Cindy Smock, known on social media as Sister Cindy, arrived on campus Monday afternoon to share her beliefs with Ohio University students.
Smock is an evangelical Christian campus preacher from Indiana who has gained over 400,000 followers on TikTok since her rise to virality with her famous “Ho No Mo” slogan. She has traveled to college campuses across the country to preach her core religious beliefs, now adding OU to the list.
“This is part of my tour,” Smock said. “I got a lot of invitations here, and I’m here to share the gospel of Jesus.”
Smock attended the University of Florida and studied journalism, but has been preaching on campuses for over 40 years. She and her husband, George Edward Smock, known as Brother Jed, started the Campus Ministry USA to spread their messages.
The TikTok preacher attracted a large crowd at the front of College Green. Students and passersby circled and stopped to listen to Smock, who sat in a folding chair and shared her thoughts through a microphone.
“My main message is ‘Ho No Mo’ revolution; repent of your sins and follow the Lord Jesus Christ,” Smock said.
Smock brought students to the middle of the circle, asking them personal questions about their sexual history. She also offered buttons for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump’s campaign as a reward.
The audience had mixed reactions to Smock’s beliefs. Some took in the scene, while others participated in her presentation by calling out answers to her questions and cheering on her proclamations. Some students questioned the genuineness of her persona.
Wylie Lytle, a junior studying political science, was a part of Smock’s display. After asking the audience what word the Bible uses in reference to “hoes” and “sluts,” Lytle shouted the word “w----,” and Smock called her to the middle. Nervous that she was going to have to go through a quiz like three boys before she did, Smock only asked for her name and gave her a signed “Ho No Mo” button.
“I don’t take it very seriously at all,” Lytle said. “I can’t honestly tell if she’s satire or not, but if she’s not satire, it’s pretty impressive that she’s been going this long getting this kind of reaction because everybody here clearly thinks she’s a joke. But she’s pretty resilient in her belief. She holds pretty true to them.”
Lytle attended for entertainment purposes, recognizing Smock from TikTok.
“I obviously am not a very religious person at all, so I’m just kind of here for the gag of it and because I wanted a button because I’ve seen her on TikTok,” Lytle said.
Others had no expectations when walking through College Green today, but were instead met with Smock and the massive crowd she gathered.
“I’m confused,” Brayden Cleighton, a freshman studying sports management, said. “My roommate texted me to come. He didn’t tell me anything, he just said to come to College Green, and I came, and I’m very glad I did.”
Cleighton said he felt weirded out during Smock’s presentation of “Sister Cindy’s Slut-Shaming Show.”
“If she’s faking it, she’s a great actor, but I think it might be real,” Cleighton said. “She’s been doing this for 45 years. You don’t fake something that much, I don’t think you do.”
Although the majority of the crowd was only egging Smock on in their positive responses to her questions, some attendees valued her presence on OU’s campus.
Adrienne Barnes, the mom of an OU student, is visiting her daughter with her husband. While walking with their daughter to class, the family stopped to listen in on Smock’s event.
“The Ten Commandments aren’t new to me, we’re faithful Christians,” Barnes said. “Nothing here is surprising to me, but I hope the number of people raising their hands that believe aren’t all being facetious.”
Despite some students having dissenting beliefs, Smock was happy with the turnout of her stop in Athens.
“It was a great session, a lot of truth went for it, and they were good listeners,” Smock said.
