A Man Undaunted: The Impact of Charlie Kirk

September 10, 2025, hit me hard. Like many Americans, I still haven’t recovered. I never met Charlie Kirk, and I wasn’t in the habit of listening to him regularly, but I knew who he was and what he stood for. I think I probably started listening to his stuff when I was eighteen or so. I was forming my own political opinions, and he was in the group of debaters that I came to respect. I was also a young person receiving the side-eye from others for choosing not to go to college. Charlie was out there demonstrating that it doesn’t take a degree to prove intelligence, learn effectively, or build something worthwhile.

More than anything, I think Charlie was a shining example of courage. He wasn’t afraid to talk to people who disagreed with him, and he didn’t shy away from the hard topics. As a young, single woman trying my best to live in a radically God-honoring way, I looked to him and others like him to provide hope that there are righteous men out there who want to protect, provide, and lead holy lives.

On that fateful day, I woke up to a text from a friend. Charlie Kirk had been shot. An hour or two later, I saw the news that he had been confirmed dead. At first, I was numb and disbelieving. I couldn’t comprehend the permanency of the loss. I was among the masses trying to figure out why his death cut so deep and so personal. I was confused that it hurt so much to lose a man I had never even met.

As I watched the story unfold across social media and various news outlets, I kept thinking about his wife and his children. I’ve cried so many times over videos and pictures of him with his family. My heart aches for Erika. In light of my own struggle to find a man worthy of pledging my life to, I cannot fathom the agony of finding such a partner only to lose him so young. I am crushed by the knowledge that his children will have little to no memory of their father.

Charlie’s loss is also horrifying for its implications to our society. The brutal manner of his death strikes fear and dread within me. For many years, I have had a dream of writing, speaking, and encouraging young people to be firm in their faith, willing to engage in politics, and empowered to make a difference in their communities. Now I must face the reality that I live in a country where some are willing to kill others for doing just that. I am burdened with the knowledge that my dream might put my life at risk.

Yet, I find that I must turn to the example Charlie set. Charlie Kirk demonstrated what it means to put God first. This was evident in the way he prioritized scripture and family. He spent time in the Word, and it showed in every speech he gave. He was proud of his wife and children. This is evident in the many testimonies that he always made time for them. He was always kind to the people he spoke with, never resorting to name-calling or degradation, even when they did. He didn’t compromise on the truth, and he acted out of a desire for the well-being of his people.

I doubt that I’ll ever have even half the reach that Charlie did, and I can only pray that God will use me to speak the truth as boldly, but I know that I can’t keep putting off the calling to try. For too many years, I have let the difficulty of the task stop me. I have been too scared of the work, the potential failure, and the need to confront my own lack of consistency. Charlie’s story demonstrates that there is no time to delay what is necessary.

I think the best way to honor Charlie’s legacy is to take up the work he left behind to the best of my ability. I have decided that I won’t let fear stop me anymore, but instead, I will walk in the spirit of power, love, and self-control. I will work and pray to be undaunted by the fear of failure, ridicule, or even death. I can’t bring Charlie back, but I can join the throng of those following in his footsteps to bring the truth of God’s Word into a culture that desperately needs it.

This will be the first of many posts on this blog. I am committed to this journey. I will say the things that I think matter and bring bravery and the truth of scripture to bear on every facet of life. Charlie’s life and death are a stark reminder that no one is promised another minute on this earth. Like him, if I lose it all, I hope to be remembered for the courage of my faith. They cannot kill me in a way that matters.