This is an abridged version of Erika Kirk’s speech at the memorial service for her assassinated husband and Christian activist Charlie Kirk.
Just a few miles from here, two years ago, at America Fest 2023, Charlie delivered a speech on stage for our Turning Point USA Faith event.
Charlie loved speaking off the cuff. He was very good at that, without a script.
So I personally didn’t know what he was going to say.
And what he chose to speak about that day was his submission to the will of God.
He quoted one of his favourite Bible verses, Isaiah chapter 6, verse 8: “Here I am, Lord. Send me.”
ERIKA CONFRONTS CHARLIE OVER ISAIAH 6:8
After Charlie finished, I met him backstage and spoke to him. And I’ll never forget this.
I said, “Charlie, baby, please talk to me next time before you say that statement.”
Because when you say something like that, there is so much power in that verse.
When you say, “Here I am, Lord. Use me,” God will take you up on that.
And He did — with Charlie.
“CHARLIE WANTED TO DO GOD’S WILL”
Eleven days ago, God accepted that total surrender from my husband, and then called him to His side.
More than anything, Charlie wanted to do not his will, but God’s will.
And over these past 11 days, through all the pain, never before have I found as much comfort as I now do today in the words of our Lord’s Prayer: “Thy will be done.”
God’s love was revealed to me on the very day my husband was murdered.
ERIKA WITNESSES GOD’S GREAT MERCY
On the afternoon of September 10th, I arrived at a Utah hospital to do the unthinkable — to look directly at my husband’s murdered body.
I saw the wound that ended his life.
I felt shock. I felt horror. And I felt a level of heartache that I didn’t even know existed.
I also saw on his lips the faintest smile.
It revealed to me a great mercy from God in this tragedy.
It told me Charlie didn’t suffer.
“CHARLIE BLINKED AND SAW HIS SAVIOUR”
One moment, Charlie was doing what he loved — arguing and debating on campus, fighting for the Gospel and truth in front of a big crowd.
And then he blinked and saw his Saviour in paradise.
All the heavenly mysteries were revealed to him.
God’s love continued to be revealed to me in the days that followed.
“WE SAW REVIVAL”
After Charlie’s assassination, we didn’t see violence. We didn’t see rioting. We didn’t see revolution.
Instead, we saw what my husband always prayed he would see in this country.
We saw revival.
We saw people open a Bible for the first time in a decade.
We saw people pray for the first time since they were children.
We saw people go to a church service for the first time in their entire lives.
EVERY DECISION YOU MAKE PUTS A MARK ON YOUR SOUL
Charlie liked to journal. One of the things he wrote in his journal was this:
“Every time you make a decision, it puts a mark on your soul.”
To those of you out there who just made that decision and took the first step toward a spiritual life — I say thank you, and welcome.
One day, I hope you look back and realise it was the most important decision of your life — because it is.
All of you — those who are already believers — it is your job to shepherd these people. Do not take that lightly.
Water the seed of their faith. Protect it. And help it grow.
CHARLIE’S HABIT OF SENDING BIBLE VERSES
Every day, as Charlie rode into the office, he would go through his contact list — and send Bible verses for the day.
I know many of you were impacted by this.
He knew that faith was a habit. The more you live it, the more it grows.
But know this too: the seed has only just been planted.
The enemy will tempt you the most in a time like this.
YOU MUST CHOOSE TO MARK YOUR SOUL AGAIN AND AGAIN
God will always be there for you, but you must choose to mark your soul again and again in the direction of Christ.
Pray again.
Read the Bible again.
Go to church next Sunday, and the Sunday after that.
Break free from the temptations and shackles of this world.
Being a follower of Christ is not easy.
It’s not supposed to be.
“TAKE UP YOUR CROSS AND FOLLOW ME”
Jesus said: “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself, take up his cross, and follow me.”
He said He would be persecuted.
He said we would be persecuted.
And Charlie knew that — and happily carried his cross all the way to the end.
While Charlie died far too early, he was also ready to die.
“CHARLIE LEFT THIS WORLD WITHOUT REGRETS”
“There was nothing — nothing — he was putting off.
There was nothing too hard or too painful.
There was nothing he felt like he didn’t want to do.
He left this world without regrets.
He did 100% of what he could — every day.
Charlie died with incomplete work, but not with unfinished business.
CHARLIE KIRK’S PASSION FOR FAMILIES EVERYWHERE
But I will miss him so much, because our marriage and our family were beautiful.
The greatest cause in Charlie’s life was trying to revive the American family.
He was always eager to tell young people about God’s vision for marriage.
And how, if they could just dare to live it out, it would enrich every part of their life in the same way it enriched ours.
SECRETS OF CHARLIE AND ERIKA’S MARRIAGE
Someone once asked me how Charlie and I kept our marriage so strong when he was busy traveling.
And our little secret? It was love notes.
Every Saturday, Charlie wrote one for me. He never missed a Saturday.
In every single one of them, he’d tell me what his highlight was for the week, how grateful he was for me and our babies.
And always, at the end, he would ask the most beautiful question:
“Please let me know how I can better serve you as a husband.”
CHARLIE WAS A ROLE MODEL FOR A CHRISTIAN HUSBAND
Charlie perfectly understood God’s role for a Christian husband: a man who leads so that he can serve.
To all the men watching around the world — accept Charlie’s challenge and embrace true manhood.
Be the spiritual head of your home — worth following
Your wife is not your servant, employee or slave
She is your helper.
HOW ERIKA HELPED CHARLIE
You are one flesh — working together for the glory of God.
I was Charlie’s confidante. I was his vault.
His closest and most trusted advisor. His best friend.
I poured into him and loved him so deeply.
Empowered him — because his love for me drove me to be a better wife.
“CHARLIE’S MISSION WAS AIMED AT THE UNMARRIED”
Charlie’s mission, above all, was aimed directly at those who aren’t married.
He passionately wanted to reach and save the lost boys of the West — the young men who feel like they have no direction, no purpose, no faith, and no reason to live.
The men wasting their lives on distractions and consumed with resentment, anger, and hate.
Charlie wanted to help them.
He wanted them to have a home with Turning Point USA.
ERIKA FORGIVES CHARLIE’S ASSASSIN
My husband, Charlie wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life.
On the cross, our Saviour said: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”
That man — that young man — I forgive him.
I forgive him because it’s what Christ did.
And it’s what Charlie would do.
The answer to hate is not hate.
“THE ANSWER IS LOVE”
The answer we know from the Gospel is love.
Always love.
Love for our enemies.
Love for those who persecute us.
I am tremendously honoured to be the new CEO of Turning Point USA.
I do not take that lightly.
I love you, Charlie baby.
And I will make you proud.
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