09/15/2025
The Texas Leadership Summit Organization grieves deeply over the tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder and executive director of Turning Point USA. We extend our heartfelt condolences to his wife, children, family, and friends in this time of loss. Our organization was blessed to have worked with TPUSA’s Faith initiative to bring pastors together and unite for the common purpose of standing against evil within our local communities.
In recent days, many leaders have written statements regarding the horrific and tragic assassination of Charlie Kirk. I have felt that an appropriate and timely response is vitally important as a pastor. However, I am also a brother in Christ, husband, father, and Grampa, therefore, I thought it best to carefully consider what has happened. As Christians, we can’t afford to allow our grief, emotions, and opinions drive our response.
I didn’t have the opportunity to know Charlie Kirk personally, but it seems clear that his ideology, words, faith, and actions demonstrated that he was a man of conviction and character. It is obvious that his love for his Savior, wife, family, friends, and country followed in the example of Christ (Matthew 16:24; John 15:18-20; 1 Peter 2:21).
His conviction and character revealed that his identity and purpose was rooted in the grace, love, and mercy found in the scriptures. You hear me say all the time that our belief drives our behavior, so when we passionately follow truth, rooted in scripture, it will bring about some form of persecution. God’s word is the only way to lead people to salvation and transform lives. We must be willing to pay that price, he was!
It appears that Christ’s sacrificial love was Charlie’s motivation to do what he did. He took his understanding of truth and went into hostile academic environments to reach the next generation. One commentator said that Charlie Kirk was assassinated for having the ability to respectfully and successfully discuss his ideology with those who opposed him. Another took it even further, stating that he was not killed for his words, but because our children were listening to him.
It reminds me of the reason the Pharisees set out to kill Jesus. “The large crowd of the Jews then learned that He was there; and they came, not for Jesus’ sake only, but that they might also see Lazarus, whom He raised from the dead. But the chief priests planned to put Lazarus to death also; because on account of him many of the Jews were believing in Jesus.” (John 12:9-11)
It started with Abel and continues today. When the body of Christ lives and leads with the word of God, the enemy has no choice but to silence and /or eliminate the source! Ultimately it reveals that there are only two sides—God’s kingdom and Satan’s rebellion. We should not ask the question, “Is God on our side?” No, the better question would be, “Are we on God’s side?”
Many will continue to mourn Charlie Kirk’s tragic and horrific death, and yet we also cling to the eternal hope of the gospel. One day Christ will return. He will wipe away every tear, remove all sorrow, and bring justice to every wrong. Until that day, our calling is clear: to respond to evil with the character of Christ, to proclaim His Word, and to stand courageously in the truth as Charlie Kirk did.
May the stewardship of his life be a reminder that truth is worth defending, that faith is worth proclaiming, and that courage rooted in Christ is worth living—and even dying—for.
“Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” – Matthew 5:10
In His Grip,
Tim Webb
TLS Founder & Senior Pastor of Champion Fellowship
