Brother Jed - The Campus Ministry

The Campus Ministry

Smock has written a spiritual autobiography entitled "Who Will Rise Up?" in which he describes his dissolute youth and conversion experience as well as presenting his justification for his confrontational style of evangelism. Brother Jed, in his book, recalls how he converted to Christianity after being preached to by an Arab in Morocco. Smock began preaching to students at Indiana University in 1974, and he founded Campus Ministry USA in 1984 after realizing he wanted to make evangelism his life's work.

Brother Jed and his wife Cynthia D. Lasseter Smock (a.k.a. “Sister Cindy”) use a distinctive preaching style, termed "confrontational evangelism" in the subtitle of his autobiography, "Who Will Rise Up?" This controversial variant of evangelism is shared by many street-preachers, campus pastors and other evangelicals, who hope that a spiritual rebuke will force sinners to repent. In his Autobiography he refers to his College Evangelical Group as "The Destroyers"; but this name is not presently being used on his website. College newspapers have reported some of his statements: "I don't know how the whorehouses in this town stay open — all of you sorority girls are giving it away for free!," "Who are you, Bob Marley?" (said to a black student with dreadlocks), and "The only thing Mexicans contribute to society is burritos and Jewish people are only good at making bagels and running banks." He often shouts, "A masturbator today is a homosexual tomorrow." His assistants carry signs declaring that feminists, liberals and those who listen to rock and roll are destined for Hell, along with homosexuals, fornicators and masturbators. As a result of his aggressive and confrontational style of preaching, Brother Jed is frequently mocked and accused of intolerance. He and Cindy have five daughters, all of whom have accompanied them on their travels and appearances on college campuses.

They are members of the United Methodist Church. However their actions, views, and theology are not indicative of that church.

Smock's ministry has attracted a group of mock-devotees, calling themselves "Jed Heads".