A touring preacher, who visits college campuses all over the nation, recently stopped in at Missouri State University.

Jed Smock's visit didn't come without controversy. That's because his confrontational style isn't always received well.

It's that opposition, he says, that fuels his desire to do what he does.

"Turn from your sins today and Jesus Christ the Lord will set you free from your sins," shouts Jed Smock, standing on the east side of Strong Hall on the Missouri State University campus.

If you've never heard of Jed Smock, you haven't been on a college campus the same day as him. A confrontational shout is the way college students across the U.S. have met him for decades.

"I'm warning you," he shouted.

Brother Jed, as he's called, is more of a 'cross-shaker' than a 'hand-shaker.

"Anybody else serving Jesus?" shouted Smock.

This former hippie, turned preacher, tours the country with the hopes of converting people to Christianity.

"I go to the center of campus around the noon hour and start preaching against sin, calling students to repentance and faith in the lord Jesus Christ," says Smock.

"It's a spectacle," says Missouri State student JT Eberhard.

He shouts at passersby and points out, what he perceives are, their faults.

"That drunkenness will send you to hell!" shouted Smock.

His message is not always well received.

"Show the love of God, not the condemnation!" shouted one student.

"I don't feel like he's trying to bring people to Jesus, he's more threatening them," says Missouri State student Mark Nichols.

"It seems to drive them into a sexual frenzy," shouted Smock. "Are you that kind of girl?"

"At this point, it's just a screaming match," says Missouri State student Gretchen Smith.

"You're exactly what's wrong with Christians in this world!" shouted another student.

"I'm confrontational and I get a lot of opposition, mockery, ridicule," says Smock.

Smock doesn't mind the negative responses.

"Jesus was confrontational and you gotta get people's attention. You got to confront evil," says Smock.

It does get people talking.

"I believe I'm planting seeds in people's hearts and minds that will eventually germinate and bring about a change in the lives of many," says Smock.

"Why is your god more credible?" asked Eberhard of Smock.

"I believe it because of the revelation of the bible," replied Smock.

"I don't expect to get converts today, but I want to get people thinking and make Christianity an issue on campus," says Smock.

Even if 'Brother Jed' didn't plant any seeds, he did succeed in getting people talking, and put on a show.

"For me, there's some entertainment value," says Nichols.

Missouri State University officials say there's no problem with Smock preaching on campus. The university has a free speech policy and he hasn't violated it.

Smock generally stops by once a semester.

Contact: dmagditch@kspr.com