Sept. 22, 2025 Editor, The News-Gazette: The assassination of our beloved Charlie Kirk is indeed a national tragedy; it is also a personal one to the millions who loved him and highly respected his life, as a Christian evangelist, political activist, author, influencer, media personality, apologist, and family man.
Many are calling Charlie’s death a political assassination. Rightly so. He boldly entered into political discourse and civil debate as a conservative. He is credited as having rallied the Gen Z vote to help Trump win the 2024 presidential election. But Charlie Kirk was not assassinated for his political views. Charlie was martyred for his stand on Biblical values. Charlie Kirk was a force to be reckoned with, and he was shot in the neck to silence his voice. He believed in the power of free speech and debate to shape a culture, and his ideas were from Scripture. He spoke the Truth of God’s Word to dispel every lie and deflate every argument. He took a stand for righteousness, and he dared to challenge young people at his rallies to “step forward, debate me, and ‘Prove Me Wrong.’” And he did it with a smile, with respect, and in the love of Jesus, never in hate!
For a wandering, misinformed, indoctrinated, confused, spiritually lost, and many times lonely and hopeless generation of young people, God raised up “Turning Point USA,” with Charlie Kirk at the helm. His martyr’s body has now been buried in the ground, as a seed (John 12:24) but out of this martyrdom shall arise hundreds of thousands of young people who have the passion, the heart, the vision of Charlie Kirk. The Truth of God’s Word will be loved and shared, and revival will spring forth! May this indeed be the “Turning Point” for America.
JIM and JUDY VAUGHT Rockbridge County
