September 10, 2026
We gather today to commemorate the life of Charlie Kirk, a young man who was the embodiment of courage over prudence. He was willing to stand bravely for freely speaking the truth when there were threats against his life.
Charlie had the most influential microphone in the Culture wars. But he willingly shared it with his most vocal opponents, because he believed in true dialogue. That is not the action of a fascist!
Around the world, people of goodwill were horrified and saddened by his brutal murder in front of thousands of students. But we were shocked by the reaction of many who rejoiced at his violent death, leaving his beautiful wife Erica a widow and his two lovely children fatherless. A year later, some sick people are still celebrating his murder. (and many are here today)
We must continue to send encouragement and condolences to Erica and the Kirk family for their incredible loss. And we condemn the efforts of influential people, on the left and the right for the horrible ways they have attacked her with false accusations and malicious conspiracy theories. It is despicable how people both right and left have been bashing her.
It is the reaction of Charlie’s supporters that is significant: unlike the reaction to the death of George Floyd 5 years earlier, there were no riots in the streets, no carnage, no looting and no burning of cars and buildings. Instead, there was respectful mourning, and a call for other young men to rise up and take Charlie’s place. Nobody ever said we need more people like George Floyd!
I think we have a Canadian replacement for Charlie Kirk right here in our group today. Daniel Thiele is only 13 years old, a young man just emerging from childhood, but has shown leadership and courage beyond his years.
Charlie was given one of the most beautiful, largest and moving funerals of any American leader in history. The New York Times stated that 200 thousand people turned out and millions more watched the livestream around the world. I watched all 5 hours of the service, and the most moving was Erica Kirk’s expression of forgiveness to her beloved husband’s killer.
What were the most important aspects of Charlie’s life? Just like our Canadian hero, Dr. Jordan Peterson, he was focused on sharing his message of truth with discouraged young men. College aged young men, who were becoming demoralized by the toxic D.I.E. atmosphere on college campuses. Like BillBoard Chris Elston, Charlie went right into the public squares, especially the liberal college campuses and mingled and conversed with the young people.
There were three aspects to Charlie’s message.
The Church
The Government
The Family.
Charlie believed, as I do that these institutions were founded by God the Creator. While Charlie was a Protestant evangelical, Erica was raised Roman Catholic. He had an exalted view of the Church, which he believed is the only institution that protects freedom. He believed that the church is called to give counsel to the rulers. He was not a clergyman; he was only a layman. In a country with a church on nearly every street corner, he did a watchman’s work which many pastors have neglected. And he had a profound influence on many churches. When Glen Hansman, president of the BC Teachers Union told me I had to leave my faith outside the door when I walked into the School Board room, I refused, because Charlie reminded me that I must be the same person in public as I was in private.
Regarding the separation of Church and State, he pointed out that the State has intruded into nearly every facet of our lives while most churches retreated. Charlie asked what gave state health officials the authority to go into churches and shut them down and then stand by idly while they were burned down? He believed that if God doesn’t exist, there is nothing right or wrong, everything is just a matter of your own opinion. Freedom is not sustainable if you try to remove the Christian religion.
Charlie believed that courage is only moral when it is grounded in truth. He pointed out that fear is being used to silence truth. He believed in that famous quote from Abraham Lincoln’s Gettysburg address: “Government of the people, by the people, for the people” He called for Christians to be courageous enough to govern themselves and then govern their country. This is similar to Jordan Peterson’s dictum: “Before you attempt to change the world, start by cleaning up your bedroom.” He urged Christians, especially young persons to be courageous and show up at School board meetings. Oppose the depravity of progressive curriculum and pornographic books and demand the release of documentation through freedom of information processes.
But Charlie warned that being brave, courageous and moral rarely comes without a cost. His life proved that. So has mine.
Regarding the government, Charlie truly loved his country and was enthusiastically patriotic. Here in Canada, we are ashamed of being seen as patriotic. Our children are being taught to be ashamed of our history, embarrassed about our heritage and humiliated about the color of our skin. Here in Canada our conservatives no longer love our country: they want to leave it, tear the country apart or just turn it over to the Aboriginals. We need more young leaders like Daniel Theile to encourage us to Make Canada Great again.
Charlie was passionate about Free Speech, which he believed was bestowed by the Creator, and any attempt to impose hate speech laws denied the humanity of the speaker. People without power must be given the right to speak. Our provincial politicians could learn from Charlie, who had the rare gift of maintaining coalitions. He knew how to love his neighbor— even those who disagreed with him. He mobilized young voters in their 20’s to elect Donald Trump.
Charlie’s highest priority was his family: his beautiful wife, formerly Miss Arizona and their two lovely children. He understood why young men were reluctant to get married due to the lack of demand for college graduates and the greed of developers which makes it impossible for young people to ever own a home big enough to raise a family. But nevertheless, he encouraged young people to find happiness by finding a wife, getting married and having more children than they could afford. Charlie knew that the biggest challenge to traditional family values was radical feminism. The idea that a career was more important than raising a family. We have recently seen the results of unhinged feminism in the scandalous trial of Lindsay Clancy. When a man goes to prison for harming children, he becomes the immediate target of the other inmates. Because for violent criminals, hurting children is too low— even for them.
But when a woman harms children, she gets a fan club and a million dollars.
Moral of the story: even violent criminals have a stronger moral compass than feminist women.
Charlie had a solution for toxic feminism. He upset and even angered some of his evangelical supporters when he recently said Christians should pay more attention and honor to The Virgin Mary as the archetype of true womanliness.
Some of the most enthusiastic praises for Charlie Kirk have come from Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Clergy. They agree that Charlie Kirk, a Protestant qualified for a Martyr’s crown for the cause of Christ. Metropolitan Tikhon of Russia and Bishop Robert Barron of America think he should be venerated as a saint: recognized by the church as a Model of Holiness: Saints provide practical examples of how to live out faith, courage, and virtue through real-life challenges.
We are gathered here for a vigil which is a period of staying awake during normal sleeping hours to pray and honor the dead. What is the significance of lighting a candle? In the early years of the Christian faith, believers were hunted down jailed, tortured and killed, so they were forced to meet in caves under the city of Rome, which are called catacombs. They needed candles for light. Candles represented to them their prayers and praises rising to the heavens and have become an indispensable part of Traditional Christian Worship.
Our Lord Jesus said: “In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” ~ Matthew 5:16
Charlie Kirk allowed his light to shine brightly and it dispelled a lot of Darkness in the world. May we also follow his example and shine the light of truth.
Will you join me in singing that old Sunday School song, “This Little Light of Mine?”
1 This little light of mine,
I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I’m gonna let it shine.
This little light of mine,
I’m gonna let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine, oh let it shine.
2 Ev’rywhere I go,
I’m gonna let it shine.
Ev’rywhere I go,
I’m gonna let it shine.
Ev’rywhere I go,
I’m gonna let it shine,
let it shine, let it shine, oh let it shine.
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