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Journalist Saleno Zito captured the moment on X, writing:
“The left & the press & the Never Trump folks were expecting a Wellstone moment. (Look it up). What they got was a revival. An Awakening. Likely the most viewed gospel presentation ever in the history of the country perhaps the [world emoji]. They really have no idea what has been unleashed.”
Zito was referencing the infamous 2002 memorial for Democratic Senator Paul Wellstone, which collapsed into an ugly, hyper-political rally. Even liberal outlets admitted at the time that Wellstone’s service had been overtaken by “the angry piety of populism.”
But Kirk’s memorial? It was the opposite. Faith came first.
Pastor Rob McCoy, known as Charlie Kirk’s personal pastor, opened the service with a stirring altar call. What followed was a lineup of speakers who made it clear that Kirk’s legacy was rooted far deeper than politics — it was anchored in his Christian faith.
Frank Turek, a Christian apologist and close friend who was with Kirk in his final moments, summed it up beautifully:
“Charlie Kirk is in heaven because his Savior sacrificed Himself for Charlie Kirk.”
It was a simple message, but it echoed through the entire service.
Then came a moment that stunned everyone watching. Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow, stood before the crowd and delivered words of grace that silenced the room. Speaking about the man accused of killing her husband, she said:
“On the cross, our Savior said, ‘Father, forgive them, for they not know what they do,’” she told the crowd. “That man, that young man — I forgive him.”
The audience rose to their feet in thunderous applause.
“I forgive him because it was what Christ did and is what Charlie would do,” Erika continued. “The answer to hate is not hate. The answer, we know from the Gospel, is love and always love — love for our enemies and love for those who persecute us.”
The impact was enormous. Andrew Kolvet, producer of “The Charlie Kirk Show,” revealed that over 100 million people tuned in across streaming platforms.
“Our production and streaming partners tracked over 100 million overall streams for today’s tribute to Charlie. This is JUST what they know about. It’s likely much larger,” he wrote.
Theologian Owen Strachan summed up the entire event in one word: “WOW.”
What was supposed to be a political firestorm became a global revival moment. The left expected anger. What they got was faith, forgiveness, and the gospel proclaimed to millions.
And for countless people watching, it was exactly what this country needed.
