Cindy Lasseter was born in 1959 or 1960. Cindy Lasseter's parents divorced when she was three years old, with Smock being raised by her father, who Smock described as "very loving" in an interview with
Ohio University's
The New Political. She remained in contact with her mother as well. She described her upbringing as "a normal American childhood, but no faith in Christ or church." Smock attended the
University of Florida in
Gainesville, Florida, United States, and pursued a degree in
journalism. It was there that she attended a sermon by itinerant evangelical minister
Brother Jed in 1977. According to Smock, she made fun of Jed's preaching, to which Jed told her to repent. Jed would frequently call her the "Disco Queen," for her love of dancing. The following year, Brother Jed returned to campus, and Smock, now a junior, invited him to dinner with the intention of "seducing" him, with Brother Jed turning down her advances, instead inviting her to Christianity. Smock accepted. == Preaching career ==