5/8/2008 11:05:10 P.M.

Sir,

I recently turned to the Bible out of a sudden interest that really just came onto me in Grace. I was not seeking the Lord, but He came to me and I actually and suddenly understood the term Lamb of God.

I began to read the scripture, and for once I could read them like an excellent novel, and the personalities and life experiences became clear and I could see it all as I read. I soon found that directly proportional to my interest in the Word, the Lord revealed Himself to me.

There was a girl who worked on my old cable tv show who I became engaged to. She and I had just decided to get married when she was brutally murdered. I have never fully recovered from that horrible experience. I have also never found any peace or understanding of His perfect plan as a result, until I rediscovered the Bible. I also discovered that observing the sabbath made for a much healthier lifestyle and state of mind. Simple as that all is, it has so changed my life.

I think you may be interested to know that there were many times she and I heard your sermons on the University of Florida campus. In my years I have come to appreciate your efforts to bring the gospel to the young minds of America's campuses, and how truly lost this generation seems to be. I feel you have represented a challenge to know the scripture to be able to understand your position. I think for all the blank faces that pass through your life, you need to know that you touch the hearts of some, and challenge all of our personal understandings of the Word of God.

S. Eliot

Follow up email from Steven:

I cannot escape the irony that I came to Hollywood and in the midst of Babylon, found my faith.

I do custom car and motorcycle work. I am a licensed dealer, but we mostly do motor scooters and mopeds. Pretty much any more if you see a moped in a tv show, it probably came from me.

I actually got quite far in the film industry and ended up working on over 187 feature films. I ended my film career as the senior applications engineer for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. I started my business when the war began because I firmly believe that Americans waste too much of everything, and that our oil use had put us in peril by having us in parts of the world we didn’t belong, and that Americans are giving money to our enemies which use it to attack us and our values.

Interestingly enough, the experience of Hollywood made me MORE Christian rather than sucking me into the life of sin so many succumb to here. I was blessed with the tools to defend my soul from the evils that abound in this town. I ran my first shop right in the middle of Hollywood proper and I saw some of the worst human behavior you can imagine.

Now to my delight, my business blossoms. As motorcycle businesses painted themselves more and more with dark brush, with tattoos and piercings and such, we focused on being the good guys, clean cut, veterans, married, Christian, etc. I still draw people to my website with sexy girls, but never ever show nudity. Granted, I cannot really say I am the least conservative compared with you, but in the motorcycle world, I am pretty much the total opposite of West Coast Choppers types of folks. Because of my Hollywood background and good guy reputation, we are very active in multiple major tv and feature film productions. I am active in civil service and volunteer in the community as well as use my celebrity connections to raise money for charities. Yesterday I got a skateboard from the very famous skateboarder and olympic gold medalist, Shaun White, and gave it to the Police Athletic League to help raise money for a new youth center.

I am proud that I have become active in Christian service and I have become friends with Pat Boone who has a wonderful ministry out here. He is a great role model for me as he is VERY successful in the Hollywood community, but he has not sold his soul to Satan even after many years in the middle of it all. He has become a big influence on me, and has shown me that it is possible to keep core values while still staying in the den of lions.

Something I could benefit from your spiritual council is that I fear I am perhaps a form of "Fighting Christian" and I am not tolerant of evil. This is something I need to work on. I am studying the bible specifically to learn how to turn the other cheek, instead of using the sword. This is the hardest thing for me these days. After experiencing murder, I tend to attack rather than forgive. I am much conflicted as a result of my bible studies, seeing so much about the vengeance of the Lord, but I am struggling with the Lamb of God example and letting the Lord be the judge. I need work in this area badly.

Strangely, my example seems to be drawing others to seek the Word. I am not a pushover, wimpy Christian at all. I am not afraid to confront drug dealers or whores around my business, as I do not fear death. I fear most facing the Lord on the day of Judgement and having to answer for things I know I should have done. As a former US Cavalry scout, I have been blessed with a warrior's physique and training. Most bad guys around here are petty thugs and open confrontation has made them simply go elsewhere. This has made me a close friend of LAPD and they are brave people that see bad folks doing bad things daily.

If I had the opportunity, I would love to ask you about my conflicted situation. I am a veteran of the US Cavalry, so I know how to fight. I need to learn about forgiveness. Specifically, I have never been able to forgive the killer of my fiancée. I doubt I ever will. I know that this is a sin, and I pray for forgiveness. It is simply beyond my ability to find any possibility of forgiveness for something so utterly heinous. I also pray that the Lord will have vengeance for me on the murderer and he will spend eternity in Hell. He is still at large, and this is a manifestation of the world's evils that I struggle with.

I decided a long time ago to be the light to his darkness. I have worked to be as good as he is evil. Horrifically, the killer killed my true love in an apparent satanic ritual as he is a known satanist. His very existence confirms my understanding of the active works of Satan on earth. Something else, one cannot live in Hollywood without becoming aware of the actions of Satan and his subtle manipulations.

Definitely tell Bill to contact me if you see him. It is somewhat disappointing to think he is still living the same way. He was given such potential, but he wastes it. A tree that does not grow is a dead one.

I also find it interesting that he represents a common example of people that think they are too smart for God. As I excelled in the highest levels of the Film Academy, my mind opened rather than closed. I find that many in the sciences eventually find God at the center of their quest and that a truly scientific mind must explore the possibilities of a supreme being just to get some grip on what we all find around us. The more I studied, the less I realized I knew. Rather than be confident of my world views, I discovered my own personal insignificance.

2 Samuel 22:17-25

Warmest Regards,
S Elliott

Dear Brother Jed,

I'm the Russian graduate student in physics you met this May at OU.

I want to thank the God for pointing out you for me. As I'm sure he did it. The Holy Spirit spoke from you and touched my heart, but I also want to say sorry for interrupting you along.

After I left I cried and couldn't stop crying because of your challenging work and also shame as of weak Christian faith of mine to preach in any condition to anybody and in a challenging manner. Your example is of great importance and encouragement for me. And I devour your book. And you are one of many great wonders God were doing in my recent time.

I prayed and now I share my faith more fearlessly with people around me. Only personal relationship with God, and his endless mercy despite my many years of treason, daily and intensive study of Bible helps me through. I go to the New Assembly of God but I'm not sure where I belong yet. But I trust God and Holy Spirit to lead me where I should be as I follow so far the 1 John 2:26-27.

A few days later I met the pastor of the church, I had many questions to ask, but I felt that his answers pleasing my selfish mind, but did't get to the heart as your message. And I'm not sure about them giving the spirits and speaking tongs (but I believe the Bible that it is the case to be), as I'm aware of the evil spirits and do not want tempt the God too.

All I want is to serve God and save as many people as possible by help of the Spirit. I think I have Holy Spirit in me but the things above confuses me. So if you can give any advice on this matter I'll be grateful. Also if you share your thoughts about keeping the Sabbath as part of 10 commandments.

If I can help you in anything just let me know. Or next time you come to OU I'll be glad to assist you too. Here the webiste that played crucial role for me http://www.wyattmuseum.com/ so you might be interested to look there too. Thank you again. God bless your mission and your amazing family.

My name is Dolores and we met one time at the Hamilton Christian Center around 1990. I told you this story at that time...

In about 1982, my husband, Hank Volk, attended Indiana State in Terra Haute. He was watching you preach with his friends and was making fun of you and blowing smoke in your face. You asked him if you could pray for him and he said "yes" and you asked Jesus to reveal Himself to him. Some time after that, he was at home and he woke one night to see Jesus standing in his room.

He fell to his knees, he repented and was saved. I also use to attend Broadway Assembly in Lorain Ohio during 1986-87. Jed use to come and preach there for the Sloans. Anyway, I am from the Cleveland area and Hank from IN. We met through the Sloans. We have two boys that are 10 and 13 and they are saved and have the Holy Ghost. We haven't attended the Sloan's church for 10 years. We attend the New Haven Church of God in Harrison Ohio.

I was wondering if you ever come back this way to minister to any churches? Do you visit H.C.C.? Can you e-mail a schedule of your travels? I will never forget your daughter Evangeline at H.C.C., she was so small and she came on the pulpit and said, "God is a consuming fire!!!" I thought that was the most wonderful thing I had ever seen. I just wanted you to know the seeds you plant blossom and another Godly generation is raised up to serve and bless the Lord.

May God bless you always.
Dolores Volk

Sun, 14 Jan 2007 7:17 PM

Dear Jed & Cindy,

It was so good to chat with you, Jed, over the phone a few weeks ago. As promised, I'd like to share a few words of testimony.

I grew up in a non-Christian home in Upstate New York, where my family attended church somewhat regularly. However, in all that time, I never heard the Gospel message. Growing up in the '70s, I bought into all the pop psychologies of the day and did all the wrong things for all the wrong reasons. Let's face it..........I was lost! Therefore, I lived like it.

In 1981, Brother Jed and Sister Cindy were preaching on campus at University of Florida. As one might expect, I was offended by there fiery delivery. I had real objections to their threats of the Lake of Fire and the need to be "born again," whatever that meant. As far as I was concerned, being born again was something the wackos on TV did. I thought I was a good Christian because I was confirmed in my church at age 14, went to church, prayed occasionally ( usually when I wanted something ) and had never done anything "really bad," like murder, etc.

Quite sure of myself, I approached Jed and told him I didn't think I was that bad. I went on to tell him what I thought about all that being "born again" stuff. You can imagine my surprise when Jed started opening his Bible and showing me, out of scripture, that we ALL were really that bad, that sin was real, judgement and wrath were coming against sin, and I needed a savior. That was NOT the positive, feel good message one was used to hearing in church, but that really got my attention! I felt I could argue with people, but I couldn't argue with the scripture.

Jed was one of many faithful brothers God sent my way to show me I was lost in my sin headed for hell. For the first time in my life, I realized I was NOT a Christian, and NOT a child of God. I had no right to call God my Father, unless I confessed my sin and invited Jesus Christ into my life as Lord, as well as Savior. I did that on December 9th, 1981 in Gainesville, Florida, and I have not been the same since. I have God's assurance of eternal life with Him, as well as His perfect peace.

Thank you, Jed and Cindy, for being faithful to share the Gospel. A lot of you may not understand; God will use different styles of evangelism to reach those in different conditions. I needed the style of evengelism God used Jed and Cindy to deliver at that time. It offended me, but looking back on those days, I needed to be offended, otherwise I might not have investigated Jesus Christ.

Bless you guys, and I hope this helps,
John Hornberger

The below testimony is interesting to me, since I am often accused of preaching a works based salvation. It is not through the initial preaching of grace, that men find grace; but it is through the preaching of the law, which can prepare the heart to the Divine influence, which, if received, is then reflected in one’s changed character.- Jed

“Through the law my sin was made known to me. My wretchedness, which I hid in my heart, was brought out, brought to the surface. Dead to Christ and a slave to sin and lusts of the flesh, I was indeed a Pharisee. I was dependent on my works for salvation. I knew some scripture, I attended church occasionally, I was a “good person” and didn’t drink or smoke or curse. However, I knew nothing of faith, hope or love. Truly, I didn’t know Christ.

I thank God for your ministry and the Truth that you spoke to me. I thank God for the seed of the word of life that you planted in my heart. I shudder to think what path I would be on had you not preached the gospel to me.

God bless you and your ministry Brother Jed. Though your words my sin was spotlighted and then you gave me hope of redemption through our Lord Jesus Christ.

Now I may boldly proclaim that I am indeed dead to sin and alive unto Jesus Christ! Glory to God. I encourage you in your ministry and pray that God continues to provide you with good soil.

God Bless You,

E.C. Atchison, University of Missouri—Columbia”

The above testimony was hand delivered to me this past Sunday by the Director of the Wesley Student Center on campus of which E. C. is an active member. He has attended our open houses twice.

10/05/06 10:28 AM

Dear Brother Jed:

Once upon a time, a long time ago, I was a freshman at Ohio University. And one day I was walking through the college green, and I found a large crowd of college students gathered around a group of eccentric-looking individuals, led by you, "discussing" the message of Jesus Christ. I'm not sure why, but for some reason I remember being picked out specifically, and with that long, accusatory pointer finger, you informed me that I was going to Hell.

It's one of the most vivid memories I have of college, actually. After that day, I used to walk across the campus nearly every week day, hoping you'd be there. It was a lot of fun for me actually, seeing the crowds gather, hearing the angry debates, the fiery rhetoric. Oh, I couldn't stand your message, but I really loved it when you were there. I mocked with the best of them, but I never listened. Few of us ever did. Now, twelve years later, I have come to realize I very well may have saved myself a whole lot of heart ache if I'd actually paid attention.

Don't get me wrong, I still don't agree with you on the whole "Lake of Fire" business. And I think your methodology leaves quite a lot to be desired. But I've discovered a lot of respect for you well after the fact. It takes guts to preach on a college campus these days- I didn't realize how one-sided they were until I entered the real world myself. And I understand sometimes the only way to get peoples' attention is to be "eccentric," loud, confrontational. And I hope you continue your ministry for years to come.

As for me, I've returned to the Church, and am a practicing Catholic. I'm a Cantor for the church and a member of the choir. I am also very happily married with two small children, both of whom I plan to send to Catholic school and raise to love Jesus Christ and be good Christians. It was a long, bumpy road to get here, but life is much better since I let Christ back into my heart.

Should you ever visit Houston, TX, drop me an email. I wouldn't mind saying hello.

Take care and God Bless.

Sincerely: Roberta, Ohio University, Class of 1999

Tue, 4 Jul 2006 20:31:26 -0400

Hello…I’m Clyde Swalls’ youngest daughter and I have some interesting news to pass on to you.

After reviewing your website, it seems all is well with your family. I just wanted to let you know that your name came up this week with some people from the church my husband and I attend. My husband (Beau) separated from Air Force in November 2005, and he’s felt a calling to be in the ministry since he was about 15 years old. Through God’s working, Beau was hired on as full-time pastoral staff at our church, Calvary Chapel of Melbourne, FL. He is leading a young adults group (20-30 somethings) and really enjoying it. Anyway, the pastor who has really been influential in his life over the past six months, Dave Folkerts, was discussing street preachers the other day with my husband.

He talked about how he was at Iowa State University (1981) not walking with the Lord. He said there was a campus preacher saying that people were searching to fill the void in their lives with drugs, alcohol and sex. He said those words haunted him. He did finally become a Christian and that is a big part of his testimony. Beau just happened to ask if the “campus preacher” was Jed Smock and, with a surprised look, he said yes. Beau told him of the correlation between you and my dad. What a small world! Dave and some students he went to church with actually started some street preaching of their own. Anyway, he’s now in Melbourne, FL as one of the associate pastors at our church and his wife has an incredible testimony as well. Dave just wanted you to know that you had an impact on his life, and indirectly, in ours.

We just thought it was so interesting how your influence circled around to us. I was pretty proud that we knew you and your family! Thanks for keeping true to the gospel and to your family. If you’re ever in Florida, we’d love to see you.

Love in Christ, Sharalyn

PS. Just a note here from the webmaster. For those who do not know Jed's testimony, Sharalyn's father was the man who led Jed to the Lord in the parking lot of a Burger King.

Thu, 18 May 2006 23:29:56 -0700 (PDT)

My Dear brother Jed,

I want to sincerely THANK YOU ! for all you and your entire family have done for me. In not only being faithful servants in the Campus ministry over the many years. But how your ministry has effected me personally.

My name is Timothy Stephens, I would like to share briefly with you how your ministry has made a wonderful difference in my life. I am now a street preacher and have been since approx 1991.

However back around 1990 or so... I was living near ASU. One day I heard you Preaching on the college campus while your family was seated nearby on a blanket. I noticed they were all modestly dressed, the women having long hair with head coverings and long dresses with long sleeves and collars. A strange sight (I thought then) I admit I did not understand your ministry at all then Bro Jed.

I was the typical "christian" (a make believer really) believing you were doing it all wrong! Not preaching the Love, grace or mercy (like everyone else). I believed you must had been paid by the catholic church to travel the country side making Christians everywhere look bad, I so wrongfully thought!

However I did sincerely pray that day, (silently) asking the Lord Jesus Christ to show me if I was the one who was all wrong. (I was) WOW! Was I surprised at the answers. One of my room mates at the time was a local street preacher named 'Mark John' who I also thought was out to lunch, so to speak. He reported that he had met with you at some point during your stay in Tempe and that you corrected him on many scriptural points and he came home asking 'us' (the other make believe christian roommates and I) to pray against your ministry!

I already knew bro Mark John was wrong on the same issues and he had not read his bible through even once! Then God began to show me through a series of events and people as well as circumstances that most of what I believed was not even in the bible at all! I began to study my bible and truly seek the God of the bible! And Trust Jesus! Then I met bible Jim, Bro Ruben at the super bowl one year and became a true bible believer.

I am certain that you brother Jed were the first street preacher who truly made a difference in my life, through your ministry, by sharing the truth, openly in public, as harsh as it was to hear. I will always be grateful for what God has done for me through your awesome ministry my dear Smock family.

May God richly bless you and withhold no good thing from you and your entire family Sir, is my prayer Amen, Amen and Amen So it shall be.

Sincerely
Bro Timothy

PS- Once again thank you so much for encouraging me to search the scriptures for myself, and to do what it says. (I'm still working on that) Now I might add, I am now often accused on the streets of 'doing it all wrong! Not preaching the love grace and mercy messages, which are so needed today they say.

Sun, 14 May 2006 09:42:08 -0500

Bro. Jed,

Yesterday, Saturday, 5/13/2006, My son John and I went to see and test drive a used car for sale by private party.

The gentleman who is selling the car, is about 30/35 years old, or so, and has been a Wycliff missionary overseas, but at the present time is working in administration at S.I.L. ( Summer Institute of Linguistics---Wycliff Bible Translators ).

I said all that to say that as we drove his car together, somehow, we got on the subject of campus ministry and the fact that I have preached on many campuses etc. etc. etc...

This missionary's name is Ken. When I finished telling Ken about preaching on campuses, he said----- "Well, I know, first hand, how effective that type of ministry is. I went to PURDUE and a couple of guys used to come there, a couple of times a year, or so, and preach open air. I personally know several students who became Christians as a result of their ministry at Purdue."

I then asked----"Was one of them Jed Smock ? "

He answered---"Yes, it was Jed Smock ! "

Be ENCOURAGED, today, Brother Jed.

Carl Giordano

Thu, 11 May 2006 19:32:24 EDT

Brother Jed...THANK YOU!

God bless you! I just got off the phone with my daughter who is attending Central Washington University and I could hear you preaching the King James Bible while she held the phone out toward you! She said there was quite a crowd! We had no say in our daughter attending CWU...she is 28 and wants a degree so decided to go there. While she has been there she has been exposed to one hideous lie after another...not to mention the diversity garbage so accepting of sodomites and their agenda...Satan surely runs the college campuses of AMERICA...no doubt....but it was a wonderful thing to hear our Lord and Saviour being preached so loud there! My daughter hasn't met many Christians there....this was a good day for her...to hear and see you preaching like that.

A sister in our Lord Jesus Christ,
Marcia Sanford
Garden Valley, Idaho

Tue, 21 Mar 2006 07:38:35 -0600

Dear Jed,

I remember you preaching back in the mid-1970s on the UW Madison campus. You are still working hard at your personal mission of sharing God's love with an unbelieving world. Whether I agree with you or not, I must congratulate you on your courage and devotion and the life you have built from faith alone. If you do nothing more than make people think about the consequences of their decisions, you have done a lot -- who saves one life, it is as if they saved the whole world.

Blessings,

Mark Hazelbaker
Madison, WI

Thu, 10 Feb 2005 19:14:27 -0600

Dear Jed,

Last night, our frat guys went out in groups of 4 or so, all over campus praying that God would bring revival and help us reach out to the lost of Texas State University. What an answer to prayer!

At first I was pretty offended at the things you were saying, then I stepped back, thought about the scriptures that were being debated and the things you proclaimed. I tested the spirit and remembered what we had prayed for in that very spot the night before. The minute I realized what was going on, I was awestruck, as only God can do. Your ministry is such a blessing! Add another person praying to your list.

My friend actually stood up next to you and attempted to "preach" the gospel by apologizing to the onlookers. I would say I'm sorry for not taking him aside and talking to him, but then where would your persecution be? I'm inspired. I think others are as well. Mission accomplished, Brother Jed.

Keep the faith, brother Jed and co. Many are praying, and God is moving minds in your incredible ministry. Thank you for your boldness. I hope I'm here when you all return.

I get it.

In Him, Gabe Hodge
P.S. I've officially nicknamed you "the Socrates of Christianity"

Tue, 11 Jan 2005 15:45:19 -0500

Brother Jed,

There are not words to begin to describe the respect I have for you and your ministry. I first noticed your preaching on the way to one of my morning classes. You reminded me of John the Baptist, who preached of repentance. Later that day I ate lunch, and the Lord placed it in my heart to go where you were to hear you preach.

Automatically, I assumed it was that He wanted me to pray over you. What happened that next hour or so deeply impacted my life. It broke my heart to hear the students jeering and mocking your testimony, and that of your colleague. It scared me to my very bones how much mockery was in the audience. I know now that this taught me that in order to serve God it requires me to count the cost of serving Him, even if it means being in those situations.

Praise God for your ministry! He has used you to instill questions into the minds of the student body, and although I still have deep conflicting Biblical interperetational issues with yours I will continue to pray that God will continue to support your ministry.

In Christ,
Joe

Thu, 18 Mar 2004 16:09:21 -0500

Brother Jed,

I know it has been several years since his passing, but I just became aware of it a few moments ago. I wanted to pass along my condolences to his family and you are the only one I knew of who was familiar with him outside of the Purdue Campus.

I was a student at purdue from 1985 til 1992 and during that time I spent many days doing nothing more than listening to Brother Max. I admittedly heckled him from time to time, but I always admired him for his faith and kindness to others. I had one oppurtunity to speak one on one with him after one of his preaching sessions and we spoke for the better part of 30 minutes and, while I am not a convert, I found him to be oneof the most lucid, intelligent, and kind men of faith I have had the oppurtunity to meet.

This did not stop me from arriving to heckle him once again when he returned to campus, but it always sat in my mind that he was one of the great men who stand up for what they believe in. He did this with his religious fervor that is comical to some, but I can still remember his preachings. From the Highway to Hell to the Timeline, his preachings were some of the most memorable that I have and will experience.

My friends remember him as calling them fornicators and drunkards and most of them took and some still take offense to it. Funny thing is, he was right. We were in a serious state of personal depravity that most of us have matured out of and hopefully in our own way accepted God into our lives. I was an agnostic during my years at Purdue, but my faith was renewed years later. In part,

I credit Brother Max with that. I just recalled that the day that I spoke to Max on campus was his birthday, I believe it was his 50th but do not recall for certain. I just remember that in spite of his desire to travel to his home and in spite of the fact that I had heckled him during the day, he took the time to speak to me in kindness.

I sit here at my desk at work with tears in my eyes for a great man who has become a memory. It is a shame that my children will not have the oppurtunity to see him preach as it was a sight to behold and something that one will remember til the end of their days. If you can contact his family, tell them Thank You. Thank you for supporting him in his preaching, thank you for allowing him to become part of so many people's lives. His sacrifice of time will not be forgotten.

Sincerely,
Tony Vincent

A Eulogy for Max W. Lynch 1929-2000
by George E. (Jed) Smock
August 28, 2000

As a graduate student at Indiana State University in the late sixties, I first heard of Max Lynch. He was the infamous lone voice on the ISU faculty who boldly supported the Viet Nam War and vigorously spoke of his Christian faith. My comrades and I considered Max Lynch to be some kind of right wing religious fanatic.

I am a former socialist college professor, who became involved in the drug, radical and revolutionary movement of the sixties. However, in 1972 I experienced a dramatic conversion to Christianity. One of the first persons I sought after my new birth was Max Lynch, who was teaching math at the ISU Laboratory School. I visited him during his office hours and we would pray together for the campus and he would usually give me a short Bible lesson.

Max shared his testimony with me. He had been a successful engineer who traveled extensively as a trouble shooter for the General Electric Co. In the Spring of 1961, he suddenly realized that he had never sought the perfect will of God for his life.

As a step of consecration, Max fell to his knees and asked, “God, what can I do for you?”

God answered, “Go to Farmersburg, Indiana, and join the Friendship Baptist Church.” In obedience, Brother Max quit his job with GE and went with his wife and five children to live in Farmersburg. He was soon hired by Indiana State, but took a big cut in pay. Later, he became the pastor of a Baptist church and continued to teach at the Lab School.

From 1961-1968, Max had the freedom in the classroom to read the Bible, pass out tracts and even preach from time to time; but the radical elements began to grow in strength, and in 1968, the university president ordered him to stop these practices. This action provoked Brother Max to research exactly what his legal religious rights were inside the public classroom. He discovered that in 1963 the United States Supreme Court had outlawed prayer and virtually outlawed Bible reading in the public schools. Realizing the freedoms that Christians had lost, Max was shocked and enraged.

In the Spring of 1970, in defiance of the state, he started opening his classes with a short Bible reading. The next Fall the president gave Brother Max the choice of either discontinuing his Bible reading or taking an administrative position. Because he felt it important to keep some contact with the students in order to be a witness to them, he chose to stay in the classroom and to curtail his Scripture reading. Max had the reputation even by those who opposed his Bible reading of being an excellent teacher and had received outstanding teacher awards.

Three years later, God awakened Max from a sound sleep to dictate a letter to the president that Max must obey God rather than men, and if God instructed him to read the Bible to his students, he would. Shortly thereafter, upon God’s orders, Max resumed his two-minute Bible reading at the beginning of class. This action caused an immediate stir on campus. Considerable pressure was put on Max to recant, but he stood firm. Eventually, he was given an ultimatum: The Bible or your job. Max choose the Bible and was fired from his job.

Max later said, “It was one of the most difficult things I’d done. But that’s what the Lord wanted me to do and I’m glad I did it...I’d rather preach than anything else in the world.” Max and I soon joined forces to preach on campuses throughout the country.

Ironically, twin girls in his class, who had complained to the administration, were later converted to Christ. Max’s stand for Truth had made quite an impression on them. Later, when they attended Indiana University, the girls regularly listened to Max preach in the middle of campus.

Why would a highly educated, skilled, intelligent, tenured man like Max give up a secure and prestigious position with good benefits at a university to preach the Word of God open-air to unappreciative college students? I am sure that this was a question on the mind of many of his family and friends back in 1974.

Perhaps a young man by the name of Paul Stamm can best answer the question for us. Paul was a freshman in business aviation at The Ohio State University when he heard Max preaching on the campus lawn in the Spring of 1986. Paul was wavering between atheism and theism. Paul was amazed that an educated man in his late fifties would spend his time preaching to a crowd of jeering college students.

Paul later said with tears, “I was impressed that he was not out golfing. I remembered two scriptures that Bro Max quoted: ‘Be ye holy for I am holy,’ and, ‘Except ye repent ye will all likewise perish.’” Max had a way of quoting scriptures so that they would forever be impressed upon the hearts and minds of students. One of his favorites was Rev 20:15: “And whosoever is not found written in the book of life will be cast into the lake of fireeeeerrrr.”

Paul recalled, “I knew that if what Bro Max was saying was true then I was in trouble.” In February, 1987, Paul professed faith in Christ and claimed the salvation experience. After his graduation from college, he followed Max’s example of preaching on campuses for three years before taking a position in the business world.

Cindy Lasseter was a junior at the University of Florida in 1977, who used to make fun of my preaching. One day she was laughing at me almost hysterically. I pointed her out of the crowd and said, “Repent of your sins you wicked woman.” The next year I returned to the University of Florida with Max. I discovered that this girl, Cindy, had had an attitude change and was open enough to the gospel to go to church with me on a few occasions, but she refused to respond to any altar calls. One day after preaching on campus, I invited her to have coffee with Max and me. I said, “Max, perhaps you can reach this girl I have tried everything I know.” Cindy later testified that she was fearful of Max because he preached like this, “It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God.” But Max’s witness made the difference that night and he convinced her to pray a sinner’s prayer. Soon she also started preaching on campus. It so happens that this girl is with us this morning, she is now my wife, Cindy. We have been married 17 years and have 5 daughters. Very likely without Brother Max’s witness, she would not be saved today.

Yesterday, I received an email from Leland Ray which read, “I am one of the many "sinners" to whom Brother Max preached at the University of Illinois in the mid-eighties. While Max never succeeded in converting me to Christianity, he did become a constant sparring companion to me and many others. Off the podium, I found Max to be a warm and compassionate human being, always willing to chat about that latest sporting events or whatever else was going on. He was a man who knew what be believed, made no apologies for it, and would never abandon his principles. Please convey my condolences to his family and friends.”

Jesus said in Luke 6:26, “Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.” This is one admonition that Max never had to worry about. He was not a man pleaser, but diligently sought to please God. He was never ashamed of the Gospel. He had his enemies and even his friends sometimes did not understand his complexities. Once Max was convinced that he had heard from God, neither family, friend or foe could deter him from his course; nor could all the demons of Hell. Max once said, “If I wasn’t stirring anyone up, something would be wrong with my relationship with God.”

But Max had a tender side. On a number of occasions I saw him weep before a crowd of raging students as he warned them of God’s impending judgement and hell fire. He was a consummate story teller who could enthrall the students hour after hour. Once after a long afternoon of preaching at Purdue University with Cindy, they were invited to a fraternity house for dinner. After dinner the brothers invited Max to speak. Cindy testifies that the boys seemed spellbound as they listened quietly to Max speak for over an hour. Perhaps this was the first time many of them they had ever heard a godly man speak to them in such a profound manner.

In one of Max’s favorite stories I had the privilege of playing a part. It was October, 1976, a presidential election year. When Max and I arrived at the Southern Illinois University free-speech area, a crowd of thousands had gathered. Upon inquiry, we found out that the democratic candidate, Jimmy Carter, was scheduled to speak at noon. An open-air platform had been built for the occasion. We circled the crowd, praying, and finally stopped under a big oak tree behind the platform.

Max who had always been athletic said, “Here, Brother Jed, hold my Bible.” Then he began to climb the tree. Soon he was high in the tree, mostly covered from sight by the foliage. Soon, the Carter entourage, with some of the top state and local politicians, drove up in limousines. They took the platform and, when Jimmy Carter opened his mouth to begin his speech, a voice from the tree top cried, “REPENT!”

Carter was startled. I could imagine the secret service reaching for their guns.

Carter addressed what he considered the issues: inflation and unemployment.

Brother Max yelled, “What about abortion? What about the rising crime rate? What about drunkenness and dope addiction? What about divorce? Max knew that these and other sins were leading to the breakdown of American society. He wanted the professing, born-again candidate to address the sin issue. Jimmy Carter had nothing about sin in his notes and, becoming very frustrated, he cut his speech short. He and the other politicians then sped away from the scene.

Hundreds of people then gathered under the tree to see who had interrupted their political rally. Several were so irate that they climbed the tree, determined to get him down. One woman got out on a limb and grabbed Brother Max’s coattails, attempting to pull him from the tree. He became concerned about the woman’s safety, so he agreed to come down if she would stop pulling.

When Max dropped from the lowest limb, the police had to form a wedge to whisk him away from the angry crowd. They took him into a room in the administration building until the crowd dispersed. The next day, Max’s feat received the main headlines in the newspaper, VOICE FROM THE TREE TOP CRIES “REPENT!” A photograph pictured him with a broad smile as the police were escorting him away from the mob. Candidate Carter took a back seat in the news.

Max was a master of the soundbite, that is the one-line sensational statement which would proclaim truth in a memorable manner and would sometimes be televised on the evening news or published in the next day in the student paper. When the feminist movement was at its height, Max would ask the students, “Do you know what ERA stands for?” “The equal rights amendment,” the students would reply in unison. “Wrong,” responded Max, “Eve ruined Adam.” Another one of Max’s favorite soundbites was, “This campus is a three-dimensional cesspool of sin: decadent, depraved and degenerate.”

Max had many originals such as this, and I quickly made them part of my repertoire, as did other preachers that followed me. Usually, I did not take the time to give the credit to Max for his many pithy sayings, but today I want to make sure that you understand that Max has inspired two generations of campus preachers. Not just by his one-liners, but Max was a sound apologist who earnestly contended for the faith that was once delivered to the saints.

When Max and I started preaching regularly on campus in the mid-seventies, there were just a few other campus preachers. Today, to a significant degree thanks to Max’s influence and steadfastness, there are scores of campus preachers from coast to coast. Many of us have more of Max in us then most of us would know. Without Max’s example, dedication and persistence there would be significantly fewer voices of righteousness on the campuses.

In the Sermon of the mount Jesus said, “Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. {11} Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. {12} Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.”

If there are any Biblical type prophets in our day, I think Max deserves that title as much as anyone. Few know the heavy persecution that he came under, even sometimes suffering jail for the sake of the Gospel. A prominent Bible teacher, Norvel Hayes, who speaks to audiences of thousands in some of America’s largest churches, once said of Max, “Many men travel the church circuit teaching on faith, but I know of no one who is actually living by faith to the extent that Max Lynch is.”

Max sacrificed much for the Kingdom. I know that his family sacrificed as well because when Max began campus preaching he still had three young children living at home. It was not easy getting the bills paid, but Max stood firm in his calling. Max once told a Tribune-Star reporter: “The Lord takes care of our needs. I receive donations from Christians, and my wife works part time at a local hospital. She has been my biggest supporter.”

Through all of Max’s difficulties he was able to maintain his joy. Daily he would break into song while preaching on campus. One of his favorites was “I feel good, I feel good, just to know that I have been redeemed, makes me feel good.” As Max was singing he would break into a little dance. As we are mourning our loss and remembering his life here on earth, I can imagine Max in heaven dancing and singing, “I feel good, I feel good, just to know that I have been redeemed, makes me feel good.”

Max’s ministry had an international impact. Years ago at the University of Illinois a group of Iranian students said to Max, “Brother Max, you and Brother Jed are very well known in Iran. Max responded, “How so, we have never been in your country.” One of the Moslems replied, “Iranian students study on campuses all over America when we return home from school breaks you and Brother Jed are a common experience we have all had and your ministry and message is always one of our main topics of conversation.”

In his later years after some of Max’s physical strength began to wan, he did less preaching on campus, but still made his regular rounds to Purdue, Illinois, IU and ISU passing out tracts which he had written. Max also sent packets of his sermon outlines throughout the continent of Africa.

Max had the hand of a ready writer. He wrote stinging letters to every president from Nixon through Clinton, sometimes he would write and address a letter to every congressman and senator. Supreme Court Justices regularly were rebuked and condemned by Max after the passage of Roe v Wade. His letters were often published in the Terre Haute Tribune-Star.

Many of you will fondly remember that Max liked gardening, basketball, ’76 Monte Carlos, playing piano and showing off pictures of his grandchildren. I would like to conclude my remarks by suggesting how Max would most like to be remembered.

For years as a math teacher Max tested his students. Later as a campus minister he daily tested college students to see if they were Christians. Bro. Max would open his well worn New American Standard Bible and turn to 2 Cor 13:5 and read: “Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves! Or do you not recognize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you--unless indeed you fail the test?” On Thursday, August 24, Bro. Max passed his final exam. I pray that everyone here today, his family and friends, will examine yourselves to make sure Jesus Christ is in you--that you might not fail your test.

Amen

Brother Jed