Chris Tomlin, Brandon Lake, Phil Wickham, and Kari Jobe Among Artists Leading Worship at State Farm Stadium Gathering
GLENDALE, Ariz. —
Some of contemporary Christian music’s most recognized worship leaders gathered Sunday at State Farm Stadium to lead thousands in worship during a memorial service for conservative activist Charlie Kirk, who was assassinated on September 10, 2025, an event that many Christians believe could be catalyzing a spiritual awakening across America.
The memorial service, organized by Turning Point USA, drew over 200,000 attendees to the Glendale venue, with millions more participating through live streams. The worship segment, which preceded the main tributes and speeches, featured an impressive lineup of artists who have shaped modern church worship across denominational lines, creating what many described as a revival atmosphere.
In the days following Kirk’s death, social media platforms have been flooded with posts from individuals declaring their intention to attend church for the first time. “I’ve never been to church but am attending this Sunday,” became a recurring theme across countless X posts, suggesting Kirk’s martyrdom has touched something deeper in the American consciousness.
Church leaders nationwide are reporting attendance increases. Forum discussions among church leaders indicate significant rises in worship attendance the Sunday following Kirk’s death, with many congregations seeing visitors who haven’t attended church in years—or ever.
Chris Tomlin, often called “America’s worship leader,” opened the service with his signature songs “Holy Forever” and “How Great Is Our God.” From the platform, Tomlin declared, “At the name of Jesus, every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord,” words that seemed to resonate with unusual power given the circumstances.
“We thank God for Charlie’s example,” Tomlin said in a statement about Kirk’s life. “He shows us that faith isn’t passive – it’s action. It’s courage. It’s standing when the world says sit down.”
Brandon Lake, whose “Gratitude” performance was carried live by TBN, led moments of collective prayer and acknowledgment of God’s presence that felt charged with anticipation. During his set, Lake called out to the massive crowd: “Can we acknowledge that the presence of God is in this place? If we could have one moment with all of our attention, point it to the one who deserves it.”
The Grammy-winning artist reflected deeply on Kirk’s death in social media posts, noting the personal impact of the tragedy. “The man was representing Christ in the way he felt called to represent Christ. And he lost his life over it,” Lake shared in an Instagram reel. “And as somebody that gets up on a stage every week, to represent Jesus the best I know how, it just hits different.”
Phil Wickham brought Scripture to comfort the mourners, quoting from Revelation: “He will wipe every tear from every eye.” His participation came despite what he described as a “grieved and heavy” heart over the tragic circumstances.
“My heart is grieved and heavy. It’s difficult to process the horrific evil hatred,” Wickham said in a statement. “I pray God’s hand of comfort and peace and nearness over Charlie Kirk’s family and loved ones. That in the brokenness of their hearts God would draw near.”
The worship segment also featured the husband-and-wife duo of Kari Jobe and Cody Carnes, who have become influential voices in the worship movement through their individual and collaborative work. Their performance included “The Blessing,” a song that became particularly meaningful during the COVID-19 pandemic and has since become a staple in churches nationwide.
Jobe addressed the crowd with a prophetic urgency: “We need our land healed, amen? We need our country healed.”
Carnes reflected on the broader response to violence and tragedy in his remarks about the memorial: “Let us grieve the evil… and as we grieve, sow those seeds of love that snuff it out.”
The worship portion of the memorial also included special music from Lee Greenwood and Steve Amerson, though they were not among the primary worship leaders for the service.
The gathering represents one of the largest worship events in recent history, with multiple news outlets including Newsweek and Fox News covering the service extensively. LiveNOW provided live coverage that captured the worship leadership and order of service, confirming the participation of all the major artists.
For worship leaders across the country, the event demonstrated the unique role that contemporary Christian music plays in times of national mourning and tragedy. More importantly, many are seeing signs that Kirk’s death has awakened something profound in the American spirit. The artists’ willingness to set aside busy touring schedules to participate reflects not just pastoral care, but recognition that this moment could mark a turning point.
The memorial service highlighted how worship music continues to serve as a unifying force during divisive times, with songs that are sung weekly in churches across denominational lines providing comfort and hope to grievers regardless of their political affiliations. But beyond unity, many Christians are sensing an unusual spiritual hunger emerging from this tragedy.
As churches nationwide process this tragic event, many worship leaders may find themselves helping to steward what could be the beginning of widespread revival. The example set by these nationally recognized artists at State Farm Stadium offers a model for how worship can create sacred space that transcends political divisions and touches hearts ready for transformation.
Whether this moment will prove to be the spark of the next Great Awakening remains to be seen, but ministry leaders nationwide are preparing their hearts and churches for what many believe could be an unprecedented move of God.
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