Brett James, the songwriter behind Carrie Underwood’s hit “Jesus Take the Wheel,” died at the age of 57 in a plane crash on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2025. Now, even more details have come out about this tragic event.

According to Fox News, the plane was owned by James, and two other people from this crash: James’ wife, Melody Carole Wilson and stepdaughter, Meryl Maxwell Wilson.

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The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) told Fox that James appeared to be the person piloting the plane.

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As Charisma Media previously reported, the plane crashed near Franklin, North Carolina in a field by  Iotla Valley Elementary School around 3 p.m. Brett James, whose legal name was Brett James Cornelius, was best known for some of country music’s most recognizable songs. This includes Carrie Underwood’s “Jesus Take the Wheel” and “When the Sun Goes Down” by Kenny Chesney. He also wrote songs played by Rascal Flatts, Dierks Bentley and Jason Aldean. Back in 2020, he was officially inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.

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During this time, let’s lift up Brett James’ family and friends who are mourning the loss, not only of his life, but of his wife and stepdaughter as well.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.

Could prophetic words about a rising “Esther” for America be coming to pass as we speak?

Back in March of 2011, the late Kim Clement prophesied that an “Esther” would come to the forefront of the United States, and she would help heal the land after a time of mourning. Not has Erika Kirk so far fit the physical description of what this Esther would look like, but her character and the timing of her rise to prominence is in alignment with this prophecy. Now, she is publicly being hailed as the modern-day Esther following the memorial service for her husband, Charlie Kirk.

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In a video shared by Fox News co-host and former White House Press Secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, McEnany publicly declared Erika to be the Esther for our generation.

“Erika Kirk, she is the Esther of our time. She was put in this position for such a time as this. You just met the Esther of the twenty-first century,” McEnany said.

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McEnany said that Kirk demonstrated herself to be like Esther through her acceptance and submission to God’s will for her life and for her public forgiveness of Tyler Robinson, the suspect responsible for her husband’s murder.

“I just want to say with Erika Kirk, it’s easy to say you’re a Christian. It is very easy to say that. She didn’t just say it. She lived it. There were two phrases, three words: ‘Thy will be done,’ she said. She just lost the father to her children, and she had the ability to say ‘thy will be done…’ and number two, ‘I forgive him.'”

Erika Kirk is the Esther of our time.

— Kayleigh McEnany (@kayleighmcenany) September 21, 2025

As McEnany pointed out, Erika Kirk’s words and poise acted as “…an embodiment of Christ’s love.”

Just as Esther was placed in a position of influence to bring healing and protection to her people, Erika’s public demonstration of grace, forgiveness and submission to God’s will positions her as a symbolic vessel for national restoration in a time of mourning. The timing of her emergence, following the tragedy of her husband’s death, further shows that God is orchestrating events to bring forth leaders and intercessors exactly “for such a time as this.”

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Erika’s example may serve as both a warning and an encouragement to the Church: God continues to move in the midst of tragedy, and He can raise up individuals to fulfill His purposes even when circumstances seem impossible. For believers watching these events unfold, the prophetic significance is clear—God’s hand is at work in appointing people to positions of influence for the healing and restoration of the land.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.

Erika Kirk, the widow of Charlie Kirk and the newly appointed CEO and Chair of the Board of Turning Point USA, says she will leave the fate of her husband’s killer up to the government.

In an interview with the New York Times, Kirk stated why she doesn’t want to be the one to make the decision as to whether or not the gunman who murdered her husband should receive the death penalty.

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“I’ve had some many people ask, ‘Do you feel anger toward this man? Like do you want to seek the death penalty?’ I’ll be honest. I told our lawyer, I want the government to decide this. I do not want that man’s blood on my ledger.”

Kirk said she does not want this to come between her eternal relationship with Jesus or to jeopardize her chances of seeing Charlie again in heaven.

“Because when I get to heaven, and Jesus is like, ‘Uh, eye for an eye? Is that how we do it?’ And that keeps me from being in heaven, from being with Charlie?”

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As Fox News reported, after Charlie Kirk was shot, the sheriff recommended that Erika not look at her husband’s body because of how mangled his neck had become. However, she said, “With all due respect, I want to see what they did to my husband.”

In the interview with the New York Times, Erika also explained that when she saw Charlie after he had been shot: “His eyes were semi-open…And he had this knowing, Mona Lisa-like half-smile. Like he’d died happy.”

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Continue to pray for the Kirk family during this time as they learn to navigate life without Charlie.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.

Prior to the United Nations General Assembly, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to send a clear message during his weekly cabinet meeting about the talks of a Palestinian statehood.

According to The Times of Israel, Netanyahu will address the world leaders and his “fight” against the creation of a Palestinian state, which he believes could, “endanger [Israel’s] existence.”

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“At the U.N., I will present the truth,” says Netanyahu. “This is Israel’s truth, but it is also the objective truth in our just struggle against the forces of evil, and our vision for real peace — peace through strength.”

Netanyahu further says that Israel “…will have to fight at the U.N. and in all other arenas against the false propaganda directed at us and the calls for the establishment of a Palestinian state — which would endanger our existence and constitute an absurd reward for terror.”

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After the meeting with the United Nations, Netanyahu plans to meet directly with President Trump.

From a prophetic perspective, Netanyahu’s strong stance against Palestinian statehood cannot be seen as mere politics—it echoes the ancient struggles foretold in Scripture. The Bible declares that in the last days, the nations of the earth will gather against Jerusalem (Zech. 12:2–3), and Israel will be at the center of global conflict.

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For Christians, these moments are not cause for fear but for steadfast faith, knowing that God’s Word is being fulfilled before our eyes. Now more than ever, we must watch, pray and be rooted in Scripture, for the signs point clearly to the soon return of our Lord.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.

Thousands packed the State Farm Stadium yesterday to honor the late Turning Point USA co-founder, Charlie Kirk. Among those who attended the event was revivalist and author, Isaiah Saldivar.

One of the most powerful moments of the event was when Erika Kirk publicly forgave her husband’s killer.

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“On the cross, our Savior said, ‘Father, forgive them for they not know what they do,” said Kirk. “That man. That young man. I forgive him.” Saldivar simply captioned the video of this statement as “True Christianity.” How accurate this is. Erika Kirk did the hardest thing that anyone could possible do: She forgave the person who stole the life of her very best friend.

Another moment that Saldivar highlighted from the service was Pete Hegseth’s speech where he acknowledged that what we see happening around us is much more than a political or cultural battle.

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“…This is not a political war,” Hegseth said. “It’s not even a cultural war. It’s a spiritual war. Faith and family first. There is a God, and as Charlie would say, it is not us. We’re sinners saved only by grace in need of the gospel.”

Hegseth described our greater need for God in every area of life, something that Charlie Kirk realized.

“Charlie had big plans. But God had even bigger plans.”

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Another highlight of the event was the three-hour-long worship that took place before any remarks were made. This includes how the holiness of God took over with Brandon Lake’s rendition of Angus Dei. Not only was God being displayed as real in this arena, but his glory was filling the space.

In the end, the Charlie Kirk memorial was far more than a gathering to mourn—it was a declaration of faith, forgiveness, and the eternal hope found in Christ. As Isaiah Saldivar rightly noted, this is “true Christianity”—a faith that forgives, a faith that worships and a faith that stands firm in the truth of God’s Word even in the darkest of times.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.

For years people have been intrigued with the idea that there really could be life on Mars. Recently, NASA’s Perseverance rover uncovered what is being dubbed as the “strongest evidence of Martian life.” Now, the potential of Martian life continues to be even more compelling.

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According to the Daily Mail, the rover has found multiple occurrences where flowing water used to exist, which could have sustained life forms. Scientists also noted that these minerals, “show a dynamic history of volcanic rocks altered by interactions with liquid water in the Jezero Crater.” This crater is believed to have been a home to livable environments on multiple occasions.

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The report continued to discuss how the water likely changed the rock formations into clay minerals and salts. The Daily Mail noted that there were three different periods of fluidity, one which was developed under high temperatures of acidic water, another which happened during moderate conditions and a third which occurred alongside lower temperatures marked by alkaline.

As Charisma Media previously reported, NASA found polka-dotted rocks which contained carbon molecules, a core piece for the life to exist. Study investigation author Joel Hurowitz had said that, “The sample contains what we believe to be a potential biosignature…origin.”

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While the idea of life on Mars may capture the imagination and spark intense discussion, as believers, our faith must remain firmly anchored in the truth of God’s Word. Some may use reports of extraterrestrial life to sow fear or confusion, attempting to lead people away from the certainty of God’s plan, but Christians are called to discern truth from deception, especially in these last days. We must remember that no matter what is uncovered on other planets, our relationship with Christ and the promises of God remain unshakable.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.

Ché Ahn, a longtime pastor and influential leader, recently shared with CBN how the late Charlie Kirk profoundly influenced his life and ministry, and what he hopes to see happen from his bid in the California governor’s race.

Meeting Kirk in 2020 at David Lane’s American Renewal Project conference, Ahn recalls being struck by the young leader’s wisdom and prophetic insight. “I was drawn to him immediately,” he said. Their connection deepened through ministry collaborations alongside of Pastor Jack Hibbs and multiple Turning Point conferences. One of these moments for Ahn led to a historic event where he had the opportunity to pray for President Donald Trump with other faith leaders.

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Reflecting on Kirk’s assassination, Ahn said, “Genesis 50:20 says what the enemy meant for evil, God’s going to turn around, use it for the good. … God is going to use Charlie Kirk to bring about the greatest revival. It’s already begun.”

He emphasized that plans to reach and disciple the next generation were already in motion before Kirk’s death, including a stadium event targeting Gen Z college students at USC, UCLA and UC Irvine. “Even if I don’t win,” Ahn said, “if I can reach these college students, get them saved and discipled, and for them to vote biblically, we hit every single campus, we have a whole new generation of leaders that could turn this state into a conservative state that would reflect kingdom biblical values.”

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Ahn also contrasted his campaign with the current California governor, Gavin Newsom, noting stark ideological differences. “Ideologically speaking, he’s extremely left. He’s woke. He’s very narcissistic. It’s all about him,” Ahn said. “For me, Jesus is my Lord … I want to lay down my life and serve all of California. It’s not about me. It’s all about Jesus and his kingdom.”

Central to Ahn’s platform is a commitment to righteousness and integrity in governance. He frames his campaign not as a conventional political race, but as a spiritual battle, citing Ephesians 6 and the reality of wrestling “against principalities and powers, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly places.”

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Ahn also touched on controversial state issues like abortion, criticizing California’s Proposition 1 and Assembly Bill 495 as attacks on parental rights and children. He noted the broader cultural and spiritual implications of these policies, linking them to his faith-driven vision for the state.

For Ahn, the ultimate goal is not merely political victory, but spiritual transformation in California. “It’s all about Jesus and His kingdom,” he concluded.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.

Reports of UFOs have become increasingly mainstream, but longtime researcher and author L.A. Marzulli believes what we are seeing is only the beginning of a prophetic unfolding he calls “the coming great deception.”

In a recent livestream with Charisma Media, Marzulli unpacked the growing evidence of unidentified aerial and submersible phenomena, the failures of human weaponry against these craft and how he believes this connects to biblical prophecy.

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Marzulli pointed to comments made by Rep. Tim Burchett about underwater phenomena, highlighting how some of these mysterious objects are operating beneath the oceans. Referencing Bob Lazar’s theories about gravity wave propulsion, Marzulli explained why these objects defy our understanding of physics. It’s a gravity wave, and the gravity wave is bending space, time as we know it, and moving the craft, which is why there’s no G-forces… it’s manipulating gravity so it can go any any direction,” says Marzulli.

He further states that because of this principle, “The craft is being pulled as it’s going underwater, because it’s bending space and time around, around the water, and that’s why they can do all the things that they can do.”

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Marzulli tied the phenomenon to his own research into historical anomalies, including his work on Catalina Island. “We found the Ralph Glidden photo. It shows a giant, at least nine feet tall, that was unearthed on Catalina in the 1920s,” he recalled. For him, discoveries like this connect modern sightings to ancient entities.

One of the most startling pieces of evidence for mysterious beings that Marzulli noted was regarding drone footage from Yemen. “That’s an MQ-9 reaper tracking the orb. They fire a Hellfire missile at it—you can see the explosion—and the orb just keeps going,” Marzulli explained. “This is our most sophisticated weaponry, and it had no effect.”

The conversation then turned to life on Mars. Marzulli said, “We don’t know what we’re looking I what I do know is this, that Jesus spoke everything into existence. He spoke it out, and he holds everything together… I believe we are this whole thing is ramping up to what I have labeled the coming great deception.”

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In light of these developments, Marzulli urges believers to remain spiritually discerning, recognizing that the surge in UFO and unexplained phenomena may be part of a larger prophetic narrative. While technology and human curiosity strive to uncover the unknown, he emphasizes that ultimate truth and authority rest in Jesus Christ, who governs all creation and history.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.

The tragic event of Charlie Kirk’s death has shaken the nation, bringing many to repentance. In a prophetic message by Amanda Grace, she points out that Kirk’s death has thrust the Church into a prophetic timeline mirroring the early Acts Church, which demands urgent intercession and boldness.

She points out that Acts 7–8 provides a blueprint for our times. Stephen boldly confronted a hostile environment and was martyred, triggering revival. Grace draws a parallel to recent events: “Stephen debated in a hostile environment…did what Charlie Kirk did, went into hostile environments of people that didn’t believe…to turn minds.”

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Just as Saul witnessed Stephen’s death before his transformation into Paul, Grace believes some modern-day leaders may be on the precipice of God’s transformative purpose. She emphasizes, “I would pray and intercede for Ben Shapiro…this is a Saul to Paul turn in this man’s life.”

Grace then looks at Acts 12 and how it highlights the church’s power in intercession. She believes that today, Vice President J.D. Vance, whose full name is James David Vance, may represent the Apostle James in our modern timeline as Pete Hegseth could mirror the Apostle Peter.

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Grace further discusses how the 2025–2027 window, numerologically echoing 9-1-1, aligns with spiritual and national shifts. She notes, “The death of Charlie Kirk triggered a prophetic biblical timeline…Charlie Kirk was Stephen. His death began a persecution of the church…which means the church is going to intensely grow in this time.”

Grace directs the Church to stand up in this moment with faith, boldness and the power of the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. “You cannot back off of your position. You cannot stop telling the truth. You cannot let up. You cannot stop speaking the Word of the Lord.” Spiritual attacks may seek to silence or scatter, yet persecution historically triggers church growth. “The Acts Church fiercely grew no matter what Herod did…this is the dividing line. This is the prophetic timeline.”

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By engaging in prayer and proclaiming truth, the Church can fulfill its God-given mandate: “Trampling is an act…we have been given power and authority from on high to trample upon serpents and scorpions and against all the power of the enemy…nothing shall by any means hurt us.”

The prophetic window is open, and the opportunity to influence history through faith is now.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.

On the Mount of Olives, overlooking the Temple Mount across the Kidron Valley, history and faith converge in a view that has captivated generations. This location, explored recently by Josh Wander and journalist Adam Eliayhu Berkowitz, is believed to be one of the ancient sites where the red heifer was sacrificed—a ritual of profound biblical significance.

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As Berkowitz notes, Israel’s current candidates for the red heifer sacrifice has taken center stage in recent news. According to Berkowitz, the location itself is considered essential. “That [Temple Mount] is the only place where the Jews are permitted to do the temple service, is to build an altar and to do it right there.” Berkowitz further states, “Even if we don’t build the third temple, we are required as we stand here right now, we have a biblical requirement to do the temple service.”

Wander further states that, “…it is not unusual to find mosques and churches placed on top of Jewish holy sites.” Wander says that the area they were exploring on the Mount of Olives was claimed by the Vatican. “But, we will see soon that there is a very deep Jewish ancient connection to this place.”

Whether Wander recognizes his statement or not, it is rather prophetic since the current site of where the Third Temple would be located is right where the Al-Aqsa Mosque stands. If more Jewish and Islamic sites were placed together, could we actually see peace in the Middle East?

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Exploring more of the Mount of Olives, the two uncovered burial caves where bodies were left to decompose for approximately a year, after which the bones were gathered into custom-made boxes. Some coffins even depict the temple, suggesting the deceased may have served as a temple priest.

The two also discussed how the Dome of the Rock corresponds to the Holy of Holies, while the Dome of the Chain marks the altar. Nearby arches once held the Doors of Nicanor, and a series of stairs allowed Levites to sing and play instruments leading to the women’s court. The east-to-west orientation reflects the careful design of Temple rituals and spaces.

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Today, the Mount of Olives site is more than a historical landmark; it is a tangible connection to sacred practices that have endured for millennia. From burial caves to precise architectural alignments, the location offers scholars, religious leaders and visitors alike a window into the religious life of the Second Temple period and perhaps just what we can prophetically anticipate in the coming days ahead of time.

Abby Trivett is a writer and editor for Charisma Media and has a passion for sharing the gospel through the written word. She holds two degrees from Regent University, a B.A. in Communication with a concentration in Journalism and a Master of Arts in Journalism. She is the author of the upcoming book, The Power of Suddenly: Discover How God Can Change Everything in a Moment.