As tens of thousands of people poured into State Farm Stadium ahead of the official 11:00 a.m. start to Charlie Kirk’s memorial service, many of those who had already filled the stadium Sunday morning joined in the live worship music that began at 8:00 a.m. Even as lines wrapped around the field outside, inside, worship leaders led attendees in song and prayer, declaring, “Jesus is in this place.” Many noted that Kirk’s death has ushered in what feels like a spirit of revival in America.

Kirk often said that his legacy should not be measured by politics but by his faith. “I want to be remembered for courage for my faith,” he said in one interview. “That would be the most important thing. The most important thing is my faith.”

He frequently pointed audiences back to Jesus as the center of his work. “It’s not about politics, it’s about the truth of Jesus Christ,” Kirk told students during a campus event. “Every knee will bow, every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord.”

In his speeches, Kirk urged young people not to shrink from sharing their beliefs. “Faith is not something you keep private. It is the courage to live it openly, even when the world tells you not to,” he said.

So far, the memorial, hosted on a Sunday, has felt more like a church than a political gathering. As worship filled the stadium, the name of Jesus rang out for hours. The event is expected to draw more than 65,000 people, with overflow locations planned to accommodate the large crowds.