Finding God’s Plan Through Adversity — Startup Church + Honoring Charlie Kirk

Last Thursday at Startup Church, founders from around the world gathered to wrestle with three truths that cut to the core of life and purpose.

1. Purpose Shows Up in Adversity

We talked about how discovering God’s purpose often begins when life doesn’t go as planned.

• The setbacks who’ve had their dreams shattered.

• The realists who played it safe, now wondering if they’ve missed their chance.

• The serial losers who feel like everything they touch fails.

• The successful who seem to have it all, yet still feel empty.

It’s in those seasons of brokenness and frustration that people start asking bigger questions — and that’s when God often reveals His plan.

2. Fear, Doubt & Worry: Dress Rehearsals for Failure

We also confronted the truth that fear, doubt, and worry aren’t harmless. Left unchecked, they’re rehearsals for failure. Learning to extinguish them is part of stepping into your calling.

3. Real Faith Changes Everything

Finally, we unpacked what real faith looks like — not just believing in God, but using faith as the fuel to step into His plan with boldness.

A Tribute to Charlie Kirk

This past week, we also mourned the loss of Charlie Kirk (1993–2025) — disciple, father, movement maker, and martyr.

Stephen was stoned. Charlie was shot.
Different centuries, same story.
Men full of faith and the Holy Spirit.

Men who preached truth the elites couldn’t silence — so they killed them.

But Stephen forgave. Charlie forgave. Both left vengeance to God.

“Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” (Acts 7:60)

“Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19)

Charlie finished his race. His legacy cannot be erased. And yet — notice who’s silent. The same leaders who preach “tolerance,” the influencers chasing clout, the woke pastors who would’ve ignored Bonhoeffer.

Jesus didn’t compromise with evil. He didn’t “go along to get along.” He came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). And He told us truth divides (Luke 12:51).

That division is happening again, right now.

The biblical reality:

• There are children of God.

• There are children of Satan (1 John 3:10, John 8:44).

Some possessed. Many oppressed. All blinded. Unless they repent, they’ll share Satan’s fate.

But no weapon formed against God’s people will prosper (Isaiah 54:17). And when a believer is killed by evil, we don’t die. Our address just changes.

Charlie, you finished your race. We’ll run ours with fire.

If you missed last week’s Startup Church, don’t miss the replay.

This message may be exactly what you need in this season.

See you next week,

Gerald