As the shocking news of the assassination of Charlie Kirk was graphically revealed to the world, many were left stunned and speechless as they attempted to comprehend the impact of this horrible event. In the days following, social media portals were red hot with messages of sorrow and support for this fallen leader of Turning Point USA. The common thread seemed to be that this young man, 31 years old, had somehow touched the central nervous system in society that yearns for communion and compassion. By his own admission, his ultimate objective was simple. When asked, “If you could be associated with one thing, how would you want to be remembered?” Charlie answered, “I want to be remembered for courage for my faith.”
(Oct. 14, 1993 – Sept. 10, 2025)
As the world would soon understand that the “faith” Charlie spoke about was a life-changing belief in Jesus Christ as the only source of salvation for mankind. Because of this foundational understanding, he built all of his speeches and public debates on the simple truths that flow out of this Biblical worldview. Therefore, as the light of his message reached further and further into the dark realm of popular moral relativism, it is no wonder that with each new opportunity came more vehement opposition.
Thus, with a single shot on September 10, 2025, his voice was silenced, but his message became amplified as the world gathered to contemplate, consolidate, and communicate Charlie’s core beliefs. With the global broadcast of the September 21, 2025, Memorial Service in Glendale, Arizona, came a resounding testimony that a “turning point” for the nations had been reached. Many who were among the 65,000-plus attendees say they witnessed a spiritual awakening that seemed to stir the hearts with a desire to
“be like Charlie.”
The First Great Awakening
The First Great Awakening was a Protestant religious movement that took place in the American Colonies during the eighteenth century, from the 1730s through the 1760s. It followed on the heels and in part a response to the Age of Enlightenment, which was known for a time of scientific and philosophical advancement. This turbulent period was also a time of questioning the credibility and reliability of the Bible. This growing skepticism concerning the inspiration of the Bible radically reshaped European thought and moved the traditional moral precepts into uncharted waters. Thus, society found itself drifting on the ever-changing tides of situational ethics and moral relativism.
The First Great Awakening is most well-known for creating an emphasis on spiritual devotion, individualism, and freedom that contributed to the ideals of the American Revolution. The movement was led by influential men like George Whitefield and Jonathan Edwards. Edwards emphasized human sinfulness and divine judgment in his sermons, including “Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God,” as he encouraged people to repent and ask God to save them.
The Second Great Awakening
The Second Great Awakening in North America rejected the skepticism that was the by-product of the Age of Enlightenment. Beginning in the early nineteen hundreds, evangelists like Charles G Finney began to stoke the flames of revival in Western New York. His fiery sermons moved many of his listeners to “repent and return” to authentic Christian values and doctrines. He inspired many others who copied his direct style, which saw dramatic results throughout the United States.
Although historians try to dissect the ebb and tide of religious cycles, I honestly think they miss the point that “Awakenings” happen naturally after a period when night is finishing.
The Jesus Movement
During the late 1960s, the youth in Western society grew tired of the post-World War II societal corruption and materialism that consumed so many resources. These baby boomers would rebel in a countercultural movement that rejected the mores of mainstream values. The movement originated on college campuses in the United States, although it spread to other countries, including Canada and Britain. The name “hippie” was derived from the word “hip” which simply means to be modern and relevant. It was use to characterize young people searching for deeper meaning. This movement reached its pinnacle in 1969 when more than half a million hippies arrived at the Woodstock Festival in Upstate New York. By the early nineteen seventies, the “good feelings” and cultural optimism had begun to fade as the seeds of their “sex, drugs, and rock ‘ n ‘ roll” lifestyle were yielding the predictable fruit of discontentment and confusion. Therefore, many found themselves spiritually unfilled after seeking the empty promises of hedonism.
Many trace the beginning of the Jesus movement to 1969 and the “summer of love.” As tens of thousands of hippies descended on San Francisco’s Haight-Ashbury district, there was a specific effort to engage this lost generation and share the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Without centralized direction or organization, Christian young people began to lead these disillusioned Hippies into a transformative relationship with Jesus Christ by simply sharing the fundamental truth of the Bible. Out of this Holy-Spirit-orchestrated movement, thousands and thousands of former “dropouts” would become “plugged into” the foundational core of an evangelical awakening that is still seen today.
Another Great Awakening?
I have heard from numerous people who attended or heard the memorial service for Charlie Kirk report that they had never experienced anything like that before. During a live episode of “The Megyn Kelly Show,” Megyn said that Kirk was “sent by God to change minds and hearts on the most important, divisive, and difficult issues of our time. They both said that they witnessed the power and presence of the Holy Spirit as never before.
When you consider the events that led up to that fateful day, you can see the ingredients that preceded all previous great awakenings. The battleground on college campuses over the past decade had seen the rise of darkness and the decay of the moral foundation of society worldwide. Young people were being forced to accept directions that came from a broken moral compass. Gaslighting was being used as a form of psychological abuse where the academic elite caused students to question their sanity, memories, or perception of reality leaving them with no real foundation for their own conservative worldview. Navigating through the fog of gender confusion, speculation masquerading as science, the advocacy for violence toward those who have a competing ideology, and general verbal assault, left these bewildered students as helpless victims. All of this served to delegitimize any thoughts that contradicted the accepted narrative of the so-called progressives.
Against the demand for capitulation from the ruling minority, a street-level rebellion began to emerge. In 2023, at Asbury University, students spontaneously stayed in Hughes Auditorium following a regularly scheduled chapel service for a time of worship and prayer. News of the revival largely spread on social media, as the participants were mainly members of Generation Z (students in their 20s). It was reportedly attended by approximately 15,000 people each day.
Another point of interest is that the world watches in amazement as faith meets football. It wasn’t that long ago that the only kneeling you’d see at a sporting event was being carried out by those who were protesting during the American National Anthem. Now the focus has changed to watching both college and professional players meet on the playing field to spend time in prayer together. For the second year in a row, Ohio State University (OSU) football players shared the gospel during a campus event filled with praise music, prayer, and baptisms. On Monday evening, September 8, 2025, about 2,000 people attended “Fall Kickoff: An Invitation to Jesus,” listening to athletes’ testimonies and committing or recommitting to the Christian faith. Athletes behind a growing spiritual movement on the University of Pittsburgh campus say the “presence of God was tangible” during a recent first-of-its-kind evangelistic event on their campus.
In parallel to this outpouring, college campuses all over the United States were hosting open-forum debates to challenge the progressive status quo. Although now Turning Point USA is the ensign of this movement, many other Christian apologists have been battling on American campuses for decades. As the seeds of truth were relentlessly sown in the hearts of the listeners, I believe we are now beginning to see the fruit of open minds and open hearts being turned to Jesus Christ as the only answer to the primary questions concerning the meaning of life.
What’s Next?
During each of the previous “awakenings,” some traditional churches were left sitting as observers while the flow of revival swept by them, creating new avenues for outreach and discipleship. Therefore, the Church of Today needs to open its arms to the Church of Tomorrow by embracing and encouraging this new breed of energized young Christians so that the foundational Biblical truths remain intact and their leaders take advantage of the experience from those who have gone before them in previous awakenings.
How can we Help?
The Mission Statement of Koinonia House is “To create, develop, and distribute materials to stimulate, encourage, and facilitate the serious study of the Bible as the inerrant Word of God.” Therefore, we have an open scholarship available to all independent Bible Study Groups. if you are involved in a campus-based outreach and wish to start of Bible study group, K-House offers you FREE download access of Chuck Missler’s “Learn the Bible in 24 Hour Study Pack” which includes HD videos, Mp3 Audio, PDF Student Workbook, and Leader’s Guide, plus all of your participants may enroll in Koinonia Institute for FREE.
To take advantage of this special gift offer, all you need to do is send an email to social@khouse.org. Tell us the name of your organization and its on-site leader. Also, please tell us which campus you are associated with so we can pray for your specific group.
