Charlie Kirk

Charlie Kirk’s Generosity Sowed Seeds for Future Generations

If the name Brilyn Hollyhand sounds familiar, it’s likely because you’ve heard or seen him this past month on radio and television discussing the legacy of his friend, the late Turning Point USA founder, Charlie Kirk.

At 19 years old, the Alabama native has been described as someone cut from the same cloth as the youthful and engaging slain apologist and political commentator – and even a possible successor, at least in style and passion.

Growing up in Tuscaloosa, Hollyhand began publishing a political newsletter when he was just 11 years old. That led to the launch of a YouTube channel when he was 12. He began interviewing political movers and shakers – including then Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy and Senator Ted Cruz of Texas.

When Hollyhand learned that Charlie Kirk was coming to Tuscaloosa for an event in 2018, he requested 10 minutes to interview him.

“I’ll give you 30 minutes,” Kirk responded to the youngster. A friendship was born.

Between then and Kirk’s assassination on September 10 in Utah, the two regularly exchanged texts and emails. Hollyhand has even described Charlie as “one of his closest friends in politics.”

In the aftermath of the horrific tragedy at Utah Valley University, Hollyhand has visited colleges calling for a return of civil political discourse.

Dubbing his efforts the “One Conversation at a Time” tour, the conservative Gen Zer was blunt while speaking to students at Clemson University.

“When our generation gets frustrated with politics, what do we do?” Hollyhand asked. “We shoot somebody or scream at somebody. We don’t know how to have a civil discourse.”

Teaching and preaching restraint and self-discipline, Hollyhand advocates for taking personal responsibility and countering the emotional escalation with a humble and controlled posture.

“Every single one of you have the opportunity to turn down the temperature,” he reminded students.

In a recent New York Times profile, Hollyhand was accused of unfairly leveraging his friendship with Charlie Kirk.

“There’s no way that I could have done this on my own,” he said. “The Lord opened these doors.”

A devout Christian, Hollyhand was wearing a “Jesus Saves” T-shirt while talking with students at Clemson. Unashamed and unapologetic, the teen has said that he’s a Christian first and a conservative second.

“Politics is temporary,” he recently posted. “Faith is eternal. Give your life to Jesus and trust Him. The best decision you’ll ever make!”

The growing influence and increasing reach of young voices like Brilyn Hollyhand should encourage those who have been praying and hoping for a younger generation to succeed those who have been engaging culture for decades.

“Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity,” wrote the Apostle Paul to Timothy (1 Tim. 4:12).

Charlie Kirk’s tragic death has devastated not only his immediate family, but also a movement hungry for youthful leadership.

Yet, the Lord has made it clear that He gives and takes away (Job 1:21) and what man intends for evil, He uses for good (Gen. 50:20). The coming years will demonstrate that the slain communicator and evangelist’s work and influence not only served the immediate moment but also sowed seeds that will produce fruit in the future.

Image credit: Brilyn Hollyhand.

Pay Tribute to Charlie Kirk: Bring Your Bible to School

Back in September while speaking at the Museum of the Bible as part of a Religious Liberty Commission meeting, President Donald Trump pledged to protect the rights of all students to express and live out their faith on or off campus.

“For most of our country’s history, the Bible was found in every classroom in the nation,” Trump reflected. “Yet in many schools today, students are instead indoctrinated with anti-religious propaganda, and some are punished for their religious beliefs. Very, very strongly punished. It is ridiculous.”

Tragically, just a few days later, Charlie Kirk, another strong proponent of the Bible in public schools, was assassinated in Utah.

Charlie has long championed the idea of the Bible as not only an evangelistic book, but also an historical document for teaching about civilizations and human nature.

“It is inarguable the impact that the Bible has had on the world even in the capacity for solving human problems and analyzing human behavior,” Kirk stated. “The problem is that teachers and professors, mostly high school teachers, feel like they can’t teach the Bible because they can only teach it through a religious lens.”

He continued:

“There’s actually some really, really strong historical stories, but there’s also the archetypical stories to tell. The stories of strong women like Esther, the stories of betrayal and greed with Joseph in Genesis 40 though 52. There’s amazing stories to tell young people how to properly act, and how to properly interact in society.”

It’s in this spirit of boldness and conviction that Focus on the Family is once again spearheading Thursday’s Bring Your Bible to School Day – a nationwide celebration designed to empower and encourage young people to live out their faith in the classroom.

Last year, over 1.2 million students across 70,000 schools participated in the annual observance. We received inspiring testimonials of children not only bringing their bibles – but also opening and reading them at their desks and in the cafeteria. There were spontaneous prayer gatherings and candid and heartfelt conversations between believers and non-believers.

Students who participate are respectful and inclusive. They see the Bible as a gift to share. Its timeless contents tell miraculous stories. In this era of cultural confusion, it provides clarity. For those struggling with anxiety, it brings peace.

The late Dr. Adrian Rogers, a longtime Focus board member, famously observed, “The Bible is shallow enough for a babe to come and drink without fear of drowning, and deep enough for a theologian to swim in forever without touching bottom.”

In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, there have been hopeful reports of Americans who previously didn’t attend weekly services, going to church. Charlie bravely and courageously shared his faith in hostile environments – especially public schools. There is no better way for students to honor his memory and pay tribute to his witness than to bring their bibles to school on Thursday October 2.

It was Kirk who urged students, “If you believe in something, you need to have the courage to fight for those ideas.” 

You don’t have to fight to bring your bible to school, but the act may require a degree of courage given some of the hostile actors in today’s public-school systems. On Bring Your Bible to School Day 2025, honor and witness to the power and saving nature of the Lord by bringing your bible into the classroom.

WATCH: My Life-Changing Experience at Charlie Kirk’s Memorial

The Daily Citizen‘s Emily Washburn shares her “life changing” experience at Charlie Kirk’s memorial on September 21.

Read Emily’s coverage of the event:

‘I Forgive Him’: Three of the Most Impactful Moments from Charlie Kirk’s Memorial

Nearly 100,000 People Woke Up at Dawn for Charlie Kirk’s Memorial. Here’s Why.

Focus on the Family offers resources to help parents and families facing tragedy.

Nearly 100,000 People Woke Up at Dawn for Charlie Kirk’s Memorial. Here’s Why.

On Sunday, September 21, hundreds of thousands of people left their homes before dawn to attend Charlie Kirk’s memorial.

The devout Christian and founder of Turning Point USA was assassinated on September 10 at Utah Valley University. He died doing what he did best — teaching young people about Christ and conservatism on hostile college campuses.

The turnout for Charlie’s memorial was nothing short of miraculous. The 31-year-old was a rising star in the conservative movement and a powerful voice among young, politically active Americans — but it takes something special to convince hundreds of thousands of people to spend their Sunday baking in the hot sun outside a football stadium with no guarantee of getting in.

I asked people at Charlie Kirk’s memorial what made him so special.

My first interview was something of a divine prompting. It took place long before I even made it to Glendale.

Reverend Doug and Christina Tipton and Mike and Tanya Alexander were wearing matching Charlie Kirk sweatshirts in the Colorado Springs airport when I approached them. I had assumed the couples were heading to Phoenix like me — but they didn’t need a special reason to support Charlie and his legacy.

“We really felt like we needed to do something,” Doug told me. “We knew we were traveling this weekend … so our main goal was really just to get the word out there.”

I asked them what they found so inspiring about Charlie.

“Charlie was martyred for the faith,” Christina explained. “He stood for faith, family and country — all the things I hold dear to my heart.”

Mike and Tanya said Charlie’s death “lit a fresh fire under them” to make their time on Earth count spreading the Gospel. Charlie’s impact, Tanya assessed, “was a reflection, not of the man Charlie, but of the God he served.”

“Now, it’s transcending him.”

The couples prayed out loud for my safety and fruitfulness before boarding their flight.

I befriended Alina and her mom Juliette at 5:30 a.m. in what felt like a sea of people. The duo had road-tripped to State Farm Stadium all the way from New Mexico.

Charlie helped bring Alina to Christ in 2016. Her decision to follow the Lord changed her life.

“[Jesus] brought me out of drugs, sex before marriage, all kinds of things,” she said.

Alina told me she felt filled with the Holy Spirit following Charlie’s assassination.

“You can feel it,” she emphasized. I found that I could.

Lisette, Doug and baby Vincent joined the early morning memorial to participate in the celebration of Charlie’s life — a celebration, they stressed, not a riot.

“Charlie was so loved,” Lisette reflected. “We’re here because his life and faith meant so much.”

The young family also wanted to show their support for Erika, Charlie’s widow, and the couple’s two children.

“I couldn’t imagine losing my husband,” she told me, looking back at Doug.

Bob and Mary pulled up to the venue at 5:20 a.m. to “honor Charlie’s life.”

“If that means we stand out here until 11:00 that’s what we’re going to do,” Mary said cheerfully.

The couple remembered Charlie for his dedication, faith and unique ability to speak for what Bob called the “silent majority.”

“He will be greatly missed,” Mary concluded.

I connected with Shaylee and Maren over a crazy coincidence: Shaylee was a fellow Colorado Springs native — and her mom used to work for Focus on the Family.  

The GCU students had left campus at 4:30 a.m. to attend the event.

“I wanted to hear the speeches and what people had to say about him,” Shaylee told me.

“I also wanted to pay respect. I feel like it means a lot that so many people are showing up.”

Campus had felt “heavy” following Charlie’s assassination, the two attested. Maren said there had been a lot of campus memorials in his honor as students grappled with someone so well-known and respected facing such a death.

“He also has little kids and he and his wife are such faithful followers,” Shaylee added. “To see something happen like that that’s so undeserved has really shaken everyone.”

Michelle, her daughter Alexis, and Alexis’ friends Morgan and Avabelle trundled to the memorial at 4:15 in the morning. They hoped to honor and demonstrate the impact Charlie had on America’s youth.

Michelle, who’d first encountered Charlie in 2016, understood why people compared his assassination to 9/11. The fear and confusion felt similar, she explained.

In the aftermath of Charlie’s death, however, she had experienced a tangible boost from the Holy Spirit — a “Jesus-lift.”

Alexis, Morgan and Avabelle said they’d felt the same spiritual lift. The 16-year-olds were in class when Charlie was assassinated. All saw the horribly graphic video of his death. But Charlie’s fearlessness ignited their own, God-given courage.

Alexis says Charlie demonstrated standing strong for Jesus. She’s more determined than ever to boldly declare her faith.

Morgan and Avabelle seek to emulate Charlie’s fearlessness.

“He wasn’t afraid to shine a light on darkness,” Avabelle reflected.

Michelle told me the three girls are living examples of Charlie’s enduring impact on young Americans.

I sat next to Todd and Danelle in the blessedly air-conditioned stadium. Over emphatic worship music, the brother-sister duo explained why they had come all the way from Gilbert, Arizona.

“[Charlie’s] been important to the youth,” Danelle said. He helped teach her own son, a 27-year-old who dislikes the conflict and strife of politics, about conservatism.

Charlie gave Todd a voice.

“Sometimes I would question myself and the way I thought,” he confided, “and then [Charlie] would say it and I’d know I wasn’t crazy.”

Together, the three of us sat back and marveled at the size of the crowd. People of all ages, races and sexes — all decked out in red, white and blue — had gone through considerable trouble to honor Charlie. His faith and convictions had touched them all.

Danelle summed up the feeling well:

“It makes you proud to be an American.”

Additional Articles and Resources

‘I Forgive Him’: Three of the Most Impactful Moments from Charlie Kirk’s Memorial

Believers Must Differentiate Free Speech, ‘Hate Speech,’ Censorship and ‘Cancel Culture’ — Here’s How

Have the Courage to Take Your Faith into Politics

Charlie Kirk: Man of Faith, Family and Fidelity

There is a Difference Between Retribution and Justice

You’d be forgiven for thinking that journalists and media personalities receive a daily talking points sheet filled with coordinated messaging from some secret source.

After all, peruse your typical news site and themes and trends start to emerge – not so much the stories themselves, but also the language used in telling or framing the story itself.

Today, the Term du jour is “retribution” – a word stemming from the Latin verb “retribuere,” which means “to pay back” or “give in return.” Merriam Webster defines it as “dispensing or receiving of reward or punishment” and “something given or exacted in recompense.”

As Christians, we know from Jesus’ teaching that we’re to leave that type of punishment to the Lord. From Matthew’s Gospel, we read Jesus’ own words, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you not to resist an evildoer. But whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other also.”

The apostle Paul echoed that sentiment when he wrote to Christians in Rome, “Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,’ says the Lord.”

But does that mean we’re to simply fold our hands in prayer or throw them up altogether and simply wait for punishment to be applied supernaturally? No.

Justice is a core characteristic of God and He calls on us to do our part to enact it in this world. There is nothing inherently out of bounds in seeking to right a wrong, especially when those wrongs inflict harm on His people. We read in Micah 6:8, “He has told you, O man, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you, but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?”

The prophet Isaiah similarly warns and counsels, “Learn to do good; seek justice, correct oppression; bring justice to the fatherless, plead the widow’s cause (1:17).”

While the goal of justice is to restore what sin has stolen, the aim or intent of retribution is generally self-focused, i.e., “an eye for an eye.”

What’s telling is that when reporters often write about retribution, they’re generally focused on the response to the offense rather than getting into the details or even the validity of the problematic or illegal activity that started the whole process. Instead, they should be investigating the merits of the core concern and addressing what can and should be done about it to make sure it doesn’t happen again.

One could be left with the impression that those calling out so-called “payback” are hoping that our attention won’t go back to the beginning or root cause of the offense.

Christians can rest in God’s ultimate authority and final word. In just these last few weeks, Erika Kirk, the widow of slain Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk, has provided us with a powerful example of how best to balance the distinctions of justice and retribution.

In announcing that she had forgiven her husband’s assassin, Erika is doing her personal part in navigating a gross injustice. At the same time, she is leaving the prosecution of the individual to Utah prosecutors, even up to the possibility of the death penalty.

We pray that justice will be served.

Image from Shutterstock.