Charlie Kirk remembered by his pastor as 'hero' of faith after Utah assassination

For Pastor David Engelhardt Charlie Kirk wasn t just a national figure he was a friend disciple and man whose faith fueled his population mission and private life Charlie was a man of incredible strength His name Charlie Kirk means strong church and I dependably reported him Charlie you strengthen churches all over the country Engelhardt mentioned while paying tribute to the slain conservative activist on Thursday He wasn't shy about his faith He wasn't avoidant afraid that it would offend people That's why he's a hero because he was courageous and he wasn't demeaning to other people about their position but he was a strong man of faith OPINION CHARLIE KIRK DIED AS HE LIVED BOLD UNASHAMED AND ANCHORED IN FAITHThe two first met in during the height of the COVID- pandemic when Kirk challenged Engelhardt to reopen his church The pastor claimed his church became the first in New York to reopen its doors a step that he reported Kirk encouraged pastors nationwide to follow in defense of truth and freedom CHARLIE KIRK WAS PROUD CHAMPION OF CHRISTIANITY ON CAMPUSES NATIONWIDE 'I'M NOTHING WITHOUT JESUS'Now after the Turning Point USA co-founder's shocking assassination on a Utah college campus on Wednesday Engelhardt mourns with others in Kirk's close circle people who say he changed their lives and the lives of others for the better Heroes are hard to come by We don't have countless heroes these days and Charlie was a hero who was courageous He was a sacrificer he was a leader and he stood for truth That courage he added bore lasting results That is what produced I think in part such a beautiful fruit of Turning Point USA and the hundreds of thousands of young people that have been so deeply impacted by it Kirk's death saddened enraged and disturbed a great number of and has inspired a slew of tributes and messages of sympathy On Thursday afternoon leadership circulated photos of a person of interest who remains on the loose