Greg Laurie Brings Gospel to University of Utah Where Charlie Kirk Was Murdered

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Greg Laurie Brings Gospel to University of Utah Where Charlie Kirk Was Murdered

Pastor and evangelist Greg Laurie shares the remarkable story of bringing the gospel to the University of Utah, the very place where Charlie Kirk was murdered. In just six weeks, Laurie organized a crusade that drew 10,000 people in person and 200,000 online viewers, resulting in 2,500 professions of faith in Christ. The conversation explores the redemptive power of tragedy, the rise of anti-Semitism, signs of revival among young people, and Erika Kirk's powerful act of forgiveness. Laurie and host Eric Metaxas discuss how God can bring light out of darkness, even in the midst of unthinkable loss.

December 5, 2025

A Modern Miracle in Utah

Eric Metaxas welcomes back his friend, pastor and evangelist Greg Laurie, for a conversation about an extraordinary event that took place at the University of Utah. Laurie, known for his decades of evangelistic work and featured in the film Jesus Revolution, recently organized a crusade at the very location where Charlie Kirk was murdered.

The two friends begin with their characteristic humor and warmth, discussing their unlikely friendship between a Yale graduate who wrote the Bonhoeffer book and a Harvard High School graduate. Their ability to be both deeply serious about faith and willing to joke around creates a unique dynamic that carries throughout the conversation.

From Tragedy to Redemption

Laurie explains that after Charlie Kirk's assassination, he and his team reached out to pastors in Utah to ask what they could do. The response was immediate: come sooner. In an unprecedented move, Laurie organized a full crusade in just six weeks, something that normally takes six months to a year.

The crusade was held at the arena at UVU (University of Utah), in a county that is 80% LDS (Latter-day Saints/Mormon). Laurie met with LDS elders at their headquarters and even encountered their new president in the hallway. Despite the theological divide between the LDS church and evangelical Christianity, Laurie was welcomed with open arms.

The night before the event, Laurie visited the actual site where Charlie was killed. He describes it as very sad and sobering, but it reinforced his mission: to go to this place where an act of darkness took place and shine the radiant light of the gospel.

Extraordinary Results

The crusade drew approximately 9,000-10,000 people to the arena, with another 10,000 watching in overflow venues around Utah. When it was all said and done, 1,500 people walked forward to make a profession of faith to follow Christ. The event was also streamed online, where another 200,000 people watched and an additional 1,000 made professions of faith.

In total, 2,500 people came to Christ through this event. Laurie is careful to note that he's not saying Charlie died so this could happen, but rather that despite the worst tragedy, God intervened and a miracle took place. He references Charlie's favorite verse, Romans 8:28, which says that all things work together for good to those that love God.

A Divine Encounter at Mar-a-Lago

Laurie asks Metaxas about a viral video showing President Trump at Mar-a-Lago saying Metaxas was "the guy that's gonna get me into heaven." Metaxas explains he was at a friend's wedding at Mar-a-Lago when Trump appeared to bless the celebration. When Trump made the comment, Metaxas responded by saying he would actually like to talk to the president about how one gets into heaven, but not at that moment as it would have been rude during the wedding celebration.

The video went viral, with 25 articles written about it, including one from the Times of India. Some media outlets referred to Metaxas as a "MAGA preacher," despite the fact that he's not even ordained. Both men agree that Trump has heard the gospel many times, including from Speaker of the House Mike Johnson, who had extensive conversations with Trump especially after the Pennsylvania assassination attempt. They encourage prayer that the gospel takes complete root in Trump's heart.

The Rise of Anti-Semitism

The conversation turns to the disturbing rise of anti-Semitism in modern times. Metaxas expresses shock that he's seeing this in his lifetime, having never dreamed it would happen. He shares that when he posts pro-Israel or pro-Jewish content on social media, he doesn't gain followers despite high engagement, and receives vile anti-Semitic responses on X (Twitter).

Laurie draws a parallel between the Holocaust and the modern state of Israel, explaining that the worst tragedy in history led to the birth of Israel on May 14, 1948, which he believes is a modern-day miracle and fulfillment of prophecy. He notes that the worst recent tragedy for Israel was October 7th, when over 1,200 Israeli men, women, and children were brutally murdered by Hamas.

Both men agree that evangelical Christians are the best friends of the Jewish people and that God has not broken his covenant or promises to the Jews. They're seeing wonderful stories of Jewish people coming to understand that Jesus can be their Messiah.

Signs of the Last Days

Laurie believes we're living in the last days and that Christ could come back at any time. He references Revelation, which says the devil has come down and knows his time is short. Laurie explains that Satan is quite orthodox in his beliefs—he believes the Bible is the word of God, that Jesus is the son of God, and that Jesus is coming back. Satan's goal is to wreak as much havoc as possible until Christ returns.

Rather than retreating, Laurie insists Christians should be bold. The best weapon in the arsenal is the gospel of Jesus Christ, which needs to be proclaimed boldly without embarrassment, perhaps with greater boldness than ever before.

The Blood of the Martyrs

Metaxas references Tertullian's statement from around 200 AD: "The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church." He notes that we're seeing this happen in real time—Elon Musk, Jesse Watters from Fox News, and many others are coming to faith or expressing new interest in Christianity.

Laurie points out that the ultimate tragedy was the death of Jesus Christ, but from that came the salvation of the world. He draws a parallel to Stephen, the first Christian martyr, noting that after Stephen was killed, the gospel began to spread rapidly. The church had been staying in Jerusalem, but after Stephen's martyrdom, they spread out as Jesus had commanded.

Laurie sees Charlie Kirk as reminiscent of Stephen—another young man who spoke about his faith only moments before an assassin killed him. Now more people are hearing Charlie's message than ever before, more people are buying Bibles, and more young people, especially Gen Z and young men, are coming back to church. Charlie's death poured rocket fuel on a pre-existing revival fire.

The Pain of Loss and the Hope of Reunion

Laurie mentions that Erika Kirk said in an interview with Jesse Watters that if Charlie was given the choice to come back from heaven, he would say no because of all the wonderful things God has done. However, Laurie notes that Erica also told him, "I wish we could have all that God is doing and I could have Charlie back."

Laurie deeply understands this pain. Sixteen years ago, his son Christopher was killed in an automobile accident. The holidays are especially difficult. He told his wife Kathy that he wished they could have all the amazing things God was doing through their ministry and have Christopher back too. But Laurie affirms the Christian hope: one day we're going to have it all and be reunited with our loved ones.

The Power of Forgiveness

Metaxas recalls being at Charlie's memorial service in Phoenix when Erika Kirk said she forgave the murderer. He describes this as the clearest example of Christian faith possible. He told her it was "like dropping a hand grenade into the bowels of hell"—that by forgiving the murderer of her husband, she did damage to the dark kingdom.

Both men agree that we are in a glorious moment, with much more to come. Metaxas reveals he has a book coming out about the American Revolution, as big as his Bonhoeffer book, that will tell the whole story and show God's hand in it, which he says is unavoidable. The book will release during America's "super centennial"—the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding.

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