Jenna Ellis, 13 Sept. 2025
-This wasn’t about political engagement; it was about total life transformation starting with the truth of the gospel. Charlie wasn’t content to debate culture from the sidelines. He wanted to model a redeemed life in real time.
I first met Charlie Kirk more than a decade ago, and then got to know him on a personal level starting in 2019 with our founding of Liberty University’s Standing for Freedom Center. We were a small band of Christian teachers and influencers with a mission: to bring the Christian worldview to students by meeting them where they’re at, much like Charlie was already doing.
What struck me then was not only Charlie’s quick wit and courage to speak the truth, but also his unshakable conviction that ideas mattered because truth itself matters. One of the first dinners we had as a group, we closed the restaurant because we were discussing and debating ideas. Even in his early years, Charlie’s faith in Christ gave him clarity and resolve. But it was when Erika entered his life that I saw something even deeper.
From the moment Charlie met Erika, his admiration and love for her were undeniable. He often said she made him better -- not just as a man, but as a follower of Christ. She encouraged him to speak more openly and unapologetically about his Christian faith. Marriage and family transformed him. It gave his mission a new dimension. Charlie didn’t just defend conservative principles; he lived out biblical ones. His message to young men and women became clear: marry young, build families, raise children, and anchor your life in God’s design. This wasn’t about political engagement, it was about total life transformation starting with the truth of the gospel. Charlie wasn’t content to debate culture from the sidelines. He wanted to model a redeemed life in real time...
