National Grief Turns People to God

On Sept. 11, a large crowd formed at Orem City Center Park, only two and a half miles from where Charlie Kirk was assassinated the day before on the campus of Utah Valley University. The vigil united a shocked and saddened community. 

“It was a show of massive grief and sorrow,” said Annmarie Flores, a crisis-trained chaplain with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team (BG-RRT). 

Following the shooting, a team of BG-RRT chaplains deployed to Utah and Phoenix, Arizona, where Charlie Kirk’s home and nonprofit headquarters—Turning Point USA—are located. Most people the chaplains encountered felt broken by the state of our nation, and they needed someone to help them process the tragedy and their grief.

There’s hope for our broken nation. Watch a half-hour special with Franklin Graham and Pastor Greg Laurie.

“Something that I found that’s unique to this deployment [is that] no one has refused prayer,” said chaplain Jo Rozier. “This is an act of grace. [We] just offer prayer and follow where the Spirit leads.”

As chaplains walked through the crowd at the vigil, some people stretched out their hands, looking for human touch or a shoulder to cry on. One man in his 60s saw the team’s blue shirts and immediately grabbed the nearest chaplain, weeping. 

Many people openly shared with chaplains about their experiences after the fatal shooting. University students who were present when Kirk was killed expressed gratitude for a listening ear and prayer.  

But the vigil also brought to mind Kirk’s testimony of faith. One man, Alan,* approached a chaplain, visibly shaken by the tragedy. 

“I can’t believe this happened. I’m so angry. He was such a good man,” the man repeated. But then, he paused and said, “I need to be closer to God.”

Alan has followed Kirk’s work for many years and knew Kirk was a Christian, but after his death, it suddenly hit him: What if everything he said about God was true? Alan wondered where he would spend eternity if he had been shot.

Chaplain Steven Flores answered Alan’s questions about what God’s Word says about faith and life after death. Alan expressed his readiness to begin his own journey with Christ right there at the vigil. He prayed with Steven to begin a relationship with Jesus, and he helped connect Alan to a Bible-based church in the area.  

Alan wasn’t the only one grappling with the brevity of life—and what happens after. Chaplains have talked to many others with similar questions and have had an opportunity to point people to hope in Jesus Christ and to nearby churches where they can grow in faith. 

“It’s a diverse crowd that’s contemplating their [spiritual] status,” Rozier said. “Many people have said, ‘I need to get back to church, but I don’t know where to go.’”

A number of people at the vigil—and across the country—have grieved not only for Charlie Kirk, but over the steady stream of violence throughout the year. 

From school shootings to a random stabbing on a North Carolina light rail, so many in America are struggling to make sense of it all.

Rozier refers to this as “corporate grief”—a collective sadness that can cause past personal traumas to resurface. 

That’s what happened with Anna,* who approached Rozier as he stood in the shade. Her husband died a few months ago, and she was overwhelmed with sadness. Rozier asked to pray for her, and she gratefully accepted. After the prayer, her thoughts returned to Kirk’s legacy of faith. 

“How do you know that you’re saved? Charlie was so confident and sometimes I don’t know,” she shared.

Rozier walked Anna through the “Steps to Peace With God,” a booklet that showed her how she could be sure of her faith in Christ if she confessed her sins and asked for His forgiveness. 

Rozier also shared the account in Scripture about the thief on a cross next to Jesus who recognized Him as the Messiah.

“And [the criminal] said, ‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ And he said to him, ‘Truly, I say to you, today you will be with me in paradise’” (Luke 23:42–43, ESV).

Rozier emphasized that Anna couldn’t earn her way to Heaven. All she needed to do was ask Jesus Christ to forgive her sins and then accept His free gift of salvation—so she could be with Him forever in Heaven. 

With that confidence, Anna prayed to accept Christ. She shared how she immediately felt lighter, unburdened by the despair and doubt that had been plaguing her. 

Even in death, Kirk’s faith is helping turn people to Christ, the only One who offers divine comfort on Earth and hope for eternity.

Will you pray for hearts to be softened to the Gospel as chaplains continue ministering in Utah and Arizona? Ask God for more opportunities to offer emotional and spiritual help to those who are hurting.

Do you know where you will spend eternity? You can find peace with God today. 

*Names changed for privacy.