Pastor Jack Hibbs, a close friend of Charlie Kirk, reflected on how “Charlie always shared the gospel of Jesus Christ” with anyone, no matter how much they disagreed with him.
Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk, 31, was assassinated on Wednesday at the first stop of his “American Comeback Tour” at Utah Valley University. The conservative firebrand and devout follower of Jesus Christ is survived by his wife Erika and his two young children.
Hibbs, who is the pastor of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills in Southern California, praised Kirk for his “faithful Christian witness” up until the time of his death.
“I have had the honor of knowing Charlie Kirk well and personally for many years now. I cannot express how incredibly proud I have been of his faithful Christian witness and the way he has honored the Lord Jesus Christ with his life. Charlie was known as an intellectual giant, a very compassionate young man, and one who was tirelessly devoted to this nation’s welfare and our glorious republic,” Hibbs said in a statement. “I am humbled and blessed to have played a small role in Charlie’s discipleship, and I know nothing was more important to Charlie than knowing Jesus Christ.”
“Whenever Charlie debated anyone, no matter how mean, ugly, or abusive they were to him, Charlie always shared the gospel of Jesus Christ, the doctrine of the Cross, and the Hope of eternal life for anyone who would turn to Him in faith,” he added.
“Charlie has now finished his race, his earthly course, and we celebrate his glorious graduation into the presence of Jesus Christ,” he continued. “It is now up to us to carry on the love, the defense and the courage that Charlie had in proclaiming Christ in America – his glowing vision that our nation would soon honor God and be great in His eyes by turning back to Him in all things.”
“We will see Charlie soon in the everlasting Kingdom of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Awaiting His Return, Pastor Jack Hibbs,” he said.
Hibbs told Fox News Digital that Kirk had “a love for the Bible” and said they “spent the last several years going through the Scriptures together.” Hibbs and Kirk have worked together over the last five years, appearing on each other’s podcasts and participating in church and culture events. Kirk spoke several times at Hibbs’ church on several pressing topics, including abortion, biblical prophecy, and gender identity.
Hibbs told the outlet Kirk’s assassination has made him an “American martyr” that will inspire a generation of “untold Charlies who will follow in his footsteps.” He said he spoke to Kirk just hours before the Utah event began, asking if his brother could attend.
“Charlie was so kind and generous to let this stranger have a front row seat,” Hibbs said. “And I know that that was Charlie loving on me by loving on my brother. And that’s just who he was, extremely, extremely generous.”
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“My brother sent me pictures of him and Charlie, standing together before the event started and everything looked great,” Hibbs said. “And then my brother called me immediately during the shooting, I could hear people screaming and running, and my brother was about 25 to 35 feet away from Charlie.”
Hibbs is encouraging those grieved by Kirk’s death to remember that his assassination is “not the end of Charlie” because of his faith in Jesus Christ.
“This just galvanized an entire generation of not only those who follow Charlie, but those who criticized him. They watched a young man lay down his life for his cause,” Hibbs said. “And I do believe that the result of today is going to backfire on anyone who had nefarious plots to silence Charlie.”