The Good Turning Point

On April 19, 1775, in Concord, a single shot was fired.

This shot would prove to be crucial to the history of America as we know it, as it led to the official start of the American Revolutionary War.

Since then, stories and poems have claimed that it was this incident – this shot – that was heard around the world.

Over the last few centuries and decades, I would argue that there have been other critical shots fired that changed our nation as well as the world. To mention a few, we have the assassinations of Abraham Lincoln, JFK, and MLK. Just last year, we all watched in real time as President Trump was shot at his own rally.

But on September 10, 2025, another shot was fired that changed our nation. The tragic assassination of conservative American podcaster, author, and commentator, Charlie Kirk.

While speaking on his “The American Comeback Tour” at the Utah Valley University campus, a single, almost 200-yard shot was fired that struck Kirk in the neck, tragically wounding him and leading to his death at 31 years old, leaving behind his wife and two young children.

This senseless act of violence occurred because someone didn’t agree with Kirk’s beliefs or political stances. However, it was Kirk’s varying stances that made his death so memorable.

In a photo posted by Charlie three days before his death, holding his young son, he captioned it “God, family, and country. In that order.”

And in the days since his death, it has been proven countless times that those three fundamental values were exactly what Kirk was all about.

He loved the Lord. Repeatedly, at his speaking events, he shared his faith whenever he was given the chance (and even when it wasn’t welcomed).
He loved his sweet, precious wife Erika and his children.
Finally, he loved the United States and what it stood for so much so that he founded Turning Point USA as a way to inspire and equip young Americans on conservative issues the world faces today.

Yet, evil cut his life short.

In the moments since his death, one verse, the only verse, that seems to make sense in my mind is Genesis 50:20. It says,

As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good in order to bring about this present result, to preserve many people alive.

Because in the wake of his death – in the wake of that single shot – many individuals in the nation are waking up and choosing to follow the Lord, love their families, and rise up in the fight against culture.

On Sunday, following his death, Turning Point USA shared a post containing an old tweet from Kirk. The tweet simply said, “Today is a great day for church. Rejoice!”

Thousands of commenters quickly flooded the comment section. A few of the many said,

“We are going back to church because Charlie convinced me there is a spiritual war and the fact we don’t need to back down, but stand strong in faith and pray for our enemies. And someday I want to be proud of my strong faith like Charlie was of his.”
“I didn’t go to church, but I’ve been on my knees for three days”
“My church had twice as many people today. Coincidence? I don’t think so.”
“Went to church for the first time in 6 years today with my 13 year old son. We stopped after my husband died. After service, my son said he wanted to come back next week..and the next. So thanks Charlie...for the nudge i needed to lead my home better. …”
“Did Charlie just host the world’s largest altar call?”
“28 people baptized in my church this morning!!!!"

But it didn’t stop with just a single Facebook post.

Taking charge, his young wife, Erika, addressed the nation following her husband’s passing. Overnight, Turning Point USA received many requests to form new chapters.

And on September 14, Fox News reported that “Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of "The Charlie Kirk Show," said that Turning Point USA (TPUSA) has received more than 37,000 inquiries from people wanting to start new campus chapters. Kolvet said that TPUSA currently has 900 official college chapters and approximately 1,200 high school chapters.”

But it doesn’t even stop there – his death made global headlines.

He was even honored at a “Unite the Kingdom” event in London. The organizer of the event played a video of Kirk at the march to “honor the life of one of our generation’s greatest," while others carried banners and pictures of him.

As Erika shared in her statement that night, “They killed Charlie because he preached a message of patriotism, faith, and of God’s merciful love. But they should all know this. If you thought that my husband’s mission was powerful before, you have no idea. You have no idea what you just have unleashed across this entire country.”

How right she was.

That single shot made a martyr, but it has also encouraged a generation to rise and choose “God, family, and country. In that order.”

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