks
