Pastor David Herndon points out a desire like Charlie Kirk’s to converse with others creates an important and necessary dialogue.
TYLER, Texas — East Texans are still grappling with the recent murder of Charlie Kirk, who was killed Sept. 10 at Utah Valley University.
Kirk had established himself as a rising star among Republicans, never afraid to defend his conservative beliefs or his Christian faith.
He frequently engaged in conversations with those who had differing beliefs, too. Kirk would do this during frequent trips to universities across the United States.
“He answered their questions and he respected them,” Bob Meredith, a member of Tyler’s Sylvania Church, said.
David Herndon serves as the lead pastor at Tyler’s Church of Living Hope. Like Meredith, he also admired Kirk’s faith.
“He knew he believed in Jesus Christ and that really fueled the rest of his mission and the rest of his vision,” Herndon said.
Kirk co-founded Turning Point USA in 2012, an organization promoting conservatism on college and high school campuses across the country. Meredith is hopeful the people impacted by Kirk will continue to engage in conversations with those who hold views in opposition to their own.
“Engage with them, talk to them, talk about your differences,” Meredith said. “Talk about how you can come together.”
Herndon points out a desire like Kirk’s to converse with others creates an important and necessary dialogue.
“When you talk to somebody, even when you disagree with them, you ultimately challenge them, and they ultimately challenge you,” he said. “And that’s so important. It opens up your mind; It opens up your heart to be able to say, ‘Hey, well, I hadn’t thought about that. He may be right on something.’ Ultimately, any issue of life has complexity to it.”
A memorial service for Kirk is set for Sept. 21 at Arizona’s State Farm Stadium.
