The GOSPEL TRUTH
This book can be purchased directly from the Author: Click Here

WHO WILL RISE UP?

by JED SMOCK

 Copyright by Jed Smock 1985

Used by Permission

 Confrontational Evangelism on Campus

[SEE INDEX OF CHAPTERS BELOW]

 

PREFACE

Twenty thousand copies of the first edition of Who Will Rise Up? which was originally published in l985 were sold and distributed. I have received numerous testimonies of people who were inspired to preach or become a bolder witness as a result of reading this work. It represented the first decade of my call and ministry. The book has been out of print for two years.

This second edition is a revised, expanded and updated version. The first nineteen chapters and chapter 22 remain the same except for paragraphs or sections (especially in chapters 8, 11, 12, and 14) I have added to expand my thoughts or update events.

On occasion I have deleted names to save certain individuals embarrassment over sins that have long since been forgiven. Time references have been updated. Chapter 20 and 21 represents all new information. Chapter 20 is an overview of my ministry over the last decade. Chapter 21 reviews my call to the ministry and explains how others might recognize God's summons. The appendixes were not in the first edition.

Frequently, students who heard me in the late seventies or early eighties and have returned to school to pursue advanced degrees, or have even become professors tell me that I have "mellowed" over the years. Hopefully, I have matured as I have come to better understand God's nature and character. Since I have gained more knowledge, I am better prepared to intellectually defend the faith. Also, I do not usually have to reprove and rebuke with the former intensity, because I have been able to tame the students to a degree over the years. In fact it is the students' response that has mellowed as much if not more so than my preaching, so that it is not necessary for me to be so combative. Finally, since I have gained a greater reputation, I do not need to be so outrageous in order to gain and hold attention. Of course, I still have the capacity to "call down fire from heaven" with my former fervor.

Essentially, my confrontative approach and holiness message remains the same as evidenced in the fact I did not believe it essential to eliminate significant events or teachings from the first edition.

INTRODUCTION

The mind-set of the typical college professor is to either ignore or ridicule and discredit the Christian faith. Searching for an excuse to rebel against God, I quickly fell for the lies of my University of Florida teachers. I swallowed the theory of evolution, gulped down secular humanism and slurped in socialism.

The students that I met who named the name of Christ hardened me in my unbelief. With their mouths they spoke of much faith but with their lives they said, "Jesus is not alive" and "No truth in Christianity." There was the "fundamentalist" freshman whom I met at a dorm beer bash. He spent the rest of the quarter taking me to movies, parties and, yes, trying to get me to pray the "sinner's prayer." I thought, "He is living the same kind of life that I am. What has Christ done for him?"

By my sophomore year I blatantly scoffed at God, denied Jesus and classified the Bible as man-made myth. In my utter ignorance and total depravity I smirked the familiar argument, "There is no proof." Even though I had blinded my own eyes to the obvious evidences, God in His mercy was pleased to show me even more truth. He did this through one determined soldier of the cross: Jed Smock. "Brother Jed," as the students call him, preached holiness: total obedience to God from a right intention of heart. This was unusual enough but the convincing blow was that he really lived it.

When I realized this I asked, "How can a man be holy without the power of God?" Jed assured me that it was through Christ alone that he had been made free indeed from sin. Persuaded that Jesus is real, I knew that the right and reasonable thing to do was to forsake sin and follow Him.

I now know that I would be obligated to obey Christ even if every soul in the world were a hypocrite. However, I am proud to report that Jed has never let me down. I have known him for over sixteen years. We have been married since July 30, 1983 and I have never seen him commit one sin. The grace of God is powerful! Chapter 13 of I Corinthians, often called the "love chapter," is a perfect description of my husband. He truly loves, honors and cherishes me as he vowed to do. The Bible instructs wives to consider Sarah, who called Abraham "lord," as an example for us. And like her, I find great joy in serving and obeying my wonderful husband.

From the beginning I looked to Jed as a Knight in Shining Armor. The type of man that today's girl would never dream exists. He is strong, courageous, fearless, unshakable and best of all -- HOLY. He is governed by unselfish love and a supreme desire to promote the Kingdom of God. He has the heart of an evangelist, the voice of a prophet, the mind of a theologian and the commitment of a martyr. His heart thumps for revival and agonizes for a return to holiness and righteous living. No doubt he is an apple of God's eye.

Jed Smock has spent the last decade preaching on the university campuses of America. He may be the only preacher that is better known among the sinners than the saints. Five days a week, five hours a day, he can be found at an open-air rostrum confronting college students with the truths of God. Therefore the majority of collegiates have either heard him or heard of him. Christians have said that they cannot mention the name of Christ around campus without someone bringing up "Brother Jed."

Jed is very qualified to address the university community. He has been around academe most of his life. His late father was head of the English Department at Indiana State University. That is where Jed earned a B.S. in Social Studies, a M.S. in U.S. History and did postgraduate work in counseling and psychology. He taught for five years at the junior high, high school and college levels. It is no surprise that after his conversion, he would want to return to familiar stomping grounds and proclaim the great salvation of our Lord! In spite of insults, scorning and constant haranguing,he never grows weary of well-doing. In spite of being pied, egged, mobbed and even physically abused, his love for the students has never failed. Each day he joyfully enters the battlefield hoping to snatch more souls from the flames.

Many look at an outdoor preacher as someone who cannot get into the pulpit. Often, those who start with an open-air ministry let it fall to the wayside when they become popular in the churches. Jed refuses to let this happen. Even though he has been well received in congregations across the country, he always puts the campuses first. He has been faithful to leave the ninety-nine to find the one lost lamb. He often speaks for several hours each afternoon on campus and then holds nightly meetings in a local church. For this we can be grateful because the church as well as the secular world desperately need to hear Jed Smock's timely message.

I wrote this introduction ten years ago as a very enthusiastic newlywed who felt she had married the most wonderful man in the world. After a decade of married life I would like to share something about my husband that few people know. Jed Smock is in a ministry and calling that is very contrary to his nature. His natural constitution is to be peaceful, gentle and nonconfrontive. In our home he refuses to argue, never complains, doesn't raise his voice and tenderly instructs me and the children. Living with him I came to a revelation of the Lord Jesus as the Prince of Peace. Jed really rules our home as a prince of peace. I say this not to give undo glory to a man but to show how our God will work gloriously in and through a yielded vessel. Oh, we need more men who will submit to God and rule their families with His love.

People who see Jed rebuking the wicked on campus might be surprised to know that in his home he exemplifies the charity (love) which I Corinthians 13 says: is never easily provoked and thinketh no evil of others. As we have journeyed together through the joys and trials of family life I have experienced this love. I have stood back in awe and wondered why a man so disposed to peace would choose such a controversial ministry. I concluded that it was for the same reason that the Lord endured such a contradiction of sinners against himself. Today, I am convinced more than ever that Jed Smock is a man led by the Holy Spirit.

Sister Cindy Smock

 

"If you can tell one person about me you can preach. Just say the same thing, but say it louder so everyone can hear."--The Spirit of God.

 

 INDEX OF CHAPTERS:

Chapter 1 CRASHING A ROCK CONCERT

Chapter 2 EARLY LIFE

Chapter 3 THE MAKING AND BREAKING OF A HIPPIE

Chapter 4 "HOLY HUBERT" AND BROTHER MAX

Chapter 5 CAUSING NO SMALL STIR

Chapter 6 THE MULTITUDES GATHER

Chapter 7 FROM DISCO QUEEN TO GOSPEL PREACHER

Chapter 8 OPEN REBUKE IS BETTER . . .

Chapter 9 MOCKED, MOBBED, BEATEN, STONED AND IMPRISONED

Chapter 10 THE UNIVERSITIES FROM CHRIST TO DARWIN . . . AND BEYOND

Chapter 11 SEX, BOOZE, DRUGS AND ROCK 'N ROLL

Chapter 12 IN THE NEWS

Chapter 13 SIN IN THE CAMP

Chapter 14 COURTSHIP AND MARRIAGE

Chapter 15 ON CHRISTIAN PERFECTION

Chapter 16 SAINTS OF VALOR

Chapter 17 FOLLOW-UP?

Chapter 18 MORE ISSUES AND ANSWERS

Chapter 19 MORE QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Concluding REMARKS

 

Return to OTHERS page