Charlie Kirk youth tidal wave: 94M+ videos, new chapters, even church boost?

By Jason Williams
Williams is a writer, researcher and founder of the Taxpayers Association of Oregon

The nation’s youth has been shocked, and hurt, and moved … and now motivated to action by Charlie Kirk’s tragic death.

Much of this is youth-driven.

At times the signs can be seen in Oregon.

• 94 million increase in Charlie Kirk/Turning Point video views over the past week.

• 54,000 requests from high school and college students to start a chapter.    One Oregon youth organizer, says he is seeing a big increase in activity following Kirk’s death.

A lot of youth showed up to the Roseburg vigil.

• Big increase in church attendance last Sunday.  A local Portland-area church saw much bigger than normal crowds.  This was followed by the pastor, who normally shies away from commenting on current news events, giving a very powerful message on the violence and Gods’ triumph over evil.

Here are some stunning testimonies from around America:

“[Announcement from pulpit last Sunday] Okay, we had to push back the service this morning. We only have a room for 1,100 people. [yet] there were over 2,000 on our property at the 9:00 a.m. service. People are interested“
Jonathan Pokluda
Harris Creek Baptist Church (1)
McGregor, TX

” I just finished up uh a record weekend. We had about 1,500 more people than seats. We had people walking, I don’t know, half a mile to get to church. My voice is shot. We had five services. We were at some services three rows deep, standing room only... Pastors are seeing people flock to church and an entire young generation that admired and respected Charlie Kirk coming to church seeking answers to the question of what is happening…”
Pastor Mark Driscoll
Trinity Church in Scottsdale, Arizona (1)

“Matt Zerrusen, co-founder of Newman Ministry, a Catholic nonprofit that operates on about 250 campuses nationwide … “I have not talked to anyone who has not seen an increase in Mass attendance,” Zerrusen said. “Some schools are reporting increases of 15%.” He told CNA that many more college students are also asking for spiritual direction. “So many people are asking ‘What do I do?’ What is evil? How does God allow this?” Zerrusen said. “They are asking so many basic questions.” One priest at a large state school in the Northeast told Zerrusen he spoke over the weekend with 15 young men he had never seen before who sought him out for faith advice.”
Catholic News Agency
9/15/25

*** The phenomenon of youth suddenly attending more church following a crisis is a sign that many are (1) hurting (2) afraid (3) confused and (4) full of questions.    The moment should not be politicized, but rather humanized.  We older generations need to meet our youth where they are at, listen to the questions they are asking (not the ones we think they are asking), meet their needs in the moment, and be patient by being willing to walk a longer journey with them as you share your help over time.

***  One of my family members, who is an Oregon student, had her phone full of people sending her actually clips of the shooting (thank Tik Tok).  She was deeply disturbed and commented that she had never seen so much blood in all her life.   Most older people followed the Charlie Kirk shooting through traditional news channels which provided discretionary limits on the death.  Not our youth.  They are connected to all kinds of social media outlets that dump raw violent clips and also obscene false news stories upon them.   We do not see this, but they do.  We need to be there for them and keep this difference in mind as we have discussions.