On Sept. 10, 2025, our world was rocked as Charlie Kirk, political pundit and influencer, was assassinated on the campus of Utah Valley University. A young father and husband had his voice silenced for simply speaking his opinion. This wasn’t a policymaker or governmental official. This was simply a man who spoke his truth until he could no longer do so. Was he a perfect man? No, but he was a man convinced that Jesus was King and that there was a brighter day for America if men and women could communicate their viewpoints and have honest conversations.
While devastating, you might be asking, “What does this have to do with me?” This man, who was doing something different than my life, was killed. For those of us who speak the truth to those around us, it can be a daunting task. And now, it is a scary task. Charlie Kirk wasn’t killed because of what he did. He was killed for the words that came out of his mouth. That simply shouldn’t be. We live in the United States of America, where the freedom to speak is paramount. Kirk didn’t speak harsh words. He was always respectful in the videos that I saw, but that didn’t matter. He was gunned down because of his desire to have open and honest conversations with those who disagreed with Him.
The truth tellers among us may be feeling a level of anxiety as the world appears to be turning to violence to silence their voices. What can they do to navigate these difficult days and to continue to be effective in their ministries?
• Pray. As a pastor or youth pastor who speaks the truth to your congregation or group regularly, we can’t help but think of the horrible possibilities each time we step up to a platform or pulpit. If someone walks through the door and determines that your message offends them, that might be your last message. How do we deal with that fear? How do we navigate the concern of rejection from those we speak to? Prayer is where we can express those thoughts. Pray for the things that you need: courage, strength, words, etc. God provides and will provide for you.
• Continue in boldness. As we face the difficulties of navigating communication with a lost and dying world, continue to speak out for the truth of Scripture — “For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (II Tim. 1:7 ESV). God calls us to draw on that power and to speak with confidence. We face challenges, including communicating with different generations. The language has changed and continues to change. We must be “Quick to listen and slow to speak” (James 1:19 CEV). By following the guidelines in James, we can effectively communicate and speak the truth. We should never pull back from the truth, but we can be bold in a way that people will hear. Let’s work toward the goal of continuing in boldness in a world that wishes that we would stay quiet.
• Use cultural moments such as these for self-evaluation. Moments like Charlie Kirk’s passing are cultural moments. They impact us in deep ways, but if we are not careful, they are just a moment on social media and are covered up by the next big “thing.” Let me encourage you to use these moments to evaluate your own level of courage and boldness. Where do you stand as you stand for truth? What do you need to do differently? Where are you weak? Where are you strong? Use these moments to dig deeper into your own life and move forward appropriately.
We won’t soon forget what happened on Sept. 10. While the impact is still uncertain, we know it will be felt. Be encouraged to speak boldly. Be a person that the next generation can look up to. Stand for Jesus in all that you do.
We would love to hear how you navigated these hard days with your students. Share that at Facebook.com/groups/StudentMinistryMattersCommunity.
