Liberty University’s Turning Point USA (TPUSA) chapter held a memorial service on Thursday, Sept. 10, one year after the assassination of Charlie Kirk.
Students gathered in DeMoss Hall 1164 to watch the livestream of the Charlie Kirk memorial, hosted at Utah Valley University (UVU). Speakers such as Glenn Beck and Michael Knowles, who were close friends with Kirk, spoke during from UVU during the event.
The event on Liberty’s campus opened with prayer and worship led by graduate student and lead vocalist for the band E-41 Ava Piland.
“It was a wonderful experience to come together with students to remember someone who wanted to be remembered for Jesus,” Piland said.
Students were provided a catered meal and enjoyed a time of fellowship with others.
Director of Community Service and Volunteering for TPUSA at Liberty Lauren Brown said 72 people attended the event.
Vice President of the Liberty TPUSA chapter and senior R.K. Gathje and Director of Outreach Noah Coffin, a freshman, gave speeches, reflecting on Kirk’s impact.
“The best way we can honor someone’s life is not simply by remembering the day we lost them,” Gathje said. “It is by carrying forward the values and lessons that their life gave us.”
Freshman Lauren Rowland shared how Kirk’s courage to share his opinions and values encourages her to stand up for what she believes in.
“(He) was a huge inspiration to me, to not be afraid of what God puts on your heart to say,” Rowland said.
Graduate student Nathaniel Tan said that Kirk has motivated him to share the gospel.
“His death was definitely an inspiration to me, to really give it my all for the ministry and just to spread the good news of Jesus Christ,” Tan said.
For more information about TPUSA at Liberty, visit its Instagram @tpusalibertyu.
Senes and Gathje are the news editors for The Liberty Champion.