“... so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy...
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I’ll always remember where I was when I heard of the shot that took Charlie Kirk’s life at Utah Valley University. In between phone calls for setting up Justice For All speaking and outreach events, I was dropping off donations for our local pregnancy help ministry when one of the staff members alerted me. The news seemed especially frantic in the midst of the shooting at Evergreen High School near Denver the same day, the stabbing of Ukrainian refugee Iryna Zarutska on a train about two weeks before, the murder of Minnesota state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband, Mark, in June, and other acts of violence this year.
“As I reflected, I thought of the tens of thousands of people who have engaged our JFA team in dialogue or observed our displays. I am praying they each have a caring friend to process with during this trying time.” - Jon Wagner, who is shown above, speaking to a student just a few months ago at University of Arkansas in April 2025.
As I reflected, I thought of the tens of thousands of people who have engaged our JFA team in dialogue or observed our displays. I am praying they each have a caring friend to process with during this trying time. I am praying they are encountering Christ and flourishing. I pray for our many thousands of seminar trainees, presentation participants, and volunteers to maximize their impact during this critical time – that now more than ever they would heed James 1:19 and be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
Campuses hold a special place in my heart. College was a critical time for my growth as a young man due to discipleship at campus and our local church, friendships, classes, and being part of a championship tennis team.
“My prayer is that this horrific injustice, this critical cultural moment, would open doors for dialogue, forgiveness, and understanding in our communities, especially with those who oppose us most firmly. ”
Universities have been the main outreach venue for our educational and outreach endeavors around the sanctity of life. Our team has had tens of thousands of interactions about abortion, unplanned pregnancy, and human dignity. We’ve regularly discussed purpose, sin, salvation, and Jesus Christ, who reconciles us and invites us into His ministry of reconciliation (see II Cor. 5:17-21, a major theme passage for our team). We strive to make the unique college campus venue a better free speech opportunity for everyone, especially for those with whom we disagree.
Campuses should be a safe environment for learning, debate, and character building, so when we watched in horror on September 10 as conservative speaker and activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated, it was heartbreaking. It would have been heartbreaking for any activist to be gunned down, especially in the midst of free speech activity, but this felt more shocking to me personally because of Charlie’s persistent defense of human life, willingness to engage those with whom he disagreed, and bold proclamation of Jesus as Lord and Savior.
Even as some opponents of Charlie publicly praised the horrific act, most condemned it as evil. Pro-life and pro-choice, conservative and liberal, various political parties united against this horrific act against a man and organization – a despicable and cowardly atrocity that was an afront to decency and free speech.
How do we grieve in a godly manner? I suggest we should refrain from either immortalizing or demonizing Kirk. Kirk himself would want us to focus on Christ rather than himself. Even most of Kirk’s opponents refuse to demonize him. Instead, can we unite against violence, unite for free speech, and unite in seeing the image of God in each other? Let us resolve to dialogue with, respect, and befriend others even if we don’t agree.
Should Kirk have sometimes used a slower, more measured approach, pausing or asking more clarifying questions before making a strong statement? Perhaps. But whatever is true about the best strategy in various high-pressure contexts, I want to focus on something else: Kirk prioritized those with whom he disagreed, listened carefully, and stayed on point. He countered ideas much more than people. He was an earnest defender of the preborn even at a time when many other leaders, especially the powerful and popular, were not. He challenged bad thinking, challenged young men, shared his faith in Christ unapologetically, and engaged culture.
Did you agree with much of Charlie’s worldview? You have an opportunity to grieve with those who are like-minded, but you also have an opportunity to love those who are confused that a person they despised is being celebrated – by hearing their concerns and committing to healthy dialogue.
Did you disagree with much of Kirk’s worldview, strategies, or his event optics? You have an opportunity to unite in grief and prayer for Charlie’s family and friends, to affirm the importance of free speech, to unite against violence, and to also commit to listening to those with whom you disagree.
My prayer is that this horrific injustice, this critical cultural moment, would open doors for dialogue, forgiveness, and understanding in our communities, especially with those who oppose us most firmly.
Here are some of my prayers as I grieve and reflect…
I pray for Charlie’s family, friends, supporters, as they grieve this unspeakable loss. For this injustice to guide these folks closer to Christ rather than further away.
I pray for each person involved in or defending this murder to be reconciled to God.
I thank God that Frank Turek, Marco Rubio, Erika Kirk, and others proclaimed Christ at Charlie’s memorial. Rubio said, “God took on the form of a man and came down and lived among us and He suffered like men and He died like a man, but on the third day He rose unlike any mortal man... because He took on that death, because He carried that cross, we were freed from the sin that separated us from Him.”
I thank God that Charlie’s widow, Erika Kirk, is showing the courage and faith to forgive and graciously press on. Look at her statement at the memorial: “On the cross, our Savior 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.” Taking a cue from Erika’s model, “Is there anyone you or I need to forgive? Is there an old friend or family member with whom you are angry and don’t think you can forgive?” I pray God will help you seek His strength to forgive.
I pray for our JFA community to take this tragedy as yet another opportunity to employ our Three Essential Skills: listening to understand, asking questions with an open heart, and finding common ground when possible. People are grieving, talking, processing, hurting, and angry. The opportunities are right in front of us.
May we be a people who are ready to forgive, humbled by our own need for forgiveness. I often reflect on the names of those at our events who have been the most disrespectful, loud, and crude – and by God’s grace I take joy in praying for them, asking God to guide them, and re-affirming my forgiveness and love for them: “Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” – Ephesians 4:31-32 ESV
Charlie would want you to put your hope in Christ rather than any man, woman, or strategy. I am reminded of 1 Peter 1:13-15 which states, “Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, ‘You shall be holy, for I am holy.’”