Church attendance across the United States is experiencing a significant resurgence, reversing years of decline. Pastors and ministry leaders nationwide are attributing this phenomenon to what they’ve dubbed the “Charlie Kirk Effect,” sparked by the tragic assassination of the Christian conservative commentator.

On September 10, 2025, Kirk, the 31-year-old founder and CEO of Turning Point USA, was brutally killed during an event at Utah Valley University in a politically motivated attack. Leaving behind his wife, Erika, and their two young children, Kirk’s death has ignited an unexpected spiritual awakening, particularly among young people. Known for his bold declaration that he wanted to be remembered for his “courage of faith,” Kirk frequently shared the gospel at his events. Now, in the wake of his passing, churches are reporting unprecedented attendance, and Bible sales are soaring.

Pastor Jack Hibbs of Calvary Chapel Chino Hills, a close friend of Kirk’s, has witnessed this surge firsthand. “People are coming to us,” he shared on “Fox and Friends First” on Sunday, “and they are saying, ‘I want to know the meaning of life, the purpose. Why am I here?’” Reflecting on his relationship with Kirk, Hibbs said, “I had the honor of knowing Charlie Kirk well and personally for many years,” and expressed pride in Kirk’s role as a “faithful Christian witness” who “honored the Lord Jesus Christ with his life.”

Hibbs described Kirk as “an intellectual giant, a very compassionate young man, and one who was tirelessly devoted to this nation’s welfare and our glorious republic.” He added, “I am humbled and blessed to have played a small role in Charlie’s discipleship, and I know nothing was more important to Charlie than knowing Jesus Christ.”

The impact of Kirk’s death extends beyond individual congregations, reaching college campuses and communities nationwide. Matt Zerrusen, founder and president of Newman Ministry, reported a 15% increase in young people attending Mass at various universities across the U.S. Similarly, J.P. De Gance, president of Communio, a ministry supporting approximately 400 churches, told The Christian Post that churches in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Colorado, have seen notable attendance spikes over the past two Sundays. De Gance highlighted a Michigan church where “a number of young adults who were raised in the church [but] who hadn’t been there, and people hadn’t seen them for years, showed back up.”

He attributes this phenomenon, in part, to the sobering reality of Kirk’s violent death at a young age. “Some began to take stock of their lives after hearing that someone within their age range had died a violent death,” he explained, noting that many young people assume they have decades ahead, but Kirk’s murder served as a stark reminder of life’s fragility.

In addition to all this, Breitbart News reported that “Bible sales through August hit 10 million copies which was a jump of over one million compared to the previous year.” So, for De Gance, the path forward involves welcoming newcomers, and for churches to ask themselves, “How can we be thoughtful about creating that environment where authentic trust and community can exist, so that you can share the Gospel more effectively?”

David Closson, director of Family Research Council’s Center for Biblical Worldview, shared his own perspective with The Washington Stand. “Even before the assassination of Charlie Kirk,” Closson stated, “research showed that Gen Z was experiencing a sort of spiritual renewal. From survey data demonstrating that Gen Z is surpassing other demographics in church attendance and Bible engagement to the influential social media posts by prominent Gen Z voices championing faith, it is clear that a spiritual awakening may be underway amongst the youngest adult demographic.”

As Closson noted, “It’s no surprise that Charlie Kirk’s assassination has prompted much of the renewed attention to spiritual matters amongst Gen Z.” Kirk’s memorial service, for example, “was streamed to 100 million unique viewers. Fox News carried the entire 5-and-a-half-hour service live.” Closson argued that this service alone, with “hundreds of millions of Americans and people around the world” watching, featured the gospel repeatedly throughout. In fact, Closson added, the “most prominent aspect of that service was the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Vice President J.D. Vance, Closson said, admitted that he had “invoked his Christian faith more in the days after Charlie’s passing than before. Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, as well as Secretary of State Marco Rubio, both provided clear gospel presentations of the gospel.” Ultimately, he added, “Charlie Kirk’s memorial service was a several hours long gospel presentation that, frankly, put many church services to shame in the clarity and specificity of the theological commitments that it championed.” And since then, Closson continued, “clips have continued to circulate on popular social media platforms, and I think that has contributed to the hunger that Gen Z has right now.”

“We are living in a moment,” Closson concluded, “where the youngest adult generation of Americans is open to the truth claims of Christianity like they haven’t been before. My encouragement to pastors and those with discipleship opportunities is to make sure that, insofar as it is possible, to make sure this moment does not pass them by without engaging with the young generation that is hungry for spiritual truth.”