Charlie Kirk Memorial Service Held in Glendale, Arizona

The memorial service for Charlie Kirk began with a spirited session of praise and worship at State Farm Stadium, where tens of thousands gathered. Attendees sang together, creating a moving atmosphere.

Kirk, known for his conservative activism and as the co-founder of Turning Point USA, was tragically assassinated last week. Just months prior, he expressed his desire to be remembered “for courage for my faith.”

During a podcast in June, he emphasized, “That would be the most important thing; most important thing is my faith.”

The service reflected his values and featured performances by worship leaders like Chris Tomlin, Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, Kari Jobe Carnes, and Cody Carnes. The footage from the event displayed a huge crowd lifting their hands, visibly moved and engaged.

Brandon Lake encouraged, “Can we just take a second, and can we acknowledge that the presence of God is in this place?” His words were met with enthusiastic cheers from the audience.

Bagpipes playing “Amazing Grace” opened the ceremony, followed by worship songs from Grammy-winner Chris Tomlin and Kirk’s pastor, Rob McCoy. McCoy shared his close relationship with Kirk, stating, “Charlie Kirk called me his pastor, and I called him my friend.”

He explained how Kirk viewed politics as a means to connect individuals with Jesus, suggesting that if people engaged with liberty, they would ultimately discover their faith. McCoy underscored Kirk’s courage, noting that despite facing threats, he always stood up for what he believed in, supported by his faith.

The event also had a lineup of notable speakers, including Kirk’s widow, Erika Kirk, along with President Donald Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., among others.