Turning Point USA’s Michael McCoy honors Charlie Kirk at Liberty University Convocation

Michael McCoy, chief of staff for Turning Point USA and close confidant of Charlie Kirk, honored his slain friend during Friday’s Convocation by challenging Liberty University students to be ‘happy warriors,’ embracing hope and courage, just as Charlie did.

TPUSA, founded by Kirk in 2012, is a national student movement that empowers young people to champion principles of free markets and limited government. Liberty’s TPUSA chapter is the largest in the country with more than 1,200 members.

Before he was assassinated on Sep. 10, at age 31, while speaking at Utah Valley University, Kirk was scheduled to deliver Friday’s Convocation address at Liberty and participate as the keynote speaker at the Standing for Freedom Center’s Freedom Uncensored summit this weekend.

Kirk was a regular guest at Convocation and made many connections with Liberty over the years, traveling to campus multiple times to speak and forging partnerships and friendships through a shared mission of sharing the Gospel, supporting biblical values in the church and family, and defending the Christian faith and the Constitution. He played an important role in helping to launch the Standing for Freedom Center six years ago. His wife, Erika, is a Liberty alumna.

Before McCoy took the stage, Vice President of Spiritual Development Joshua Rutledge told students it was a somber day, as everyone had been looking forward to Kirk’s visit since the schedule was announced at the start of the school year. But he said the day would be a time to both remember and honor Kirk’s legacy.

Convocation included a brief memorial video, which included a clip of Kirk explaining what he would want to be remembered for: courage for his faith.

President of Liberty Dr. Dondi E. Costin introduced the 24-year-old McCoy, who joined forces with Kirk six years ago, at only 18 years old, and followed Kirk to many of his college campus events.

“On his campus tours, I’d watch (Kirk) answer not just big political questions, but deep theological inquiries that young people in this nation were wrestling with,” McCoy said. “He would do this with the willingness and boldness that should convict and inspire many pastors and preachers in this country.”

Kirk’s speaking engagement at UVU, where he was assassinated, was part of TPUSA’s The American Comeback Tour, a series of college campus visits where Kirk would respectfully engage with students on all areas of life, politics, and culture.

“When he stepped onto these college campuses, he didn’t just go to bloviate into a microphone or to give a speech,” McCoy said. “He went to have respectful dialogue. Charlie would listen. Half the time the microphone was down on the desk, and he was hearing the students express their opinions, their ideas, their concerns, their frustrations, and their fears for the future.”

He reminded students that the three major assassins over the last two years have been Gen Z, people born after 1996. This disparity, McCoy said, was no accident.

He said Gen Z has boundless potential, but many are experiencing anger and confusion. He told students that Kirk deeply understood the dangers of a generation losing hope and that Kirk devoted his life to supplying hope to this lost group.

“He saw the youth of this nation full of passion, potential, but weighed down by hopelessness for the future,” McCoy said. “Across the United States, Charlie spoke truth and brought hope to countless students on hundreds of college campuses. He challenged our views, stretched our convictions, and reminded us that our voice matters. He encouraged us to have hope and courage to fight for our future and the future of our nation, and to give our lives to Jesus. He gave himself so selflessly and so fully to the endeavor, even unto death.”

McCoy reminded students of the unique relationship between hope and courage, something Kirk deeply understood.

“Courage is hope in action. Hope sees the world as it could be — a dream. Courage steps into the fire to make that dream a reality,” McCoy said. “Without hope, courage becomes reckless. Without courage, hope remains but only a dream.”

“Don’t give way to hopelessness,” he added. “Without hope, courage becomes reckless. Charlie was murdered because bitterness, lies, anger, and hopelessness resolved to recklessness.”

McCoy drew from Romans 5:3-5 and concluded by telling students to develop character and hope from perseverance.

“Friends, anything committed to God first is never lost. To everyone here today, realize, like Charlie, there is only one type of hope where dying becomes a gain. There is no loss for the Christian. … Be like Charlie. Be like Jesus. Be a servant and ask yourself: what can I do to help someone today? What can I do to add value to the world today? How can I honor God today?”

Following Convocation, McCoy made an appearance on the Standing for Freedom Center’s Give Me Liberty podcast, where he discussed the state of Virginia’s current political races, Charlie Kirk’s legacy, and the ongoing challenges facing Gen Z. The episode can be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and anywhere podcasts are streamed.

“Six weeks ago, Charlie was struck down, but he was not destroyed,” McCoy said. “Because of where he put his heart, Charlie Kirk lives. Charlie would remind all of us to be what he called ‘happy warriors.’ His success was always measured by his obedience to stand for truth and to do what was right. He would give his all, and then he would leave the rest to God.”

McCoy will be speaking at the Freedom Uncensored summit on Friday evening.