Prayer vigil for Charlie Kirk planned for Saturday in Winter Garden

Winter Garden residents and evangelists Chris Mikkelson and his wife, Amanda, were considering attending Charlie Kirk’s funeral, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 21, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona.

Instead, they will spend the weekend honoring Kirk right here at home.

The Mikkelsons, who run the West Orange-based Chris Mikkelson Ministries, will host a prayer vigil at 6:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 20, on the steps of Winter Garden City Hall, 300 W. Plant St.

It’s what Charlie would have wanted.

“Charlie would rather have us here doing this in our community,” Chris Mikkelson said. “We’re calling for the churches of West Orange to come together to honor the life and legacy of Charlie Kirk.”

The vigil will give residents a chance to come together to remember Kirk. Pastors from several local churches, including Lakeside Church, Glad Tidings Church, Kingdom Culture, The River Clermont and others, will speak, and Chris Mikkelson also will preach.

At the end, attendees will be invited to participate in a candlelight vigil. Guests are encouraged to bring their own candles or use their cell phone flashlight.

The Mikkelsons were inspired to host the vigil after learning of a similar one Florida Gulf Coast University students held Sept. 15 in Estero.

Chris Mikkelson called the city of Winter Garden on the afternoon of Tuesday, Sept. 16. Wednesday morning, city officials responded.

“Winter Garden is all for it,” Chris Mikkelson said. “They’re offering City Hall and off-duty officers.

“This is such an opportunity to be there for people, to reach Christians,” he said. “People are hurting, and it is a time to be the body of Christ in public. We’re going to preach the gospel and point people to Jesus.”

For more information about the vigil, click here.