Friends: Charlie Kirk was a political, cultural, and Christian voice for youth.  Here is how some kids I know reacted.  May we all sow hope, not despair. Blessings, Bob

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Spirituality Column #983

September 16, 2025

Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary

Turning Point

By Bob Walters

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” – Jesus, John 12:24

A typical early morning at Mission Christian Academy is a joyously chaotic affair.

The orderly car drop-off line at 8:15 that in 15 minutes delivers 500 students to the Fishers, Indiana, K-12 school for an 8:30 start produces approximately 15 minutes of high energy pandemonium in the gym where most of the middle and high school students congregate. Shouts, laughter, basketballs, volleyballs, and footballs echo and bounce throughout the former newspaper production plant. Homeroom begins at 8:30.

Last Thursday morning was different.

Through tears following the assassination of Charlie Kirk Wednesday afternoon, MCA administration called a Thursday morning prayer gathering of grades 6-12. At 8:30, the gym bleachers were packed with 300 silent teenagers.

Charlie died late Wednesday afternoon. What I didn’t know until discussion in Thursday’s ensuing classes was that virtually every student knew who Charlie Kirk was, knew of his ministry and faith, knew of his patriotism, and knew of his common-sense, cheerful worldview. The cesspool that is social media, ironically, over the years presented this beacon of hope and faith for our students to emulate … and now mourn.

Thursday was also 9/11, a day thankfully still revered and remembered.  But for these kids, those attacks were years before they were born.  It is the similar historical distance of my sixth grade year in 1965-66 going back to 1941’s Pearl Harbor attack 24 years earlier. Kirk’s death will be their Kennedy, King, and Kennedy memories.

What I sensed among the students at that prayer service, and then in class discussion throughout the day, wasn’t despair or fear.  While I was sad and angry, the kids, as well as they could understand, were focused and resolved in their faith.  They “got” that Christian life requires courage.  It is in the Bible, and here it was in life.

At the prayer service, MCA founder Shawn Moore and operations chief Jerry Ackerman spoke.  Before campus pastor Andy Waite closed in prayer, Shawn’s son Travis, a 2024 MCA grad who had pitched the convocation idea to his dad the night before, sang “Reckless Love of God” accompanying himself on an acoustic guitar.

Oh my.

With no amp or microphone, Travis’s music filled the gym. The previously silent students joined in, and led by a half-dozen junior boys down front who quickly rose to their feet, the entire student body was soon standing, singing loudly and worshipfully.  I was holding my wife’s hand, watching the kids, tears streaming down our faces. This was love; a Holy Spirit, kingdom moment. This was praise for and growth in Christ.

What a blessing to be a part of it.

What a blessing to see the budding fruit of the seeds that family, friends, pastors, MCA – and Charlie Kirk – planted.

Walters (rlwcom@aol.com) has endless thoughts on Kirk’s assassination, his evangelism, cultural and political acumen, and a profound appreciation for being close to these youth who exude faith, hope, and courage. Walters teaches history at MCA; his wife Pam, English. With her nearly 40 years in secondary education, Pam was floored at the silent respect the students showed.  And those juniors who quickly stood?  They comprise the classroom cadre who require vigorous seating charts spreading them apart from each other. On this day, they were leaders – a Christ-like gang for Jesus.