CHARLIE KIRK VIGIL: Faith, courage, and community fill Courthouse Square: The complete story of prayers, Scripture, and extended reflections that marked a powerful day of remembrance.

The Cookeville Courthouse Square was overflowing on Sunday as families, students, and pastors gathered to remember Charlie Kirk. What began as a vigil became a moment of prayer, bold testimony, and resolve. This expanded story includes the full prayers, Bible verses, and extended quotes from each speaker, capturing the depth and detail of a day many said they will never forget.

COOKEVILLE — Sept. 14, 2025.
 On Sunday afternoon, the heart of Cookeville became a place of unity, prayer, and bold testimony as more than a thousand people filled the Putnam County Courthouse Square to honor the life and legacy of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.

Kirk, the founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot earlier this past week in Utah while addressing students during a campus event. The tragedy sent shockwaves across the country, stirring vigils in cities both large and small. In Cookeville, it brought together churches, students, and community leaders who credited Kirk with giving them courage to live out their faith publicly and without apology.

Attendance exceeded expectations, with Putnam County Clerk Wayne Nabors calling the turnout “phenomenal.” David Hunter, of Rockin the Rock and columnist for the Highlands Insider, estimated the crowd at 1,000–1,200. The Courthouse Square, often the backdrop for civic ceremonies, became a sea of families, college students, and church congregations, many carrying flags and Bibles. Some banners proclaimed “Jesus Is King,” while others expressed direct support for Charlie Kirk.

For those who could not attend in person, our sister channel Cookeville Now livestreamed the event, which had drawn 80,635 views and 9,113 interactions by press time. The stream allowed thousands more to join virtually, making the vigil a shared experience across the region and beyond.

The timing also mattered. Many in attendance remarked on the difference compared to the annual National Day of Prayer ceremony, usually held on a Thursday during the workday and typically drawing several hundred. Because this vigil fell on a Sunday afternoon, families and churches from across the region were free to attend. “It was encouraging to see so many churches and pastors represented, and to see this many lifting the name of Jesus,” one attendee shared.

The vigil was emceed by AJ Donadio, faculty adviser for Turning Point USA at Tennessee Tech, who opened the program by quoting Kirk: “If you believe in something, you need to have the courage to fight for those ideas.” Donadio reminded students present that Kirk’s message was clear: “You are not just the leaders of tomorrow—you are the change-makers of today.”

In reflecting on Charlie’s work, it is not hard to draw parallels to the enduring legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Both men, grounded deeply in Christian faith, fought tirelessly for their beliefs in their eras, and both men were martyred for those convictions. Like Dr. King, who inspired youth to march for equity and nonviolence, Charlie mobilized students on campuses nationwide to defend truth, liberty, and moral clarity.

“Today, we’re honored to hear from a group of our representatives, young people, and faith leaders who will share how Charlie’s work inspired them to act with purpose and conviction,” said event emcee AJ Donadio.

Before the program transitioned, Donadio extended a heartfelt thank you to the community partners who made the vigil possible: Roland Digital Media, Highlands Insider, and David and Caroline Hunter of Rockin the Rock for promotional support; The Bend Church for providing the sound system; and the Putnam County Sheriff’s Department and Cookeville Police Department for ensuring safety and security.

Pastor Steve Tiebout of The River Community Church followed with prayer and reflection, asking God to comfort Kirk’s wife, Erika, and their children. He also prayed that the tragedy would spark a renewed hunger for spiritual awakening. “We’re not okay with comfortable Christianity anymore,” Tiebout said. “This moment calls us to boldness.” He urged believers to let their faith move beyond Sunday morning pews and into daily living, calling it a time to recommit to Jesus as Lord. “We can’t play church anymore,” he said. “The world is desperate for truth, and truth has a name—it’s Jesus Christ.” He closed his prayer asking for revival to begin with young people, saying, “Lord, let what the enemy meant for evil be used for good in this generation.”

U.S. District 6 Congressman and gubernatorial candidate John Rose brought a message of faith and perspective, recalling Kirk as a remarkable man, a person of great purpose and intellect, a “happy warrior” grounded in both holy Scripture and the U.S. Constitution. Rose emphasized Kirk’s devotion to his Savior and his country, explaining that Kirk understood the words of Christ in Revelation 3:15–16, where Jesus warns against being lukewarm. “Charlie Kirk chose to be hot for his Savior and hot for his country,” Rose said. “He thought that was worth fighting for.” Rose also noted former President Donald Trump’s recent visit to the Museum of the Bible, saying he believed Trump had experienced an awakening to put renewed trust in Jesus Christ and to recognize the importance of faith in the life of the nation.

Cookeville Vice Mayor Luke Eldridge, also a youth pastor, urged students to carry on Kirk’s courage with clarity. He described Kirk as a “warrior of truth” and a steadfast defender of the principles that make the country great. “He didn’t just speak to young people—he called them to lead,” Eldridge said. He spoke of two areas of Kirk’s legacy: faith and courage. Quoting Romans 1:16, he reminded listeners, “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.” Eldridge continued: “His faith was not just an add-on. It shaped his worldview, his ethics, and his public life. Do people know you are a Christian? Let your testimony be that of Charlie’s.” He pointed to Isaiah 41:10 as a reminder that God’s people need not fear opposition: “Fear not, for I am with you. I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Eldridge concluded, “Disagreement isn’t the problem—disrespect is. Courage doesn’t always mean confrontation. It means clarity.”

If the vigil began with reflection from local leaders, it crescendoed with the voices of students whose lives had been directly shaped by Kirk’s work.

Savannah Rosbury, who rebuilt the TP-USA chapter at Tennessee Tech after a period of dormancy, spoke passionately about meeting Kirk at a national conference. Tearfully, she recalled his genuine kindness and encouragement and said that encounter “reignited the fire” for her to lead on campus. “They thought by murdering Charlie they could silence him,” she told the crowd. “But they unleashed millions of Charlies.” She added that Kirk gave her the courage to embrace her calling in politics, to speak truth even when it cost something, and to model her faith boldly. She asked those gathered to lift up Erika Kirk and the couple’s two young children in prayer. “Charlie prepared us for this moment, and we will make him proud,” she said.

Emily Rich, a junior English major at Tech, electrified the audience with a fiery unscripted speech. “Charlie Kirk was a martyr,” she began, before rallying the crowd with the declaration: “We will not be silenced. This is not left versus right. This is evil versus good.” With tears in her eyes, Rich testified to Kirk’s impact on her faith journey, saying his example gave her boldness to live for Christ in the face of opposition. “Courage is not the absence of fear, but the ability to move forward in spite of it,” she said. “Put on the armor of God, because these days are going to get dark. Read your Bible. Your enemy is not your neighbor—it is Satan. You have a voice. Use it.” Her passionate words reverberated through the crowd. Though everyone was already on their feet, the courthouse square erupted in cheers and applause. The entire front lawn, sidewalks, and streets surrounding the courthouse were filled shoulder to shoulder—families, students, and church groups standing together as one. Her message, echoing off the red brick walls beneath the words In God We Trust, was met not with polite acknowledgment, but with the roar of conviction from a community united.

Havanna Davison, one of the newest members of the TP-USA chapter and an active member of The Bend Church, said Kirk’s life served as a reminder of order and priorities. She pointed to his words “God, family, country” as a blueprint for living faithfully. “Revival doesn’t begin in Washington or on social media,” she said. “It begins with us—hearts humbled before God.” She urged her peers to continue the mission with courage, even when costly, and reminded them that salvation through Christ remains the heart of Kirk’s message.

YouTuber and TP-USA content creator Bronson Alford, better known to his online following as “Bodittle,” recounted how Kirk gave him an opportunity when no one else would. His words brought both laughter and conviction as he reminded the audience that Kirk’s mission is bigger than one man. “You can kill a man, but you can never kill a movement,” Alford said, before leading the chant, “Christ is King.” He encouraged students to start or join Turning Point chapters on their campuses, spoke candidly of personal loss—including both his mother and Kirk within the same week—and announced his recent marriage, which drew applause. “In our weakest moments, instead of turning to violence, we turn to God, and that’s what makes us so beautiful,” Alford said.

The service concluded with young adult pastor Timothy Olivarez of The Bend Church. He called Kirk not only a political voice but “a beacon of courage” who left a spiritual legacy. “Stand with courage, speak truth boldly, and never apologize for your faith,” Olivarez told the crowd. “The future belongs to those bold enough to fight for it and humble enough to glorify God in it.” He reminded the audience that Kirk’s influence was not just political but eternal: “His fire is now passed on to us. Charlie Kirk was more than a commentator—he was a man of God who believed he could ignite a generation, and he did.”

Before the final prayer, Donadio announced a tangible show of support: The Bend Church will donate $5,000 to the TP-USA Tennessee Tech chapter to help students continue Kirk’s mission on campus. The gift drew cheers from the audience, many of whom viewed the contribution as a symbolic passing of the torch from one generation to the next.

As the vigil closed out at the Courthouse Square, the crowd lingered. Some gathered in small groups, others connected with friends, and many shared their favorite Charlie Kirk memory. The vigil ended not in sorrow but in resolve—a collective sense that Charlie Kirk’s work would continue, carried by those inspired by his example.

Several attendees remarked that they could not recall another event where people stayed so long after the program concluded. For more than an hour, clusters of friends, families, and strangers gathered together, unwilling to leave. It was evident that people wanted community, and in that moment, they found it.

Donadio closed with a final reminder: “This is the turning point.”