Farrington described Kirk as a mentor to young people who thrived on debate and encouraged faith.
ROCKLIN, Calif. — At Destiny Christian Church in Rocklin, grief over the assassination of Charlie Kirk was deeply felt.
Although Kirk did not live locally, members said his ties to the church ran deep. He spoke at Destiny in 2020 and 2022 and had been scheduled to return in January.
“Even though Charlie did not live here locally, to us he is a friend to Destiny Church for sure,” said Christine Lopez Baker, Pastor of Destiny Church Sacramento.
Head Pastor Greg Farrington said his friendship with Kirk went beyond the pulpit. He recalled sharing meals, watching football and praying together.
“He was a patriot. He loved America. He loved truth. He loved the Word of God,” Farrington said. “We enjoyed life together but we also had the same conviction and passion that was for our nation.”
Farrington described Kirk as a mentor to young people who thrived on debate and encouraged faith.
“He loved to be on college campuses debating and reasoning because he wanted this younger generation to know what this nation was about,” Farrington said.
The church officials say the attendance swelled at the church’s Wednesday night service after the shooting, with more than 1,200 women and 600 men gathering. Around 450 joined in the spanish ministry. Many offered prayers for Kirk’s wife, children and those closest to him.
“This is what the church is here for and our doors are open. We definitely have seen more people come out tonight,” Lopez Baker said.
Joshua Nicolet, another member of Destiny Church, said Kirk’s influence was personal.
“I love Charlie and his values and things like that. I love how he runs his family. And it’s a great loss. Like I have never met somebody more brilliant than him. And so it was very difficult.”
As the congregation grieved, Farrington urged unity.
“Our nation needs hope. Our nation is broken. Our nation is confused. It’s divided more than ever before. We need to come together,” he said.