The spirit of revival was in abundance when the Cumberland County Republican Committee hosted a community event Tuesday evening to honor and remember conservative activist Charlie Kirk, pledging to carry forward his message and expand his movement in Maine.
Held at Calvary Chapel in Westbrook, the gathering drew students, grassroots organizers, pastors and political leaders from across the region. Organizers said the event was designed to build lasting relationships, support new Turning Point USA chapter leaders and provide resources and encouragement to grow what they described as Kirk’s vision of “Faith, Family, and Freedom.” The evening programming was moderated by Chris Teel, the vice chair of the Cumberland County Republican Committee.
Zak Asplin Mounter, president of Bowdoin College Conservatives, spoke about the importance of student leadership in shaping the conservative movement on campuses throughout New England. He recounted his arrival in the U.S. searching for First Amendment freedoms and being shocked at the lack of political diversity at Bowdoin College. Kirk’s videos, he said, gave him the courage to start a campus Republican chapter, which has since grown dramatically.
Mounter warned that the cultural decline he witnessed in Britain could happen in America if its core values — faith, history and freedom — are forgotten. He credited Kirk’s example with sparking new energy among students and called for courage and grace in spreading the message on college campuses.
“It’s easier to realize just how amazing America is when you’re not in it. I wish more young people realized that as well,” Mounter said.
Mounter also criticized Bowdoin College for canceling a planned vigil for Kirk, citing a “security threat” that turned out to be another student. He urged the audience to support students willing to speak up, pointing to rapid growth in college Republican chapters across Maine.
Pastor Travis Cary of Calvary Chapel spoke about the church’s founding during the 2020 lockdowns, when faith communities faced restrictions while other businesses remained open. He emphasized that their mission was not political but biblical, though the church was labeled “political” by some. He praised Charlie Kirk as a bold messenger who bridged faith and public discourse, calling him both a political voice and a gospel preacher who inspired believers to stand firm in their convictions.
“There really should not be a gap between politics and the church. That was never intended in our founding documents. The word of God is always to address culture,” Cary said. “Charlie Kirk was a preacher of the gospel. He knew his mission was to be a proclaimer of the gospel, and he did it with great eloquence and kindness.”
Peter Bernaiche and Morgan Redfield of the Southern Maine Community College Turning Point Club highlighted their efforts to recruit new members and give students a voice on campus. The club is the first accredited TPUSA chapter on a college campus in Maine.
Grace Mack, TPUSA Club America high school representative for chapters in Maine and New Hampshire, shared how Kirk’s legacy has fueled rapid growth in youth activism. She began her work with just two chapters in Maine and none in New Hampshire. She now counts 18 in Maine and 17 in New Hampshire.
Mack described Kirk as a powerful advocate for Gen Z — someone who believed in young conservatives when others dismissed them. She told the audience that Kirk’s assassination has galvanized a generation to carry the torch themselves — to speak up, build chapters and advance their values.
She urged attendees to get involved in supporting school chapters, calling the current moment a “revival” and a pivotal time to grow the movement.
“We are the ones who are going to take the torch, the mic that Charlie left for us, and we are the ones that are going to carry it forward forever,” Mack said.
Chuck Ellis, host of the “Muddy Waters” podcast and chair of the Cumberland County Republican Committee, shared personal reflections from attending Kirk’s memorial service in Arizona. He described the gathering as a reminder of the impact one person can have in energizing a movement.
Also in attendance were Bobby Charles and David Jones, both candidates for the Republican nomination for governor, who joined more than 100 attendees in what organizers described as a show of unity and momentum.
The event concluded with a singing of God Bless America and a prayer for revival in Maine and across the nation, honoring Kirk’s legacy and calling on local leaders and believers to take up the torch.
Committee members said the evening represents a “turning point” for conservative organizing in Maine, aiming to connect local chapters, encourage activism and inspire a new generation of leaders to advance Kirk’s legacy and expand the movement throughout the state.
