OAN Employees Katherine Mosack5:28 PM – Wednesday, September 17, 2025
Church buildings throughout the US skilled a pointy rise in attendance the weekend following the tragic assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Charlie, a religious Christian, regularly shared his religion on his podcast and through public appearances. On June twenty ninth, throughout an look on “The Iced Espresso Hour” podcast, he was requested how he wished to be remembered after his passing.
“I wish to be remembered for braveness for my religion. That might be an important factor,” Charlie mentioned. “Crucial factor is my religion in my life.”
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Charlie’s widow, Erika Kirk, was famously photographed holding a cross necklace out the window of a automotive when Vice President JD Vance and Second Girl Usha Vance got here to move Charlie’s casket aboard Air Drive Two.
Based on Andrew Kolvet, Charlie’s government producer, Erika had initially given the necklace to Charlie as a present. Nevertheless, it needed to be eliminated in a determined try to save lots of his life after he was fatally shot within the neck. Kolvet famous that Erika now retains the cross along with her always.
Erika gave a 16-minute deal with on Friday, two days after her husband’s dying, which was livestreamed from his podcast studio on YouTube.
“Now and for all eternity, he’ll stand at his savior’s aspect sporting the wonderful crown of a martyr,” Erika declared.
“My goodness, I’m so humbled to witness, Charlie, you alongside Jesus proper now doing what you all the time needed to do, child. Making heaven crowded, proper?” She mentioned. “That’s what it’s all about, making heaven crowded.”
Since Charlie’s dying, what many are calling “the Charlie Impact” or “the Charlie Kirk Impact,” an growing variety of People who don’t sometimes attend church have begun going to companies, in accordance with the Catholic Information Company.
Matt Zerrusen, co-founder of Newman Ministry, a Catholic nonprofit with about 250 campuses nationwide, spoke with Catholic faculty ministry leaders all through the nation. He defined that “each one in every of them informed me they’ve seen larger crowds.”
“I’ve not talked to anybody who has not seen a rise in Mass attendance,” Zerrusen mentioned. “Some colleges are reporting will increase of 15%.”
“So many individuals are asking, ‘What do I do? What’s evil? How does God enable this?’” he informed CNA.
Craig Dyson, the lead pastor of Convo Church in Reno, Nevada, additionally reported a weekend turnout “not like something we’ve seen.”
“We had been crammed, overflowing. We had extra individuals give their life to Christ yesterday than we’ve ever had on a single Sunday and it was completely unimaginable to observe,” Dyson informed The Nationwide Information Desk.
Since his dying final week, social media platforms X, TikTok, and Instagram have been flooded with posts from on-line customers saying they plan to start out going to church once more due to Charlie. Some say they’re returning after a number of years, although others say they’re going for the primary time and have questions concerning the Bible.
One on-line consumer @Robbywood89 posted a video on TikTok, being shared throughout different platforms as effectively, exhibiting an instance of “the Charlie Impact.”
“I didn’t know Charlie Kirk, by no means met that man earlier than in my life. And one thing else that I’ve by no means achieved earlier than in my life is imagine in God,” he mentioned. “I’m gonna put on this swimsuit to church. I’m going to go to church. I’m going to attempt to be a greater father, husband and chief for my household.”
“My spouse made me really feel this fashion,” Wooden added. “Charlie made me really feel this fashion.”
One other submit by TikTok consumer @bbrycenate was reposted to X by consumer @TONYxTWO, exhibiting the impact as effectively.
“Charlie Kirk, look what you probably did,” the churchgoer mentioned within the video. “No parking. No parking in any respect. None. Needed to park like 5 blocks away from church ‘trigger everybody desires to return now. Amen. Thanks, Jesus. Thanks, Charlie.”
Kyndel Grove, a Christian social media character, posted to TikTok about her expertise with a packed service on the Sunday following Kirk’s dying.
“Was anybody else’s church busting out the seams this morning?” She requested. “Woman, it made me so completely happy! Okay, scooch over, we bought extra coming in, ‘trigger there’s all the time room in heaven. Pay attention, hell’s getting nervous!”
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