It has been three weeks since the assassination of Charlie Kirk. Have we seen riots, destruction, and protests sparked across the country as an outpouring of anger from the violent act of his murder? No. We have seen a nation of Christians fall to their knees in grief, prayer, and worship for a life well lived.
Prayer vigils have been held across the nation, from large cities to small towns. At Charlie’s memorial, worship went on for more than two hours before the service even started. And almost every speaker remembered him by pointing back to his faith. The gospel was shared openly and boldly. People walked away saying it was one of the most powerful services they had ever been to.
Since then, pastors across the country have said their churches are filling up in ways they haven’t seen in years—some reporting increases of 10 to 30 percent. Bible sales, which were already strong this year, spiked again after September 10. The prayer app Hallow reported a 95% jump in usage. And if you scroll through social media, you’ll see post after post of people sharing their own stories: someone who went to church for the first time in years, another who opened their Bible again after decades, others who are giving their lives to Jesus.
Turning Point USA, the organization Charlie founded, announced on September 26 that they’ve received over 120,000 requests from students to start or join a chapter since his death. Before, they were averaging 35-50 a week. Yes, Charlie was bold about politics, but those who listened to him knew his ultimate goal was to point people to Jesus. The flood of students stepping up shows there are thousands ready to keep standing for truth, just like he did.
What about here in New Mexico? We’re not exactly known as a hotbed of church growth. In fact, a study last year showed we rank among the states with the highest number of people who claim no religion at all. Pastor Eric Robinson from Christ Lutheran in Albuquerque even admitted there were Sundays when he’d look around and wonder, “Where did everybody go?” Numbers from the Association of Religious Data Archives say only about half of New Mexicans are connected to a church. That’s the reality we’ve been living in.
And yet, even here, something seems to be stirring. Some pastors are saying they’ve noticed new faces showing up. A church in southeastern New Mexico recently shared about youth nights that are suddenly packed with energy. Stories are popping up of neighbors who are asking questions again, of families dusting off their Bibles. Christians are feeling a calling to boldness and a readiness for what is to come; and in a state like ours, that can make all the difference.
Of course, revival isn’t something you can measure just by attendance or app downloads. True revival shows up in repentance, changed hearts, and lasting fruit. Is that what we’re seeing? It’s too soon to know. But there’s no denying that people are seeing change.
As the seasons shift and we move into fall, we can feel that something else is shifting as well. Charlie himself seemed to sense it swelling. Just six days before his death, he posted, “There is revival in the Christian church. Churches are growing. Young people are flocking to faith in God.” His assassination poured fuel on a fire that was already starting to burn.
So, is revival here? Only time will tell. But I pray that for our nation, and our world, it is.
Jodi Hendricks is the Executive Director of the New Mexico Family Action Movement.
