The Charlie Kirk I knew
By Tierna D’Arcy · Contributing Writer
Charlie Kirk once said, “If you believe in something, you need to have the courage to fight for those ideas – not run away from them or try and silence them.”
On Sunday, we heard from Charlie’s wife, Erika Kirk, at his historic memorial service at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Ariz. She recalled one of his favorite verses, Isaiah 6:8: “Here I am Lord. Send Me.” Erika said it best: “When you say, ‘Here I am, Lord, use me’ – God will take you up on that. And he did with Charlie.” Charlie Kirk fully submitted to God’s plan for his life, in both life and death.
For those of us who knew him, we can say Charlie was the real deal – a man of conviction who lived out what he believed. Since Sept. 10, 2025, I have often said I would not be who I am today without him. I had the privilege of meeting Charlie and Erika many times, and their impact on me is profound. I first met Charlie at a Turning Point USA regional conference in Pheonix in 2021. From that moment, he and Erika became my role models. Their spirit and passion for truth embodied the kind of life I wanted for myself and my future marriage.
I lived for TPUSA and their events. I flew thousands of miles to conferences, summits and America Fests, excited to see friends and be fired up by how the Holy Spirit would use Charlie and the other speakers. My most meaningful encounters with the Kirks were in small, intimate settings, often at my home church in California, Godspeak Calvary Chapel. As a high school chapter leader on fire for their mission, I was always front and center, learning from their engagement with truth and life. These moments gave me the chance to have conversations with Charlie and Erika that showed me why I am so passionate about the values they lived out every day.
One memory stands out from June 2021. My friends and I showed up at a small church where Charlie was scheduled to speak at the last minute. Expecting the usual crowds, we were shocked to find only 10-15 people.
Charlie spoke as if the room was full, yet also as if he was speaking directly to us. I asked about social media as he spoke about not abusing it: “What about people like me who use social media to promote the TRUTH?” He looked me in the eye and said, “YOU are the exception.” I will always remember that moment and the conversations that followed. Specifically, when talking to Erika and Charlie afterwards, they gave me internship advice as I was beginning one with PragerU and genuinely took the time to get to know me.
Since Charlie’s passing, I’ve revisited photos and DMs I have with them, piecing together memories to honor Charlie. I hold certain messages close to my heart – ones from Erika, replying to my Instagram stories with words of love and support, reminding me of her sweetness, and by extension, Charlie’s same goodness.
These past few weeks have shaken my world, as they have for countless young people around our nation and globe. Yet I believe that there is a purpose. Charlie fully lived the words “Here I am, Lord, send me,” staying true to them until he left this world for eternity with God. I cherish the moments I had with him and Erika and look forward to seeing how God will use Erika as the new leader of TPUSA. I know she will carry his legacy with a fiery yet faithful spirit.
Thank you, Charlie, for shaping my generation for good, leaving a mark on our nation and showing us what it means to live with courage and conviction. Well done, good and faithful servant.
