SPECIAL: Do You Feel the World is Broken?

Written by Kayle Pelletier and Robert Falconer

Do you feel the world is broken? (We do) Do you feel the shadows deepen? (We do) Do you know that all the dark can't stop the light from getting through? (We do) Do you wish that we could see it all made new? (We do) — Andrew Peterson (Is He Worthy?)

When tragedy strikes, strangely, life seems to stop. Perhaps you have experienced it too? Though the world is still buzzing and fluttering, people hustling and bustling all around you, your personal world seems to hit the pause button as you process through shock, sorrow, horror, and anguish. The first time that happened to me, Kayle, was September 11, 2001. I was serving as an American missionary in Eastern Europe, and we had a conference in Budapest, Hungary. I remember being so excited to visit the Ikea store in Budapest because this was my one chance to buy nice home items—towels, sheets, lamps, etc.,—to make our apartment in Kosova feel like a home. I spent two hours carefully strolling up and down the aisles trying to find just the right items at the right budget. And whilst standing in the queue to pay, a lady in front of me told me that an airplanehad hit the Twin Towers. Suddenly, like a punch to the stomach, my senses went numb; life was actively in motion all around me, but I felt completely in another world. The pause button was hit and I remember looking at my shopping cart of goods thinking, “None of this stuff actually matters. In fact, I do not even want it anymore.”

On the other side of the world, in South Africa, Robert remembers that he was called downstairs in horror by his parents to see the breaking news on television. Just then I saw the second aircraft smash into the other tower. It felt surreal and yet apocalyptic!

This week for the second time in our lives, that pause button was hit during the recent tragedy that has taken place on September 10, 2025 in the USA, almost exactly 24 years later. A 31 year old conservative political voice, a devoted father of two, a loving husband, and committed Christian, Charlie Kirk, was assassinated. Like many before him, he saw a nation headed in the wrong direction, the moral compass skewed, the future trajectory dangerous. So, he took to the very battleground for the heart and soul of the next generation of our country—the American university. Universities have historically been prided as a place where ideas can be debated and opinions can be presented and argued. Certainly, that was Kayle’s experience in the 1990s, but now, as her niece notes, one whispers on campuses what they really think, often too afraid to speak up or challenge the ideological “norms” being pushed. 

Although many political voices before Charlie have also battled it out on university campuses, for Charlie, this wasn’t just politics. Charlie was driven by his deep and unashamed faith in Jesus Christ. Charlie understood this as his ministry and calling. He believed that he was called to confront the secular ideologies of our day, which don’t align with biblical truth and values. He prayed that God would use him for God’s very own purposes every time he visited a university and engaged with the youngsters.[1] He loved Jesus passionately, with courage and conviction. This passion drove Charlie to make Christ known, as he boldly pushed back against the lies and deception infesting many parts of Western culture, including American culture. He challenged the wisdom of the wise and the intelligence of the intelligent (1 Corinthians 1:19) with a clear and articulate explanation of the gospel message every chance he got. Charlie shared his platform with others, even those who strongly disagreed with him, by inviting them to open dialogue and debate. While his responses were marked by logical and precise reasoning, he always demonstrated calmness and respect, treating the other with the dignity of a fellow human being.

Unlike those of previous generations before him, Charlie lived in the age of social media, where his videos and social engagements had far greater reach among the generation he sought to reach, both in the United States of America and abroad. Surprisingly, his impact even reached many young people here in South Africa. Unbeknownst to me (Kayle), Charlie had in some way impacted my children’s lives and the lives of their friends.

Charlie’s mission would eventually cost him his very life. So, hearing of his public and tragic death was yet another punch to the stomach, where life once more seemed to move in slow motion. Late at night, both of us living miles apart, found ourselves struck with the terrible news of this political assassination attempt as we corresponded on our families’ What’s App group. Both our families scrolled through social media in the early hours of the morning, hoping to find updates on Charlie. Finally, we learned of his passing.

Whatever political views one holds, whether one agreed with Charlie’s opinions or not, one thing is clear—Charlie was undeniably our brother in Christ, and because of this, we mourn his loss.

Moments like this cause one to pause and to self-reflect, to think through the purpose, goals, and trajectory of one’s own life. Whilst doing so, a few things become clear:

1. We are in a spiritual battle of good and evil. Perhaps, other than 9/11, this has never been more obvious for our generation growing up in the 1980s-1990s. Although Satan often masquerades as an angel of light (2 Corinthians 11:14), there are times when he “overplays his hand”—the mask comes down, the cloak falls off—and we see evil showing its true colours. This is one of those moments when Satan’s masquerading disguise has slipped and we can see behind the mirage of his faux-light, when we are jolted awake from the hum-drum of life, the sleepy lullaby of culture that gradually makes us drowsy to the very real spiritual realities of good and evil all around us.

2. We must pick a side. We are not talking political sides; we are talking spiritual sides—light or darkness. Knowing our readership, many of us have chosen the light, but have we really? Or have we chosen the shadows, that place where the light fades into soft grey? Perhaps we need to ask ourselves, have we placed one foot in the light, only to keep the other foot in the “comfortable” shadows, letting others expose themselves as “radical,” outspoken Christians who courageously live as a counter-cultural witness. Now is the time to take stock of one’s own life and count the cost of truly following Jesus.

3. The demonic rejoices when light is snuffed out. We might feel unsettled by those who cheer during tragedy and mock during a season of mourning, just like they mocked the crucified Christ on Good Friday. But, instead of feeling unsettled and discouraged, we and our families feel strangely motivated and encouraged to live in a way that when we die, there too will be the odd paradox of demons rejoicing, but Christ Jesus proclaiming, “Well done my good and faithful servant” (See Matthew 25:23; Revelation 2:10). We want to know that our lives counted for Jesus, that our witness made an eternal difference for many, that our sacrifices impacted others, and that the kingdom of darkness is weaker because we gave Jesus our all.

It is our prayer that you too will join this spiritual battle and commit both feet to be placed firmly in the light of Christ, joining the Church Militant, living members of Christ’s Body, as we continue to struggle against sin, the flesh, the devil, and the brokenness of the world. So that one day, we will join our fellow saints in heaven, the victorious in Christ, the Church Triumphant!

Do you feel the world is broken? (Undoubtedly!)

Do you feel the shadows deepen? (Certainly!)

Do you know that all the dark can't stop the light from getting through? (Absolutely!)

Do you wish that we could see it all made new? (Anxiously awaiting!)

Public domain Image of Charlie Kirk by Gage Skidmore, licensed via Creative Commons. Image cropped.

[1] CatholicVote Video on Facebook. Posted September 10, 2025.  https://www.facebook.com/share/r/1EiGiFoxGd/