'CHARLIE KIRK EFFECT': Faith leaders report 15% increase in church attendance as young Americans flock to Christianity

Some faith leaders have been reporting as much as a 15 percent increase in church attendance as younger people are getting drawn to Christianity in what some have dubbed the "Charlie Kirk Effect." The Turning Point USA founder was assassinated on September 10 and talked frequently about his faith.

Matt Zerrusen, who is the co-founder of Newman Ministry, which is a Catholic nonprofit with locations at around 250 campuses around the US, told the Catholic News Agency that in the days following the assassination of Kirk every faith leader he spoke to "told [him] they’ve seen bigger crowds” at Mass and that there are many people “they’ve never seen before" in attendance.
 

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