Charlie Kirk was to have appeared World Outreach Church’s second Culture & Christianity Conference, which got underway Sept. 19. The gathering, which continues Sept. 20, will honor Kirk’s legacy and promote his advocacy for a more politically bold Christian witness.
Kirk, who was killed Sept. 10 by an assassin’s bullet, co-founded of Turning Point USA Faith, a spin-off organization to his political advocacy group, Turning Point USA, to mobilize conservative Christian pastors to be more vocal about politics. Also, the Christian radio conglomerate Salem Media Group had syndicated a talk show that Kirk hosted for five years prior to his death.
Affiliates of Kirk’s from his work with Turning Point USA and Salem will appear at the Culture & Christianity Conference.
The event was to formally honor Kirk in a video tribute during a Sept. 19 evening session, and events beforehand referenced Kirk’s memory. World Outreach senior pastor Allen Jackson and retired Franklin pastor George Grant both referenced Kirk in speeches during an afternoon session focused on the church. “Charlie stood, knowing the risks, knowing jeopardy, but knowing the Lord who prevails overall,” Franklin pastor George Grant said in an address during an afternoon session on the church. World Outreach senior pastor Allen Jackson said in opening remarks for the afternoon session that the crowd, in their grief for Kirk’s death, should glean from this weekend’s summit lessons about how to continue Kirk’s mission.
“Don’t rage against the darkness, turn up the light,” Jackson said. The event drew about 3,000 total registrants, selling out seating for the main sanctuary and an overfill room with a live stream of the speakers.
Here’s what else you need to know about the event.
A prominent Murfreesboro megachurch, World Outreach has become known for its outspoken support for conservative political figures and ideals. The congregation counts 15,000-plus members, according to an April 2024 news release about the inaugural Culture & Christianity Conference. Speakers at that event included Fox News host Kaleigh McEnany, podcaster Allie B. Stuckey and actor Kirk Cameron. Jackson is nationally known for his support of the state of Israel and other conservative political views. He also leads Allen Jackson Ministries and hosts a show for Salem Radio Christian teaching radio programs.
Other friends of Kirk are expected to speak at the Culture & Christianity Conference, and just a couple of days before a public memorial service for Kirk in Arizona on Sunday, Sept. 21. Those speakers include Rob McCoy, pastor emeritus of Godspeak Calvary Chapel in Thousand Oaks, California who founded TPUSA Faith with Kirk, and Eric Metaxas, a popular conservative radio talk show host. Metaxas’ talk show is syndicated by Salem Media Group. Another speaker, Brandon Tatum, also hosted a talk show for Salem Radio Network for a couple years. Alex Marlow, editor-in-chief of the right-wing media website Breitbart News, is also set to speak at the conference.
Erika Kirk was set to accompany her husband at the Culture & Christianity Conference prior to Charlie Kirk’s death. The conference took Erika Kirk off the list of scheduled speakers earlier this week.
Liam Adams covers religion for The Tennessean, part of the USA TODAY Network. Reach him at ladams@tennessean.com or on social media @liamsadams.
Summit underway at Middle Tennessee church where Charlie Kirk was set to speak – The Tennessean
