Some faith leaders say church attendance has jumped as much as 15 percent in recent weeks, a surge many are calling the “Charlie Kirk Effect.” The Turning Point USA founder, who was assassinated on September 10, frequently spoke about his faith and the importance of Christianity in American life.
Matt Zerrusen, co-founder of Newman Ministry, a Catholic nonprofit serving some 250 campuses across the U.S., told Catholic News Agency that every faith leader he’s spoken with since Kirk’s death has seen larger crowds.
“Every faith leader I spoke to told [me] they’ve seen bigger crowds at Mass and that there are many people they’ve never seen before,” Zerrusen said. “I have not talked to anyone who has not seen an increase in Mass attendance. Some schools are reporting increases of 15 percent.”
Zerrusen said the tragedy has left many college students searching for direction.
“So many people are asking, ‘What do I do? What is evil? How does God allow this?’ They are asking so many basic questions,” he explained.
On social media, posts declaring a return to church, in some cases for the first time in years, have gone viral. Zerrusen described the response as a spiritual “revival,” pointing to Texas A&M, where 400 college students are now enrolled in the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults class at St. Mary’s Catholic Center.
Weeks before his death, Kirk himself predicted this moment. “There is revival in the Christian church,” he said. “Churches are growing. Young people are flocking to faith in God.”
Watch the clip below:
Praying, singing with hands held high, How Great Thou Art, in public, on a college campus again.
Last night people gathered with Turning Point USA, OSU Chapter, on campus at Oklahoma State University to remember Charlie Kirk.
The Charlie effect- REVIVAL! pic.twitter.com/s00G9usv3K
— 👉M-Û-R-Č-H👈 (@TheEXECUTlONER_) September 19, 2025
'THE CHARLIE KIRK EFFECT': Faith leaders report a 15% rise in church attendance as young people inspired by Charlie Kirk turn to Christianity — with Bible sales surpassing 10 million through August 2025. pic.twitter.com/nbcGErP4cf
— Fox News (@FoxNews) September 28, 2025
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