OREM, Utah (BP) – Nearly 8,000 attendees gathered Sunday on the college campus where Charlie Kirk was murdered, with over a quarter of them giving a profession of faith, event organizers reported.
Harvest Crusades released that information Tuesday (Nov. 18), calling the event at Utah Valley University “an unforgettable evening of worship, inspiration and community.”
The line began forming two and a half hours in the rain before doors opened to the Harvest Utah – Hope for America crusade. California pastor and evangelist Greg Laurie spoke flanked by worship led by Chris Tomlin and Phil Wickham. Harvest Crusades had been planning for an event there in 2027, but the shocking, broad-daylight September shooting of Kirk as he spoke with students prompted church leaders to implore Harvest to move the date up.
“When we heard of Charlie Kirk’s assassination,” Laurie said, “we immediately reached out to pastors in Utah to ask how we could support them. They said, ‘Come sooner. Our community is hurting.’”
A thousand volunteers and 67 churches serving as overflow units joined hundreds of media partners streaming the event, which brought some 210,000 views, said Harvest. The night began with a video tribute of Kirk’s life and faith.
Security and uniformed police officers were throughout the arena. Laurie’s message, “Home Before Dark,” centered on his own prodigal story and included a clip from “Jesus Revolution,” the 2023 film about his life.
“Despite this tragedy, God has done amazing things around our nation and people are asking questions,” said Laurie. “… It was like a wakeup call. This is your moment tonight. This is your wakeup call tonight. Don’t let it slip by.”
“In Utah, many are like the second son, following all the rules, but they still need to repent of their sins and turn to God,” Utah Idaho Southern Baptist Convention Executive Director Rob Lee told Baptist Press. “Great music too on a cold and wet evening in Northern Utah.
“It’s incredible that the crusade came together in six weeks. To see the UCCU center packed out to hear the Gospel and so many respond to the Lord is so powerful.”
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