With Vice President JD Vance calling Charlie Kirk “a martyr for Christianity,” and a Catholic cardinal calling him “a modern-day St. Paul,” some Kirk admirers suggest his assassination will galvanize throngs of people — notably young conservatives — to become more engaged in evangelical and Catholic churches.
Evocations of Kirk-inspired religious fervor surfaced almost immediately after his death on Sept. 10, and continued to swell as much of Sunday’s VIP-studded memorial service for the conservative activist resembled a massive megachurch service. There have been widespread reports of attendance surging at some evangelical churches.
“Charlie had big plans, but God had even bigger plans,” Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said at the service in Arizona. “Charlie started a political movement but unleashed a spiritual revival.”
The Rev. Robert Jeffress, a longtime ally of President Donald Trump who leads a Southern Baptist megachurch in Dallas, stated via email, “The short-term impact of Kirk’s murder is astounding.”
“The outpouring of emotion rivals that of September 11 and President Kennedy’s assassination,” Jeffress added. “Whether this genuine emotion translates into long-term change is yet to be determined, but I pray that it does.”
What the trends tell us about revival
A sustained surge would run counter to trends. Political scientist Ryan Burge of Washington University in St. Louis noted that recent history shows no examples of an enduring religious revival after a civic trauma. Attendance only briefly spiked after the 9/11 attacks before settling back into typical levels, and neither the pandemic nor its aftermath saw any long-term increases as a whole.
“For there to be a noticeable impact on church attendance, this would require a massive shift in behavior of millions of Americans,” Burge said. “In a country of 340 million people, even a 5% increase would mean 17 million more people going to church on a weekly basis.”
Even if a long-term upswing occurred, “we’d need at least 18 months of data to demonstrate a lasting effect,” he said. While some individuals and churches may undergo spiritual revivals, “the plural of anecdote is not data.”
Reports of new faces and crowded pews
Whether it’s a fleeting moment or not, conservative Christian congregations report seeing new faces among their ranks. Gina Gleason, director of the political engagement team at Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, observed an increase in attendance in the wake of Kirk’s death and anticipates this wave of engagement will continue. Calvary Chapel’s pastor, Jack Hibbs, was a friend of Kirk’s and a well-known Trump supporter.
Mark Francey, lead pastor of Oceans Church, also noted an attendance increase of up to 30% following the tragedy, reflecting a “9/11 type effect.”
Testimonies shared by ‘The Charlie Kirk Show’
On Sept. 17, a montage from “The Charlie Kirk Show” showcased several TikTok users stating they returned to church for the first time in years after the assassination.
Andrew Kolvet, executive producer of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” emphasized the importance of honoring Kirk’s legacy by returning to church and engaging with faith.
What the local church can do
Pastors are encouraged to view the return of attendees as a genuine move of the Holy Spirit. Community efforts to welcome back these individuals with kindness and engagement are essential for fostering lasting connections.
Catholics and critics join the conversation
While Kirk was a Protestant evangelical, his admirers include prominent Catholic clergy. Some critiques have arisen regarding the divisive nature of Kirk's rhetoric, suggesting that while there may be a response to his death, a lasting revival may not be in the cards for American Christianity.
“It would appear that this is causing conservative younger people to become more conservative,” said Pastor Frederick Brown. “But that’s not the way of the world today.”
