This time, controversial preacher faced topless protesters, Satanist at MSU

When Brother Jed Smock came to Missouri State University early this week to share his brand of "confrontational evangelism," he was met with shirtless female protesters and a Satanist.

As he preached Tuesday in the grassy area behind Plaster Student Union, Smock said he appreciated having a Satanist there.

"At least he knows it," Smock preached. "Most students are following Satan and they don't even know it."

Smock is not a new face at MSU. According to protester and student Jessica Lawson, Smock comes to the Springfield campus once or twice a semester and often draws the ire of passers-by with his use of brash and confrontational messages.

A News-Leader story from 1995 reported Smock calling MSU students "whoremongers" and "vipers."

Lawson is also a member of the Free the Nipple group. She said students are tired of Smock calling women "whores" and saying terrible things about the LGBT community.

"What he is saying is hate speech. It shouldn't be accepted as free speech. He crosses the line," she said. "I asked him, 'Why do you cherry pick things from the Bible to yell at people? You pick the nastiest things to yell at people.'"

Lawson said she believes people arguing with Smock only fuels the preacher. Being confronted with topless women made Smock uncomfortable, she said.

More than five members of the Free the Nipple group protested topless on Monday, Lawson said. On Tuesday, more than 15 showed up, but most kept their shirts on because it was cool and windy.

The self-proclaimed Satanist, Thomas Essel, joined the Free the Nipple people on Tuesday. Dressed in black, Essel carried a black and white American flag and faux ram's head.

"The reason I'm a Satanist is the things he is saying are in the Bible," Essel said. "I want to show that there is more than just fire and brimstone preachers. There are other religious opinions."

Essel said he doesn't believe in a "literal Satan."

"It's a metaphor," he said. "(Satanism) is very much about personal liberties. It's about standing up to arbitrary authority. It's not about worshiping the devil and sacrificing cats.

"I love cats."

Smock, better known as Brother Jed, said he's been traveling around to college campuses to "declare the gospel of Jesus" for more than 40 years.

"We are not afraid to address controversial issues. We are against the feminist movement," he told the News-Leader before he began preaching Tuesday.

Smock said he came to MSU to "address moral issues."

"Statistically, college students are sexually active," he said. "If they believe in atonement, they can have their sins forgiven."

Smock went on to say he was against same-sex marriage.

As he preached on Tuesday, Smock shared his views on women with the students and faculty who had gathered. At one point, about 100 people were there.

"Women have to clean house. They have to cook. They have to do the laundry," he preached.

Lawson responded.

"They have to work. They have to go to school. They have careers," she shouted.

Smock then turned his attention to the men.

"You boys are the real problem. You boys are supposed to be protecting the girls," he said. "You are supposed to treat them with respect and not try to feel them up, boys."

At least once, someone who was not with the protesters shouted at Smock that the student didn't want to hear Smock's version of the gospel anymore.

Smock responded.

"Jesus preached publicly. All of his disciples preached publicly," Smock said. "You can move on. It's free speech."