'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.

“I have not talked to anyone who has not seen an increase in Mass attendance,” Zerrusen added in his comments. “Some schools are reporting increases of 15 percent." He also talked about how college students are seeking more direction.

“So many people are asking ‘What do I do?’ What is evil? How does God allow this?” Zerrusen added. “They are asking so many basic questions." On social media, there have been a number of posts that have gone viral where people declare they will go to church for the first time or for the first time in a long time away from their faith.

Zerrusen added that there is a spiritual "revival" taking place, and Kirk's death has only emphasized the number of people who are going to church. He pointed to Texas A&M, where 400 college students are going to the Order of Christian Initiation of Adults class at the St. Mary’s Catholic Center.

Kirk himself, just weeks before his death, said, "There is revival in the Christian church. Churches are growing. Young people are flocking to faith in God."