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Introduction by Erika Kirk
Good evening, everyone. I’m honored to open this series of conversations about the most important mission of our time: reviving the American family.
Charlie believed that if America was to endure, we had to return to God’s design for marriage, for parenting, and for home life. He would often tell me, ‘If I ever run for office, Erika, my top priority would be to revive the American family.’ That was not just a dream of his — it was a conviction he lived every single day, in our marriage, with our children, and in his ministry to young people across the nation.
Tonight, you’ll hear voices from different walks of life — thinkers, pastors, teachers, cultural leaders — all reflecting on how family is the foundation for everything else: education, economics, culture, and faith. This is more than a discussion. It’s a call to action.
Charlie’s deepest hope was that every American would see the beauty of God’s plan for family — that it is not a burden, but a blessing. And that through strong families, we can heal this nation and bring light to the world.
(Note: This is an imaginary conversation, a creative exploration of an idea, and not a real speech or event)
Topic 1: Strengthening Marriage & Parenting
Timothy Keller (Moderator):
When we speak about renewing a nation, we often turn first to politics or economics. But the Scriptures remind us that God begins with the household. So let me ask: why do you believe marriage and parenting are at the very heart of national renewal?
Jordan Peterson:
Because marriage and family are the archetypal order out of which all other order flows. A stable marriage tames chaos, gives meaning, and produces children who can flourish. Without that, society devolves into instability.
Charlie Kirk:
I agree, Jordan. I told Erika many times — if I ever ran for office, my top priority would be reviving the American family. When men and women covenant before God, they don’t just strengthen their own home — they strengthen the nation.
Erika Kirk:
For Charlie, that wasn’t theory. Every day he asked me, “How can I be a better husband and father?” That kind of humility transforms a home. He believed family was God’s most joyful design — not a burden, but heaven on earth.
Dr. James Dobson:
And research supports it. Families that stay intact produce healthier children, stronger communities, and lower crime rates. When marriages fail, the fallout spreads everywhere. Protecting and strengthening marriage is not optional — it’s essential.
Shaunti Feldhahn:
And the truth is, marriage works better than culture admits. My studies show most couples who stick it out are deeply happy. We must replace the myth of misery with the truth: family life, though hard, is profoundly rewarding.
Timothy Keller:
That leads me to my second question. Families today face immense pressures — cultural, economic, spiritual. What steps can a nation take to truly support families in flourishing?
Erika Kirk:
We need to honor family again. Celebrate marriage, encourage young couples, and surround parents with community support. Churches, mentors, and neighbors all have a part to play.
Shaunti Feldhahn:
And policy matters. Tax benefits, parental leave, and affordable childcare all tell families, “You matter.” When we align culture and economics around family, we give it room to thrive.
Charlie Kirk:
I’d push to reform the tax code so marriage and children are rewarded, not penalized. And we must call men back into their roles as fathers. No government program can replace a dad in the home.
Dr. James Dobson:
I’d add that leaders must speak truth. Children need a mother and father. That’s not bigotry, it’s biology and God’s design. Silence on this issue has already cost us dearly.
Jordan Peterson:
Ultimately, parents must take responsibility. Institutions can help, but bearing the burden of raising children — and embracing that weight as meaningful — is what makes life worth living.
Timothy Keller:
One last question, then. The next generation is often told marriage is risky, children are a burden, and family can wait indefinitely. How do we inspire them to choose marriage and parenting anyway?
Charlie Kirk:
By showing them the joy. Young people need to see family life as the great adventure of building something eternal. If we model it, they’ll desire it.
Jordan Peterson:
We must tell them the truth: a life without responsibility is empty. The highest responsibility — marriage and children — is also the deepest source of meaning.
Erika Kirk:
I’d tell them what Charlie lived: family is where heaven touches earth. It’s love multiplied. It’s not perfect, but it’s beautiful beyond words.
Shaunti Feldhahn:
And the data backs it. Couples and families who commit to one another experience higher happiness and stability than those who don’t. That hope needs to be told loudly.
Dr. James Dobson:
Above all, we must remind them that family is God’s gift. It’s not merely about personal fulfillment, but about obedience to His design. And in obeying, we find joy.
Timothy Keller (Moderator):
Thank you. What I hear tonight is that strengthening marriage and parenting is not only good sociology, it is the very heartbeat of God’s design. And if we are to see renewal in America, it must begin in the home.
Topic 2: Education Rooted in Family Values
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Topic 2: Education Rooted in Family Values
Moderator: Betsy DeVos
We’ve seen the struggles in education. Parents feel unheard, and schools often promote values that conflict with the home. Let me ask — why must education be rooted in family values if we want the next generation to thrive?
Charlie Kirk:
Because education without family values creates young people cut adrift. Schools should reinforce what parents teach at home, not replace it. If we want citizens who love this country, honor marriage, and seek truth, education must align with family.
Dennis Prager:
That’s been my message for decades. Children should learn that there is objective morality, that freedom requires virtue. If the family teaches one thing and the school teaches the opposite, society fractures.
Abigail Shrier:
And that’s exactly what we’re seeing now. Kids are taught to distrust their parents, to question their own identity, and to believe family is oppressive. Education must return to respecting parental authority and teaching resilience.
Voddie Baucham:
Amen. Parents are God’s first educators. Deuteronomy 6 commands parents to teach their children at home. Schools should be an extension of that, not a replacement. If we leave God and family out of education, we leave truth out.
Jordan Peterson:
And psychologically, children thrive when they have consistent moral frameworks. If school contradicts home, children are left in chaos. Stability comes when both point to the same truth.
Betsy DeVos (Moderator):
If you could redesign education today, what concrete changes would ensure it reflects and supports family values?
Abigail Shrier:
First, transparency. Parents should know exactly what’s being taught, no secrets. That builds trust.
Charlie Kirk:
Second, universal school choice. If your school undermines your values, you should be able to take your tax dollars and find a better one.
Dennis Prager:
Third, curriculum reform. Students must learn the basics — reading, math, history — but also moral clarity. Teach about marriage, family, and civic duty, not just technical skills.
Voddie Baucham:
Fourth, empower homeschooling. Families who want to teach their children directly should be supported, not punished.
Jordan Peterson:
And fifth, discipline and order. Children need to learn respect, responsibility, and the weight of truth. A school system without discipline cannot produce healthy adults.
Betsy DeVos (Moderator):
And finally, how do we persuade young people themselves that education grounded in family values is for their good, not their oppression?
Dennis Prager:
By showing them freedom without virtue leads to chaos. Family values protect their liberty, they don’t take it away.
Jordan Peterson:
By demonstrating meaning. When children learn their lives have purpose — grounded in responsibility and family — they become hopeful rather than nihilistic.
Charlie Kirk:
By modeling joy. Young people are inspired when they see that faith and family lead to flourishing. They’ll want it for themselves.
Abigail Shrier:
By telling the truth plainly. Lies enslave, but truth liberates. Kids sense authenticity when we speak it.
Voddie Baucham:
And by living it. If parents and teachers embody what they teach, the next generation will follow.
Topic 3: Economic Security for Families
Moderator: Arthur Brooks
Families say the same thing across America: it’s too expensive to marry, to buy a home, to raise kids. So let me ask — what is the connection between economic policy and family strength?
J.D. Vance:
It’s direct. If a young couple can’t afford a house, can’t afford children, they’ll delay or give up. Policy has to prioritize making family affordable again.
Charlie Kirk:
Exactly. The tax code should reward family, not punish it. I’d push for a Family Formation Bonus so newlyweds can actually start their lives with stability.
Dave Ramsey:
And let’s be honest — debt is crushing families. We’ve normalized borrowing for everything. We need to teach financial discipline, yes, but also stop punishing families with a broken system.
Josh Hawley:
Work-life balance matters too. Parents shouldn’t have to choose between feeding their kids and spending time with them. We need pro-family labor policies that restore dignity to work and respect for family time.
Arthur Brooks:
And research shows families are the number one predictor of happiness. If we want thriving citizens, economics must serve the family, not the other way around.
Arthur Brooks (Moderator):
If you had the power tomorrow, what practical steps would you implement to make economic security real for families?
Dave Ramsey:
Increase child tax credits, lower taxes on married couples, and encourage debt-free living through education.
Charlie Kirk:
Offer zero down-payment loans for married couples buying their first home. Help families build equity instead of being trapped in renting.
J.D. Vance:
Invest in small towns and working-class communities where families are rooted. Stop policies that drain life into big cities alone.
Josh Hawley:
Create workplace incentives for family flexibility — remote options, parental leave, and support for mothers who choose to stay home.
Arthur Brooks:
And measure economic policy not by GDP alone, but by family stability. That’s the true index of national strength.
Arthur Brooks (Moderator):
Last question. How do we shift the culture so young people don’t see family as a financial liability, but as their greatest investment?
Charlie Kirk:
We tell them family is the adventure that makes sacrifice worth it. You can live for yourself, but you’ll be empty. Family is where legacy begins.
J.D. Vance:
Show them real examples. When young people see healthy families living with joy, they’ll want it too.
Dave Ramsey:
Teach them stewardship. Money is a tool, not the goal. Family gives money its meaning.
Josh Hawley:
Elevate parents as heroes. Right now, we celebrate billionaires but not mothers and fathers. That must change.
Arthur Brooks:
And we speak hope. Family isn’t a cost — it’s a dividend of love that compounds for generations.
Topic 4: Cultural Renewal
Moderator: Ross Douthat
Culture often shapes how we see family even more than politics. From Hollywood to TikTok, messages about marriage and parenthood are confused at best, destructive at worst. Why must cultural renewal be part of strengthening families?
Charlie Kirk:
Because culture teaches faster than policy. If our movies, music, and media mock marriage, the next generation will too. We must create culture that celebrates family as beautiful and good.
Ben Shapiro:
Culture is upstream of politics. If family is degraded in pop culture, no law can fix it. Families must be defended not just in Congress, but in Hollywood.
Candace Owens:
And we have to be bold. The left has captured the culture because they weren’t afraid to speak loudly. We can’t whisper family values anymore. We must make them trend.
Kirk Cameron:
Exactly. We need stories that inspire — films, TV, and art that show families thriving. When people see love, sacrifice, and joy modeled on screen, they aspire to it.
Ross Douthat:
And historically, cultural collapse always precedes civilizational decline. If family culture falls, the nation follows.
Ross Douthat (Moderator):
So how do we practically shift a culture that seems determined to undermine family life?
Kirk Cameron:
We create alternative media. Christian filmmakers, family-friendly networks, grassroots creators — they must flood the zone with truth and beauty.
Charlie Kirk:
We celebrate family publicly. National Family Day, awards for strong families, visible recognition. Make it honorable again.
Candace Owens:
We must also call out lies. Stop glamorizing brokenness as freedom. Broken families bring pain, not empowerment.
Ben Shapiro:
And we need to teach young people logic and reason so they see through cultural propaganda. Truth, delivered with clarity, beats slogans every time.
Ross Douthat:
And we must model renewal in our own homes. Culture changes when people see families in their neighborhoods thriving against the odds.
Ross Douthat (Moderator):
Finally, if you could speak directly to the young creators shaping tomorrow’s culture, what would you tell them?
Candace Owens:
Don’t be afraid. Speak truth about family. People are hungry for it.
Ben Shapiro:
Facts matter, but so does beauty. Tell stories that move hearts, not just win debates.
Charlie Kirk:
Be bold. Family is the greatest cause worth fighting for. Don’t just critique culture — create it.
Kirk Cameron:
Use art to show love in action. Let beauty draw people back to God’s design.
Ross Douthat:
And remember, culture is contagious. One family-centered song, film, or trend can ripple across the world. Be that spark.
Topic 5: Faith as the Foundation
Timothy Keller (Moderator):
We’ve spoken of economics, culture, and education, but all of you would agree those pillars rest on something deeper: faith. Let me ask — why must faith be at the foundation if families, and ultimately nations, are to endure?
Rev. Sun Myung Moon:
Because family is not a human invention; it is God’s blueprint. Husband and wife are meant to embody God’s love, and their children are meant to inherit it. Without God at the center, marriages collapse into selfishness. But when a family becomes a “true family,” centered on God, it becomes the seed of peace for the nation and the world.
Franklin Graham:
That’s exactly right. Our families can’t stand if they’re not built on Christ, the solid rock. We live in a culture that treats faith as optional, but it’s essential. The family altar, prayer at the dinner table, bringing children to church — those are not old traditions; they are survival.
Alveda King:
Amen. The civil rights movement I lived through was born from faith-filled families. Faith gave us hope, dignity, and unity. Families rooted in God become unshakable, even when the storms of injustice or sin rage against them.
Eric Metaxas:
History proves this, too. Cultures that abandon faith eventually abandon family. But where revival breaks out — in homes, in churches — society regains its moral compass. Faith is not just personal; it’s societal glue.
Charlie Kirk:
And practically, this is why I said the battle is spiritual above all. Politics matters, yes, but politics follows culture, and culture follows faith. If we want America to rise again, we must return to the truth that God is the author of marriage and family.
Timothy Keller:
So let me take this further. If the family is spiritual at its root, what specific practices can re-anchor families in faith today?
Franklin Graham:
Prayer. Families need to pray together. We need Bibles open in our homes. If we don’t pass on the Word of God to our children, the world will pass on lies instead.
Rev. Sun Myung Moon:
We must restore the holy covenant of marriage. That is why I blessed millions of couples — to help them dedicate their families to God. A family that pledges fidelity, purity, and love under Heaven can withstand any trial. This practice must spread across all nations.
Charlie Kirk:
I’d add: pastors must call young people into the joy of family life. Don’t just warn against sin — paint the vision of God’s plan for marriage as glorious. That’s what Erika and I tried to live.
Eric Metaxas:
Yes, and we must fight cultural cynicism. Too many young people are told marriage is misery. The truth is the opposite — it’s a gift. Faith can help reframe marriage as holy joy instead of a burden.
Alveda King:
And let’s not forget service. Families who serve together in their communities and churches not only grow in faith but also teach children that love is action.
Timothy Keller:
One last question. If America, and even the world, were to take seriously this idea of God-centered families, what kind of transformation would you envision?
Rev. Sun Myung Moon:
A world where war and division end. Why? Because if all men and women see each other as brothers and sisters under God, there is no room for hate. When families reflect God’s love, they create societies of peace. This was my life’s mission: “One Family Under God.”
Charlie Kirk:
That vision fires me up. Imagine millions of young Americans choosing faith, marriage, children — not cynicism or despair. That would renew not just the family, but America itself.
Franklin Graham:
It would mean revival. A nation where parents pass faith to children, and children grow up secure in Christ, would be unstoppable.
Eric Metaxas:
And it would restore purpose. Families anchored in faith don’t drift — they build civilizations.
Alveda King:
It would look like Heaven breaking into earth. God-centered families are the first church, the first school, the first nation. And when those thrive, the Kingdom of God expands in real time.
Timothy Keller (Moderator):
What I’ve heard tonight is that politics alone cannot save us. It is God, working through families, that will heal nations. A God-centered family is not just a private blessing — it’s the seed of a redeemed world.
Final Thoughts byErika Kirk
Listening to these conversations, I can’t help but think of Charlie’s daily prayer: ‘Lord, make me a better husband, a better father, a better servant.’ He believed that when we strengthen the family, we strengthen everything — our churches, our schools, our communities, and our country.
You’ve heard it here tonight: marriage and parenting are not outdated — they are the very heartbeat of renewal. Education must honor family, not replace it. Economics must support family, not burden it. Culture must celebrate family, not mock it. And faith must be the foundation that keeps family unshakable through every storm.
Charlie used to say his favorite word was earn. He would remind us that we must earn the future America deserves. That starts in our homes. If we choose to live with faith, love, and commitment, our families will light the way for generations to come.
And so, I leave you with Charlie’s conviction, which I now carry as my own: the movement to revive the American family will not die. It will grow stronger, bolder, louder, and brighter than ever. May our homes be places where heaven touches earth. May our families be God’s instruments of renewal. And may we together, as one people under God, make sure this legacy endures.
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