Four CA Memorial Services and A Prayer Vigil at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. (Part I)

Editor’s Note: Charlie Kirk, 31, married to Erika Frantzve, Miss Arizona 2012, and father of two young children, a daughter born in Aug. 2022 and a son born in May 2024, was killed on Sept. 10th at 12 noon while on stage at his “American Comeback tour” at Utah Valley University in Orem while answering a question on transgenderism and violence. Previous articles from the past week on Charlie Kirk include “A Tribute to Charlie Kirk”, “Prayer Vigils on the Eve of 9/11 Honor the Fallen Hero Charlie Kirk” and “A Nation Divided–The Tale of Two Sides”.)

CALIRED NEWS–Charles James Kirk, an American conservative political activist, author, podcaster and founder of Turning Point USA was remembered at four packed memorial services held Saturday and Sunday (Sept. 13-14) at Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Newbury Park, California by his Pastor Rob McCoy and then a Prayer Vigil held at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. on Sunday, Sept. 14th attended by 80 Congressional leaders featuring eight speakers.

Godspeak Calvary Chapel Pastor Rob McCoy holds four Memorial Services

Godspeak Pastor Rob McCoy challenged Newbury Park congregants to be like Joshua taking the baton from Moses and to enter the Promise Land in sermons remembering the life of Charlie Kirk and recounting his recent trip to South Korea (made with Pastor McCoy and a few other Turning Point leaders).

The impact of Charlie Kirk on Pastor McCoy would result in his moving from Ventura County in California to Maricopa County in Arizona where Turning Point USA is headquartered and make it easier for Pastor McCoy to travel with him.

Pastor McCoy fondly remembered how Kirk–a self-taught man brilliantly debated university intellectuals and yet was not interested in winning using argumentation but in seeing them touched by the Lord and in sharing the Lord’s love with them.

No one knows but some of his supporters have suggested that he was responsible for 250,000 individuals making a profession of faith during the thousands of messages he shared mostly at colleges and universities during his 13-year career. 

Kirk’s faith came first, as well as his love for his wife, Erika, and his two children. Yet despite a busy schedule where his calendar was booked in 15-minute intervals; Charlie’s disciplined lifestyle had him keep a technology fast from Friday to Saturday evening.

“The other side mocks us. They mock prayer. Charlie Kirk was murdered,” said Pastor McCoy. “Charlies loved his enemies. He sought to find agreement with them. But they couldn’t contend with his logic or truth. Therefore he received death threats every day, not just him, but his wife, and his children. He was not afraid because a lie cannot survive truth.”

Pastor McCoy commissioned his congregants from Joshua 1:1-3 (NKJV):

“After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, it came to pass that the Lord spoke to Joshua  the son of Nun, Moses’ assistant, saying: ‘Moses My servant is dead. Now therefore, arise, go over this Jordan, you and all this people, to the land which I am giving to them–the children of Israel. Every place that the sole of our foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.”

Pastor McCoy’s Prayer: “Thank you Charlie for your life. I thank this church. Charlie called me his friend. I will miss you. Charlie is secure in his Savior. May we carry on this work to the glory of the Father.”

Charlie Kirk Called A “ National Treasure” At Kennedy Center Prayer Vigil 

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) along with seven other speakers spoke at the Washington D.C. Kennedy Center Prayer Vigil where Charlie Kirk was called a “National Treasure.”

• U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson: “We remember our dear friend Charlie, who recruited a generation of happy warriors. The best way to honor and advance his legacy is to live as Charlie did by advancing his principles and adopting his approach. Charlie knew if you don’t understand our source of freedom…if you didn’t believe that all men are created equally, that God created us with our inalienable rights that come from the King of Kings…that we are made in the image of God and that our inalienable rights were given to you by God…We know the truth that eternity waits us. We all know where Charlie is right now…Charlie defended free speech and religious freedom.” Prayer:“Charlie taught us, we do not return evil for evil, but we overcome evil with good.”

• White House Press Secretary Karoline Levitt: “The rhetoric of Charlie Kirk turned the political tide and he ushered in President Trump’s historic victory on Nov. 5, 2024. The MAGA movement and young people restored American greatness. He set the tone for this movement and young American Patriots…Charlie looked for outsiders, the up and coming truth-tellers. Charlie celebrated American exceptionalism. He believed that America is the greatest country in the world, that is why we must fight to protect her…I am inspired by his courage, to speak the truth like Charlie.” Romans 12:21: “Do not be overcome by evil but overcome evil with good.”

• Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard: “The time we have in this world is temporary. The critical question is what are you doing with your time? Charlie Kirk made every single day count…Charlie was killed on Sept. 10 and the next day–Sept. 11 was the 24th anniversary of 9-11. We will not be silenced. We will not allow terror to silence us. Charlie inspired countless people to do the same…In my home state of Hawaii, we greet one another with ‘aloha.’ Charlie made countless choices every day to love. We now see a movement of love, truth and freedom. There are now countless people speaking different languages with different backgrounds eager to carry Charlie’s message…Our souls should not be broken. Charlie is at home with the Lord, embraced by the loving arms of Jesus. We can stand strong in our unshakeable defense of our God given rights and freedoms. ‘Aloha.’”

• Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr.: “Millions of kids around the country have been inspired to live like Charlie. The consolation I take is that Charlie died with his boots on fighting. He gave his life so we can not suffer a fate worse than death. Our job is to win this battle for our country, God, and our families.”
  
  
  
  

• Senior Advisor for Global Media Kari Lake: “We’ve got to stop this folks. We can’t let it go on. Violence has got to stop. This is a battle between good and evil. We can’t compromise with evil…We miss you (Charlie). We love you. We’re going to protect and stand with Erika. I see the enthusiasm in this Republic. We will win the freedom you have.”

• Florida Congresswoman Anna Paulina Luna: “We will not throw in the towel. We will keep pushing. The colleges needed Charlie Kirk. Charlie built a movement, one conversation at a time. Turning Point now has over 32,000 applications for starting (campus) chapters. Charlie’s love of country will live on through all of us.”

• Arizona Congressman Andy Biggs: “The two greatest political movements of the 21st Century are: Trump’s MAGA movement and Charlie Kirk’s Turning Point movement. I thank Charlie Kirk for his courage, tenacity and his wisdom. We walk hand-in-hand to broaden Charlie’s mission. Let us love this nation. Join me in blessing Erika and blessing our President Donald J. Trump. We will do what we need to do to further our rights of freedom and justice.”

• Arizona State Senator Jake Hoffman: “We are all Charlie Kirk now. Charlie Kirk sacrificed his life to defend civil liberties, to engage in honest debate. He built an organization to give you a voice. Prayer: “We pray for Erika, who lost a husband, and the little (ones), who lost a Dad. Let us honor (Charlie’s) legacy.”

Turning Point USA announced today (Sept. 18), that Erika Kirk has been named the new CEO and board chair, which her husband co-founded in 2012 when he was 18-years-old.  

“We will not surrender or kneel before evil. We will carry on. The attempt to destroy Charlie’s work will become our chance to make it more powerful and enduring than ever before,” said the board statement released by Doug De Groote, Mike MIller, Tom Sodeika, and David Englehardt.

Charlie Kirk’s funeral will be held Sunday, Sept. 21 at the Arizona Cardinals State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona at 11 a.m. PST. President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD Vance are attending. Stadium officials are reporting that tickets to enter the stadium are no longer available. A worldwide audience is expected to watch the service.

(Editor’s Note: Charlie Kirk’s Pastor, Rob McCoy of Godspeak, was my pastor while living in Newbury Park, California. The founder of Turning Point USA was often welcomed to speak to the congregation by Pastor McCoy, a former Thousand Oaks Mayor, who believes the church needs to be engaged in politics.)