Holy Smoke 2025 BBQ competition sets record with more than $20,000 raised

PRESTON, Ga. — On a spring Saturday that felt more like summer, the Holy Smoke Christian Grilling Competition returned for its 21st year with all the flavor, fellowship, and competition that have made it a fixture of ministry-minded barbecue.

Hosted once again by Macedonia Baptist Church in the Centerpoint community and supported by churches across the region, Holy Smoke 2025 set a new all-time fundraising record of $20,557.36 to support the Georgia Baptist Children’s Home in Meansville and the Methodist Girl’s Home in Americus.

That brings the event’s two-decade total to more than $190,250, all given to help abused and neglected children.

Ebenezer Baptist Church of Ellaville claimed the coveted Grand Champion trophy, ending the reign of Westside Baptist Church of Adel, which had taken top honors in 2024.

Westside still had a strong showing, earning the Reserve Grand Champion title, while Weston Baptist Church secured Second Runner-Up for the second year running. All three churches demonstrated the kind of excellence that keeps Holy Smoke’s judging tables lined with some of the most competitive—and prayerful—pitmasters in Georgia.

As always, teams competed in categories including chicken, ribs, Boston butt, sauce, and cakes. This year, 15 church teams participated, with 10 also fielding cornhole squads in the side competition. Weston Baptist took home the Cornhole Championship trophy.

This year’s cake auction did not disappoint.

Local auctioneer Billy Black of New Era Land Co. led the auction of 12 cakes to a record haul of $7,275 in just 20 minutes.

The gospel music lineup ran from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with local artists and groups like Jessica Welch & Jason Hughes, The Back Porch Pickers, Bubba Cobb & Harvey Wills, William Herndon, Dayspring Trio, and Restored lending their talents to the cause. As always, the performers donated their time, praising the Lord in song.

From its humble beginnings in 2004—when fewer than a dozen teams competed and the funds raised were counted in hundreds, not thousands—Holy Smoke has grown into a major annual ministry, beloved not just for its food but for the mission behind it.

This year’s contribution puts Holy Smoke well on track to cross the $200,000 mark by its 22nd year, an achievement few could have imagined when the grills first fired up two decades ago.