Breakpoint Podcast Summary

Episode: Evaluating the "Kirk Effect"
Host: John Stonestreet
Date: November 21, 2025

Overview

In this episode of Breakpoint, John Stonestreet explores the phenomenon being described as the "Kirk Effect"—the notable surge in religious interest, church attendance, and spiritual revival in the United States following the September 10 assassination of Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA. Stonestreet evaluates whether this activity represents a lasting Christian revival or a temporary response, discussing societal reactions and the risks of misinterpreting or missing genuine spiritual movements.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Immediate Aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s Death

• Observations of a "Spiritual Revival":

  • Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth observed at Kirk's memorial that “Charlie started a political movement but unleashed a spiritual revival.” (00:15)
  • Many pastors and religious leaders have reported a significant uptick in church attendance posthumously credited to Kirk.

• Statistical and Anecdotal Evidence:

  • Fox News reports a 15-30% increase in church attendance in churches across the U.S., with many new attendees citing Kirk's death as “a wake up call about their mortality and faith.” (01:11)
  • JP DeGance (Communio) shares how multiple churches (especially in states like Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, and Colorado) saw lapsed young adults returning to church. (01:55)

• Surge in Bible Sales:

  • Nielsen BookScan records a 36% increase in Bible sales in September, compared to the previous year. (02:33)
  • Mark Schoenwald (HarperCollins Christian Publishing) attributes this spike to Kirk’s death, noting that “Kirk’s shooting awakened a lot of people.” (02:47)

• Growth of TPUSA Faith:

  • The organization's church network doubled to 8,000, and 200,000 more Christians became involved. (03:07)

2. Questioning the Longevity and Depth of the "Kirk Effect"

• Evaluating Long-term Revival:
  • Stonestreet notes, “The most substantial evidence of whether or not we’re in a time of Christian revival still remains to be seen.” (03:23)
  • Ryan Burge, statistician, states, "There's no evidence of a massive return to religion, although it's too early to have all the relevant data." (03:49)
  • Stonestreet draws a parallel to the post-9/11 spike in patriotism, cautioning against confusing short-term trends with lasting spiritual change.

3. Risks of Missing God’s Work

• Potential for Misinterpretation:

  • Stonestreet highlights two main ways to miss genuine revival:
    1. Presuming the Limits of God’s Work:
       • Criticism exists toward figures like Kirk for combining politics and evangelism. Stonestreet observes, "Many have presumed as much about Christians who are deemed to be too political, especially someone with the kind of public profile that Charlie Kirk had." (04:30)
    2. Pride and Self-Congratulation:
       • “The second way to miss God’s working in this moment is to spend all our time and energy saying some version of ‘I told you so’ rather than wait on the Lord with thankfulness and praise.” (05:10)

• D.L. Moody Remark:

  • Stonestreet invokes D.L. Moody to defend imperfect activism:

    “I like my way of doing it better than your way of not doing it.” (05:00)

4. Revival: Substance, Not Hype

• Nature of True Revival:

  • Genuine revival is marked by “a growing awareness, most importantly of the glory of God and also of the seriousness of sin.” (05:55)
  • Attempts to claim credit, seize the moment for self-promotion, or try to “manufacture” revival are bound to fall short.

• Present Opportunities and Challenges:

  • There is reason for encouragement: “There seems to be a growing awareness of spiritual things, a growing rejection of some of the worst ideas that have poisoned our culture, and a clear growing groundswell of courage among God’s people.” (06:28)
  • The choice, Stonestreet argues, is whether Christians will faithfully join in this work and remain committed to what is “true and good.” (06:46)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Pete Hegseth:

  "Charlie started a political movement but unleashed a spiritual revival." (00:12)

• John Stonestreet:

  "The most substantial evidence of whether or not we’re in a time of Christian revival still remains to be seen." (03:23)
  “Many have presumed... that God could never work in the way that He is working.” (04:35)
  “Mixing politics and evangelism as Charlie Kirk did is quite risky, and he did not always do it well. However, it seems obvious that as he matured and sought out mentors, Charlie became more Christian and more politically measured, even as he remained just as bold.” (04:43)
  "I like my way of doing it better than your way of not doing it." (quoting D.L. Moody, 05:00)
  “Revivals are fed by a growing awareness, most importantly of the glory of God and also of the seriousness of sin.” (05:55)

• Mark Schoenwald:

  "Kirk’s shooting awakened a lot of people." (02:47)

Important Segment Timestamps

• 00:01 – 03:20 — Explaining the immediate “Kirk Effect:” uptick in church attendance and religious engagement post-Kirk’s death.
• 03:21 – 04:25 — Cautious analysis: Is this really revival, or a fleeting cultural moment?
• 04:26 – 05:40 — Two risk factors in misinterpreting spiritual events (God’s unpredictable methods, pride).
• 05:41 – End — Emphasizing authentic revival, encouraging faithful, courageous Christian engagement.

Tone and Language

Stonestreet adopts a sober, hopeful tone, urging discernment, humility, and faithfulness—acknowledging the complexity and unpredictability of spiritual movements. He gently critiques both excessive skepticism and triumphalism, calling listeners to reflect, participate, and avoid the pitfall of self-congratulation.

Note: This summary omits appeals for donations and other non-content sections, focusing strictly on the episode’s analysis and reflections on the “Kirk Effect.”