Viral TikTok evangelical preacher Cindy Smock, known as “Sister Cindy,” visited the University of Mississippi on Tuesday, March 24, drawing students to the Grove Stage for her lesson in what she calls “Ho-ology 101.”
Smock travels to college campuses to share her controversial message, which combines themes of evangelical Christianity with racy, habitually profane language against what she considers sexual immorality. Her lead plea encourages students to join the “HoNoMo revolution.”
Videos of Smock’s sermons have circulated on social media and netted her a large following. She has more than 416,000 followers on TikTok and 40,000+ Instagram followers.
“Welcome to the raw, uncut Sister Cindy slut-shaming show,” Smock announced to her audience at the beginning of her sermon, which lasted more than three hours. Students responded to her message with cheers, applause and frequent laughter.
Tuesday was Smock’s first time preaching at UM, but she was happy to do so after receiving messages from students inviting her to share her message.
“I thank you for your invitation to Ole Miss,” Smock said to the students. “This is my first time here, and I love Mississippi. You have the best-mannered hoes in the world.”
Smock proceeded to walk her audience through her “levels of hoeness,” with the final step being when one becomes a “HoNoMo,” meaning one who is no longer a “hoe” and has turned to her brand of Christianity.
Smock labeled her past self as a “vampire hoe” and shared her story of attempting to seduce a preacher named Jed Smock, better known as “Brother Jed,” who rejected her advances, led her to Christianity and later became her husband. The two preached together at universities with their organization, Campus Ministry USA, until Jed’s death in 2022.
Smock urged students to cast aside their “hoe chains” as she once did.
“The hoe chain glitters, but after a while (it) starts to feel heavy,” Smock said. “I used to wear it, but then I realized God planned for me to wear a crown. That’s what he intends for us: to be royalty. Ladies, you’re made to be a queen.”
Smock also preached on the dangers of alcohol and how she believes that drinking leads to sex. She listed the various sexual acts she believed might occur after each margarita a woman consumes, before issuing a warning.
“Whatever you do, don’t take one of these Ole Miss girls out for Mexican food,” Smock told the men in the audience. “She does not want a taco, or a burrito or an enchilada. She wants you to buy her a margarita.”
Although much of her message was directed at women, Smock also had messages for the “man hoes.”
“Just because a girl is dressed like a hoe, it doesn’t necessarily mean she wants to do you,” Smock said. “She may want to do your roommate. She may want to do your roommate’s girlfriend. We shouldn’t assume.”
Despite her focus on condemning promiscuous sexual behavior, when asked about what she hopes students take away from her sermons, Smock talked about her faith — the focal point for much of her sermon.
“The main thing is the gospel that Jesus died for our sins and rose again,” Smock said to The Daily Mississippian. “We were all made to live in a loving relationship with God that comes through repentance and faith in the death and the resurrection of the Lord. People relate to the ‘HoNoMo revolution’ because it offers hope that they can change through faith in Christ.”
Lexie House, a freshman majoring in allied health studies, enjoyed listening to Smock’s message, stayed to meet her and took a photo with her once Smock had finished preaching.
“I have followed Sister Cindy on TikTok for a couple years now, so I’m here to join the ‘HoNoMo’ revolution,” House said. “I think this is awesome, and I think that everyone should come out and hear a little bit of the Word and have a good little laugh.”
Keelin Duncan, a freshman double majoring in sports management and integrated marketing communications, was entertained by Smock’s sermon but disagreed with her methods.
“Being a Christian, it’s funny to hear her take on certain topics, so I really wanted to see her first-hand,” Duncan said. “I think she started off very genuine when she started the whole evangelism thing, but she’s using shame, which I think is a little wrong. I do think she’s a very funny woman, but I don’t think she’s the most religiously sound woman. I would go to her for entertainment, but I would not go to her if you’re looking for Jesus.”
Sophomore allied health studies major Erick Godoy attended Smock’s sermon and received one of her many signed “HoNoMo” buttons after Smock questioned him on his atheism.
“I’ve seen her on TikTok a lot. I don’t know if it’s completely satirical or not, but I do appreciate how she is, for the most part, positive, even though I don’t agree with her viewpoints,” Godoy said. “I thought some of her viewpoints were a little iffy, but I think that her message as a whole was good. She means well, and I think that she believes that she’s doing good, and that’s what really matters. I personally don’t believe in God, but I believe in her.”
