Faith, freedom and love of country rang throughout the Performing Arts Center (PAC) in preparation for Sarah Hope to talk about Turning Point USA’s (TPUSA) student movement.
Hope, the field representative for TPUSA’s Club America, was welcomed to Fannin County last Monday night, September 22.
State Representative Johnny Chastain began the evening by telling the 900 or so people in the PAC, “I have never seen what we’re seeing in this country right now.”
Chastain was referring to the unity of voices following the assassination of Charile Kirk, founder of TPUSA. Kirk poured his life into building a movement rooted in faith, freedom and love of country, believing America’s future depends on a generation who will never surrender.
“People are not ashamed. People are taking a stand all across the country,” Chastain said.
He talked of how watching the memorial for Kirk was “almost like being in church,” a feeling he also got from the Monday night crowd.
Chastain said a statement by Vice President JD Vance made the biggest impression on him from the memorial.
Vance told how that, after the murder of Kirk, he had talked more about his faith that he ever had before.
“God is moving,” Chastain said. “This is a battle of good versus evil.”
The state representative encouraged the crowd to do good and speak the truth. “Courage is a choice,” he said. “You have something in your soul, in your spirit, you’re supposed to be doing.”
“Kirk’s work will be magnified all over the world because of his death. Have the courage to do what you’re supposed to do,” Chastain said.
Anthony Walden, founder of Breaking Free Youth Ministries, told the youth gathered to hear Hope, “We’re depending on you because we’ve sure dropped the ball. America is in a mess,” he said, laying the blame on present day adults and previous generations.
He warned how “we have a generation desensitized to human life,” and the threats on America must be recognized.
“Our rights come from God,” Walden said, and warned, “We have been a religious nation, not a Christian nation.”
“Christians, it’s our fault, we have done nothing for the last four years,” Walden said.
But he assured the crowd, “God is still speaking. Are you hearing? Am I hearing?”
Walden called TPUSA, “A transforming movement...This is the Army of God taking back America. You must endure to the end.”
Hope then told of how TPUSA’s student program exists to educate young people about the importance of limited government, free markets and freedom. The goal is to teach them to “love our country and bring back patriotism,” she said. “It’s not political, it’s Biblical,” she continued.
Hope said now that “Charlie Kirk’s voice has been taken from us, I hope that we stand up so that we don’t have our voice taken from us again.”
She told students, “Club America will be led by you.” In turn, TPUSA promises to “give you the resources so you can use your skills for God and country.”