Restoring a Dream - The Smoking Pastor Project

Jordan and Kati Davis are not only my daughters’ youth pastors, but they have a special dream – the Smoking Pastor Project. Check them out at www.smokingpastorproject.com. While this endeavor is not associated with our church and is registered as an independent charitable organization, their mission is still an extension of being the hands and feet of Christ. At its core, the Smoking Pastor Project provides food and soul-nourishment through a FREE food truck - that's right - FREE BRISKET (among other delicious offerings). They intend to serve delicious smoked food throughout our communities – for people in need, through partnerships with other non-profits who are not as culinarily inclined, and even in disaster relief scenarios. Whether via smoked pork or smoked chex-mix, Jordan and Kati truly want to add smiles to any and all who enjoy that subtle smoked flavor on their food!

This dream has become a reality in so many ways. From gaining the proper accreditations, beginning online marketing through their website and even creating their own branded BBQ sauces and rubs to help with fundraising, the Smoking Pastor Project is off to a great start! Things really started gaining steam when a partnership was developed with Helping His Hands, another non-profit organization pursing a similar cause. They had what was needed to put this project into full launch mode – a food trailer! In the attached video, you can see just how excited Jordan was to begin this partnership and realize a dream. They loaded most of their personal supplies (knives, consumables, meats and food) into the trailer and passed their inspections. The food trailer was ready for deployment.

BAM! Life comes at you fast...

Their dream was halted to a stop when the trailer was stolen - right out of the church’s parking lot! Jordan was shattered. Kati? Heartbroken. And who wouldn’t be? They were at the cusp of doing something truly special and yet, it was snatched away in the middle of the night just as quickly as it came into their lives.

Let me tell you about Jordan and Kati – they are people of GRIT. While this is an obvious hurdle, I don’t see them stopping. They push forward, continuing their life’s calling as pastors and still networking throughout the BBQ community – anything to get this dream into execution mode. Just on Aug 17th, Jordan went out and re-bought many supplies lost in the theft in order to enter a BBQ competition, where through his joy and gifts of smoking food, was able to take home the “People’s Champion” award. Simply put, these are talented, God-loving people who have a dream to make this world a slightly better place – and I want to help accelerate their bounce back.

This fundraiser is a big ask. It’s an intentional, lofty goal. While they had a food trailer lined up, they still didn’t have the proper truck to pull it. Can we be so BOLD as to replace a stolen trailer with both a truck AND a trailer? I believe God answers bold prayers – and even as I write this, it's feeling outlandish. But I push forward through faith!

At minimum, I ask you to please join with me in praying for this couple, this project, and their mission. We’ll pray as if it is up to God and work as it is up to us! If you are able, I also boldly ask for your donation. ANY LITTLE BIT HELPS.

God bless you all.