Joshua Thomas pays tribute to the conservative Christian leader who modelled family values for a generation of young men and women.
(Joshua Thomas married Laché Heron on 27 October 2025, but wrote this tribute beforehand)
I was in shock for several days after I learned of Charlie Kirk’s death. A life was taken from us too soon.
Charlie Kirk was not an aggressive activist, neither was he an instigator of violence or a loud speaker of hate. He was a loving husband, a devoted father of two children and a 31-year-old man who valued free speech. On university campuses he encouraged students to discuss views different from their own, to meet disagreement with engagement rather than hostility. (Photo, Joshua and Lache)
His videos have guided, strengthened and reassured me, especially as I reach one of my major life goals – to be married. Kirk said, “When we’re talking to young men in particular, they must be challenged and they must be encouraged to pursue what their grandfathers’ generation did, which is to get married, stay loyally married to that person, have a big family, and provide for them.” ‘Loyalty’ is something that has been challenged throughout history, because it delights the God of the Bible when we achieve it, especially in a marriage.
When asked in a discussion, what advice he would give to someone who wanted a God-centred marriage, Kirk spoke beautifully:
“God must always come first in all of your spiritual disciplines. Honour the sabbath by turning your phone off one day a week. Go to a church, a good Bible-based church … that teaches the Word of God … and understand that it is external things like porn, drugs and alcohol that will take down your marriage. You as the husband must always be on guard for these things.”
Here was a man boldly addressing a crowd, encouraging young people to turn to God first and foremost. This is counter-cultural, and it is also the truth. George Orwell once wrote, “The further a society drifts from the truth, the more it will hate those who speak it.” Amazingly, on 29 June this year, Kirk was asked what he’d like to be remembered for “if everything goes away.” His immediate response to Jack Selby, host of the Iced Coffee Hour, was to ask,“If I die?” Selby simply said. “If you could be associated with one thing, how would you want to be remembered?” Kirk answered, “I want to be remembered for courage for my faith…The most important thing is my faith.”
Kirk leaves us with a challenge. At age 18, he co-created his company Turning Point USA, an education initiative that promises an “America-first education” for educators and homeschool parents. Are we willing to step up like he did at age18? Jesus encouraged us to be brave and have no fear, for he was hated first and he promises never to leave our side when we, too, are despised.
Today, the world needs the truth more than ever. The time to be bold is now. Kirk will be someone many will remember – for his bravery, his unwillingness to stay quiet and his unwavering devotion to Jesus Christ. May he rest in the assured peace that comes from the Lord our God.