CHARLIE KIRK VIGIL: Voices from the Square share bold testimony: Profiles and standout quotes from pastors, students, and leaders who carried Kirk’s message forward.

COOKEVILLE — The vigil held Sunday on the Putnam County Courthouse Square brought together more than a thousand people and a slate of speakers whose words stirred, comforted, and challenged the community. Beyond the quotes and prayers, each speaker brought a story, a background, and a perspective that shaped the event into a defining moment.

Here’s a closer look at the leaders, students, and pastors who stood at the microphone to honor Charlie Kirk’s legacy.

AJ Donadio (MC, Tennessee Tech TP-USA Faculty Adviser)

AJ Donadio, a retired U.S. Navy Lieutenant Commander in the Nurse Corps, served 24 years on active duty before transitioning into public service and education. Until recently, he represented District 5 on the Putnam County Commission, where he was recognized for his collaborative, solutions-driven approach. Donadio holds a Doctor of Nursing Practice in Executive Nurse Leadership from Union University and advanced degrees in nursing education and leadership. He serves as faculty adviser for Turning Point USA at Tennessee Tech, sits on the Blood Assurance board in Cookeville, and is active in local veterans’ organizations. His blend of military discipline, civic involvement, and mentorship made him a steady guide for the vigil.

Pastor Steve Tiebout has served as the senior pastor of The River Community Church in Cookeville for more than 20 years, leading a congregation known for its commitment to outreach, discipleship, and community impact. Under his leadership, the church has grown from a small gathering into a multi-service ministry, with a reputation for meeting practical needs while also fostering spiritual growth.

Tiebout is a frequent voice at local civic gatherings, known for weaving scripture and personal stories into calls for unity and revival. At the vigil, he reminded attendees that Kirk’s courage and boldness should inspire believers to move beyond “comfortable Christianity” and into active, visible faith. He prayed for Charlie Kirk’s family and challenged the crowd to hunger for a spiritual awakening that would shape the future of families, churches, and communities.

As a father and husband, Tiebout often draws on his personal experiences to connect with his congregation and community. His ministry has consistently emphasized that faith is not just something for Sunday mornings but a way of life that shapes values, relationships, and public witness. His presence at the vigil underscored his long-standing role as both a spiritual leader and a unifying voice for Cookeville.

Rep. John Rose (U.S. Congressman, TN-6, Gubernatorial Candidate)

Congressman John Rose represents Tennessee’s 6th Congressional District, which includes Cookeville, and is currently a candidate for governor. A Cookeville native, Rose is both a businessman and farmer, known for his deep ties to Tennessee’s agricultural community and his advocacy for conservative values in Washington.

Rose earned a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness economics from Tennessee Tech, a law degree from Vanderbilt University, and a master’s degree in agricultural economics from Purdue University. Before serving in Congress, he managed his family farm in Lancaster, Tennessee, and built a reputation for supporting higher education, faith-driven leadership, and agricultural advancement.

At the vigil, Rose described Charlie Kirk as a “happy warrior” who lived with both faith and conviction. He emphasized Kirk’s grounding in Scripture and the U.S. Constitution, saying that Kirk “chose to be hot for his Savior and hot for his country,” echoing Christ’s call in Revelation 3 to live with passion rather than lukewarm faith. Rose reminded the audience that Kirk saw the Constitution as a God-given safeguard of liberty, and he drew connections to former President Donald Trump’s visit to the Museum of the Bible, suggesting that national leaders are awakening to the importance of grounding America’s future in faith.

Rose’s words underscored his belief that Kirk’s example should serve as a catalyst for revival—both spiritual and civic—throughout Tennessee and beyond.

Vice Mayor Luke Eldridge (Cookeville / Youth Pastor)

Luke Eldridge serves as Cookeville’s vice mayor and has long been involved in youth ministry, giving him a unique platform to reach both civic and faith communities. Known for his approachable style and focus on mentorship, Eldridge has built a reputation as a leader who invests in the next generation.

He is a graduate of Tennessee Tech and a local pastor who frequently encourages students and young adults to live boldly for their faith. His dual role as both vice mayor and youth pastor has allowed him to bridge the gap between civic responsibility and spiritual leadership. Eldridge is also active in community outreach, often volunteering for local events, initiatives, and student-focused programs.

At the vigil, Eldridge called Charlie Kirk a “warrior of truth” and a steadfast defender of the principles that make America great. He pointed to Romans 1:16 — “I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes: first to the Jew, then to the Gentile” — as central to Kirk’s legacy. Eldridge urged attendees to let their testimonies be as bold as Kirk’s and reminded them of Isaiah 41:10: “Fear not, for I am with you; I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” His charge to students was clear: live with faith and courage, not just on Sundays but in everyday life.

Savannah Rosbury (Tennessee Tech Student, TP-USA Chapter Leader)

Savannah Rosbury is a student at Tennessee Tech University and an active member of The River Community Church. Earlier this year, she stepped into leadership to revive the university’s Turning Point USA chapter after it had gone dormant, showing determination to keep Charlie Kirk’s mission alive on campus. Her leadership quickly galvanized peers, drawing new members and encouraging students to live out their convictions boldly.

Rosbury’s connection to Charlie Kirk is deeply personal. In December 2024, she attended AmericaFest with her brother and boyfriend, where she met Kirk for the first time. She recalled his genuine kindness, saying he grinned when he saw her Tennessee Volunteers jersey and spoke with her as if she were already a colleague in the movement. “I balled my eyes out for 20 minutes afterward,” she told the crowd at the vigil, “because I realized I had just met my hero.” That encounter, she said, “reignited the fire” in her to lead at Tennessee Tech.

At the vigil, Rosbury emphasized that Kirk’s death was not the silencing of a voice but the unleashing of many more. “They thought by murdering Charlie they could silence him,” she declared tearfully, “but they unleashed millions of Charlies.” She credited Kirk with giving her courage to pursue politics openly as a Christian and conservative, even when afraid of judgment or opposition. She also asked the crowd to pray for Erika Kirk and the couple’s young children, reminding everyone that behind the movement was a devoted husband and father.

Emily Rich (Junior, Tennessee Tech University)

Emily Rich is a junior English major at Tennessee Tech who has become known among her peers for her outspoken Christian faith and passionate defense of conservative values. At the vigil, she delivered one of the most fiery and unscripted speeches of the day, speaking entirely from the heart and electrifying the crowd gathered around the Courthouse Square.

Raised in a city where she often felt her Christianity and conservatism were shamed, Rich admitted that her boldness was nearly silenced in high school. Listening to Charlie Kirk, she said, gave her the courage to stand unapologetically for her faith and convictions. “When I got the news,” she told the crowd, “it took the breath out of my lungs. But this time is now—and we are NOT GOING TO BACK DOWN.”

Rich’s speech centered on the theme that the cultural battle is no longer left versus right, but good versus evil. Quoting Ephesians 6, she urged students to “put on the armor of God, because these days are going to get dark.” She warned that the enemy is not one’s neighbor, family, or even political opponents, but Satan himself.  Her words drew a roar of approval from the crowd that filled the square and surrounding area.

Rich closed by reminding her generation that courage is not the absence of fear but the choice to act faithfully in spite of it. “I stand with Charlie Kirk. I stand with Erika Kirk and their family. And most importantly, I stand as a Christian before you in Jesus Christ.”

Havanna Davison (Tennessee Tech Student, TP-USA Member, Podcast Host)

Havanna Davison is one of the newest members of Tennessee Tech’s Turning Point USA chapter and is also actively involved with The Bend Church, where she helps lead and speak to her peers. She co-hosts Sacrificially Speaking, a podcast produced by The Bend that encourages listeners to live with faith-driven conviction.

At the vigil, Davison emphasized how Charlie Kirk’s life inspired her generation by showing that faith cannot be separated from bold action. “Charlie Kirk gave this generation a voice,” she said. “He spoke truth in a time where truth is too often silenced.” For Davison, Kirk’s mantra of “God, family, country” provided a simple but profound blueprint for living faithfully and courageously.

She testified that revival does not begin in Washington, in the courts, or on social media but in the hearts of believers who humble themselves before God. “Charlie understood that even in places like college campuses where prodigal living is celebrated, truth still has power,” she said. “That’s why voices like his are so dangerous to the enemy. They call us back to faith.”

Davison challenged attendees not to let Kirk’s legacy become just a memory but to treat it as a mission to be carried forward. Her words echoed his wife Erika’s call for believers to find a Bible-believing church and stay grounded in Scripture. “Put God first, fight for family, and refuse to give up on this great nation,” she urged.

Bronson Alford (“Bodittle,” TP-USA Content Creator)

Bronson Alford, better known to his large online following as “Bodittle,” is a Turning Point USA content creator and YouTuber recognized for his mix of humor, debate, and unapologetic faith. His videos, often filmed in the heat of political protests and campus debates, have earned him both a loyal conservative audience and frequent confrontation from ideological opponents. His resilience and boldness in those environments caught the attention of Charlie Kirk, who offered Alford the opportunity to join Turning Point as a content creator.

Alford’s story is deeply personal. He shared at the vigil that he had poured his own money into attending early conservative conferences, hoping to find a place where his voice mattered. When others overlooked him, Kirk saw his potential. “Charlie looked at my content and said, ‘This guy’s got something special,’” Alford recalled. “Charlie is the reason I’m here today.”

The vigil came at a particularly heavy moment for Alford, who had lost both his mother and Kirk in the same week. In response, he chose to honor them by marrying his fiancée, Madison, a decision he said reflected Kirk’s values of faith, family, and commitment. “Get married young, have a bunch of kids, but most importantly, follow Christ,” he told the crowd, echoing advice Kirk often gave to students.

Alford reminded attendees that Kirk’s dream was to see Turning Point USA chapters in every high school and college in America, and that carrying out this mission is now up to the movement’s next generation. His words blended gravity with conviction: He closed by leading the crowd in the chant, “Christ is King,” turning the square into a chorus of bold faith.

Timothy Olivarez (Young Adult Pastor, The Bend Church)
Timothy Olivarez serves as a young adult pastor at The Bend Church in Cookeville, where his ministry focuses on discipling college students and young professionals. Known for his passion for mentoring the next generation, Olivarez is a familiar voice to many young adults in the region who seek spiritual grounding as they navigate school, work, and early adulthood. His leadership at The Bend reflects a commitment to equipping believers to stand firm in faith and live with integrity in the public square.

At the vigil, Olivarez described Charlie Kirk as “a beacon of courage” whose influence extended far beyond politics. He emphasized that Kirk modeled boldness rooted in truth, reminding the crowd that courage is not the absence of fear but the resolve to do what is right, even when it costs everything. For Olivarez, Kirk’s legacy was both personal and generational: “If God could use fishermen, tax collectors, and outcasts, then He can use us. And He is going to use this next generation.”

Drawing on Romans 8:28, Olivarez reminded attendees that God works all things for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. He urged students and families alike not to leave the vigil in sorrow alone but in resolve to carry Kirk’s mission forward. “Stand with courage, speak truth boldly, never apologize for your faith,” he said. “The future belongs to those bold enough to fight for it and humble enough to glorify God in it.”

Olivarez’s message resonated as a commissioning, a passing of the torch from Kirk’s life to those gathered. His words underscored that Kirk’s impact was not merely political but eternal—igniting a spiritual fire in the hearts of those present.

The vigil ended with attendees lingering long after the program, sharing prayers, hugs, and memories. Many noted they could not recall another event where people stayed so long, unwilling to leave. The speakers, each in their own way, had struck a chord that turned grief into resolve.

Together, their stories reveal why the vigil was more than a gathering—it was a passing of the torch to the next generation of leaders, pastors, students, and voices inspired by Charlie Kirk.