In depth | Evangelicals Now

'Charlie Kirk, look what you did' - Church attendance surges in US

Emily Pollok

Since the assassination of political activist Charlie Kirk on 10 September, people in the United States and further afield are heading back to church in what has been termed “the Charlie Kirk effect.”

In the days immediately following his death, social media was swarming with videos of people sharing the impact that Kirk’s assassination was prompting in their lives; for many, that meant returning to church or attending a service for the first time.

The death of Charlie Kirk

Date posted: 1 Oct 2025

Dear Editor,

The news has been full of the shooting of Charlie Kirk. I must confess that the first I knew of him was when I heard he’d been shot, and that’s probably true for many people like me. However, those of us in middle age or our later years need to be aware that among many of a younger generation Charlie Kirk was massive.

letter from America

Christian Nationalism, OK?

Josh Moody

One of the hot topics of the moment is regarding so-called “Christian Nationalism”.

The very phrase strikes terror in some – the word nationalism sounds to them perilously close to nationalist if not fascist. For others, looking at the growing demographic trend of Islamic populations in the West, or the rise of the “Nones” with no religious commitment at all, reconstituting a specifically Christian approach to national government is a needed realpolitik response to what will otherwise be increasing persecution of Christians in time to come. All this has become even more heated with the recent tragic and appalling assassination of the Christian leader and political advocate for contemporary Republicanism, Charlie Kirk. What are we to think of it all?

Kirk: Free-speech lessons for UK, say teachers

en staff

Christian teachers in the UK say the assassination of Charlie Kirk in the United States has powerful lessons for this country.

In a blog on its website, the Association of Christian Teachers (ACT) says: “The shocking assassination of Charlie Kirk, a high-profile advocate for open dialogue, has once again brought the issue of free speech into sharp focus. While his work was centred in the United States, his assassination is a chilling reminder to all of us – especially in the West – that words and ideas are increasingly treated as dangerous in themselves – and that the cost of defending them can be devastating.

Erika Kirk: 'I forgive him because it's what Christ did'

Lydia Houghton

Charlie Kirk's widow, Erika Kirk, has publicly forgiven her husband's alleged killer, stating: "I forgive him because it's what Christ did."

Tens of thousands of people gathered at a memorial service in Arizona, to mourn the death of political activist and Christian Charlie Kirk - who was fatally shot while addressing students at Utah Valley University on 10 September.

Charlie Kirk, free speech and Godly speech

Paul Yeulett

This time two weeks ago, Charlie Kirk was an unfamiliar name to me.

It was a bit like the morning of 9 December 1980, when John Lennon’s death was announced. I’d never heard of him, though I was familiar with Paul McCartney and knew that the Beatles had been a notable pop group in the 1960s. I suppose my defence was that I was only eleven at the time.

Political violence? It's Satanic

Russell Moore

After the shocking assassination of Turning Point USA founder, Charlie Kirk, I described the violence not merely as immoral and un-American but also as Satanic. A friend objected to that word. I stand by it - and here’s why.

The Bible explicitly defines murder as the way of the Devil (1 John 3v10-12). But when it comes to political violence in particular, Satanic is the only word I know that can describe the combination of calculated self-idolatry with senseless self-sabotage.

The Christian's call to handle conflict differently

Graeme Shanks

“The answer to speech we do not like is more speech.” ^[1] Over recent days, I’ve been reminded of those words from Douglas Murray in light of the horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk.

It was one of those world-stopping events when we all tangibly felt the weight of the darkness of evil. If ever there was a "Houston, we have a problem" moment for the West concerning our current inability to do amicable debate and disagreement then this would appear to be it. Our world feels increasingly, and at times aggressively, tribal and disconnected. It’s a heavy thought indeed.

Iryna Zarutska, Charlie Kirk & the cross

Niv Lobo

Here’s one of the least wholesome and most shocking experiences in 21st century life: one is scrolling unknowingly, perhaps even unthinkingly, on one’s phone, and suddenly sees an act of murderous violence as a video plays automatically.

Particularly in the last few weeks, with footage of the murder of Iryna Zarutska in Charlotte, North Carolina, recently released; and then with the assassination of Charlie Kirk - political activist and committed Christian - while speaking at a campus event in Utah. We may be an ocean away, but we're connected enough for these tragedies to feature in our cultural conversation, not least when they are played and replayed on our screens.

Charlie Kirk, the USA, guns & Psalm 139

Tony Bennett

Yet again Americans are having to cope with horrific shootings.

Charlie Kirk, a key ally of President Trump and an influential conservative commentator, has tragically been assassinated whilst addressing students at Utah Valley University.

In Depth: Charlie Kirk