(The Lion) — Millions of Americans heard the gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed during the memorial service for Charlie Kirk on Sunday, marking a stunning revival across America.

“God’s mercy and love has been revealed to me these last 10 days after Charlie’s assassination,” said Erika Kirk, Charlie’s widow and successor as Turning Point USA CEO. “We didn’t see violence. We didn’t see rioting. We didn’t see revolution. We saw what my husband always prayed we would see in this country. We saw revival. …

“This past week we saw people open a Bible for the first time in a decade. We saw people pray for the first time since they were children. We saw people go to a church service for the first time in their lives.”

Perhaps just as importantly, the tens of thousands inside Glendale, Arizona’s State Farm Stadium and untold millions around the world witnessed Erika Kirk’s own painful, poignant testimony in the wake of her husband’s Sept. 10 assassination.

She encouraged young men to be worthy of following, and young women to be virtuous, noting Charlie’s greatest desire was for the revival of the American family. She said he longed to mentor boys to become men – boys of the very age and persuasion of his assassin.

“My husband Charlie, he wanted to save young men just like the one who took his life. …

“‘Father, forgive them, for they [know not] what they do,’” Erika said, quoting Jesus Christ on the cross. “That man, that young man. I forgive him. I forgive him because it’s what Christ did, and it’s what Charlie would do.”

Turning Point said 200,000 registered for the historic event, and police said that was conservative. The service not only overflowed State Farm Stadium – with a capacity of 73,000 – but also the nearby 20,000-seat Desert Diamond Arena, according to news reports. TPUSA also tracked around 100 million online streams.

Vice President J.D. Vance, who spoke immediately before Erika Kirk at the memorial service, used the same word, “revival,” to describe what’s happening in America and likely abroad.

“I have talked more about Jesus Christ in the past two weeks than I have my entire time in public life. That is an undeniable legacy of the great Charlie Kirk,” Vance said.

U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said his granddaughter packed a Bible to take with her to college because she “wanted to be more like Charlie.”

Charlie Kirk, who founded TPUSA in 2012, was instantly killed by a shot that pierced his neck at a debate rally on Utah Valley University’s campus.

Vance said Charlie’s public debate style and desire to converse with those who disagreed with him were rooted in his profound faith.

“Charlie brought the truth that Jesus Christ was the King of Kings, and that all truth flowed from this first and most important one,” Vance said. “He knew deep down the truth of Scripture, and from that confidence everything else flowed.”

After hours of worship, Charlie’s pastor Rob McCoy opened the ceremonial remarks.

“I’m here today to tell you ‘the why’ behind what [Charlie] did,” McCoy said. “‘The why’ is the one that Charlie wanted to welcome as the guest of honor. His résumé is long. He’s the King of Glory. He’s the Prince of Peace. He’s the Savior of the world. He’s the Living God. He’s the God of all mercy and grace, the total embodiment of love, the total embodiment of truth.”

McCoy concluded his remarks by asking all professing Christians to remain seated and those wishing to accept Christ as their Savior to stand.

“The Bible says that when one sinner gives their heart to the Lord, the angels in heaven rejoice. And I’ve got to tell you, there’s one up there right now: Charlie Kirk. He’s stoked, and he’s excited about your commitment to his Savior.”

Vance called Americans to imitate Charlie’s courage and proclaim the truth.

“Christ told us in the Gospel of John, ‘I have said these things to you that in me you may have peace in the world. You will have tribulation, but take heart, I have overcome the world.’ Charlie took heart, and now we must do the same,” Vance said.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said Charlie lived with Christ as his King, Lord, and Savior and “fear[ed] God and fear[ed] no man.”

“He died the way he lived: speaking the truth. Charlie waged war, not with a weapon, but with a tent, a microphone, his mind and the truth. And the gates of hell could not prevail against him,” Hegseth said. “My charge to all of you is to live worthy of Charlie Kirk’s sacrifice and put Christ at the center of your life, as he advocated for giving his.”

Hegseth said Charlie began with a political movement but created a spiritual revival.

“Charlie started with liberty but ended up lighting our country on fire for Christ. He started Turning Point USA, but this moment is the turning point for the USA.”

Similarly, Tucker Carlson distinguished between politics and faith and said politics ultimately fails to satisfy.

“Politics is not the final answer. It can’t answer the deepest questions,” Carlson told the audience. “The only real solution is Jesus.”

President Donald Trump, who gave the final remarks of the service, promised to posthumously award Charlie the highest civilian honor: the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He said Charlie represented the rights of Americans and his death is not only a national grief, but an attack against the foundations of America.

“Charlie’s murder was not just an attack on one man or one movement. It was an attack on our entire nation,” Trump said. “It was an assault on our most sacred liberties and God-given rights.”

Trump said the attacker failed, however, because Charlie’s quest is “bigger than ever before.”

“Charlie Kirk started with only an idea to change minds on college campuses, and instead, he ended up with a far greater achievement: changing history,” Trump said. “Today, Charlie Kirk rests in glory in heaven for all eternity. He has gone from speaking on campuses in Wisconsin to kneeling at the throne of God where he is right now.”

Despite many threats on his life, Charlie continued his college-campus debates and prayed before each one, “God, use me for your will,” Trump said.

In her opening remarks, Erika recounted a story from 2023 when she told Charlie to be careful with that prayer, because God will listen and use him. She said through the inexpressible grief of the past 10 days, she has found immense comfort in the words of the Lord’s prayer: “Thy will be done.”

Erika promised the work of TPUSA would continue, but she pleaded with every American to choose Christ daily.

“The seed has only just been planted. The enemy will tempt you,” Erika said. “You must choose to mark your soul again and again in the direction of Christ. Pray again. Read the Bible again. Go to church next Sunday and the Sunday after that.”

She said the answer to hate is never hate, and that Christ calls us to love our enemies and those who persecute us.

“Charlie’s life was a turning point for this country. It was a miracle,” she said. “Let Charlie’s life be your turning point as well. Choose prayer. Choose courage. Choose beauty. Choose adventure. Choose family. Choose a life of faith. Most importantly, choose Christ.”