Tim Cagle leads Holy Smokes Ministries, a family-focused organization dedicated to combining faith and fellowship through its unique approach to ministry.
Supported by a close bonded team, Holy Smokes brings together family members to help with all events, big and small. With its roots in community and togetherness, the ministry emphasizes the power of faith and family in every aspect of its work.
"It started as a family thing as my sister, brother-in-law, wife, and I all share a passion for smoking meats,” Cagle said. “We began by hosting free events for churches, and over time, we decided to make it official. From there, it grew, and now we organize various charitable events."
Cagle's journey began during his college years at Global University, where he earned a bachelor’s degree. This foundation inspired his passion for ministry and community service, ultimately leading to the creation of Holy Smokes Ministries.
"I graduated in August after a five-year journey at Global University," Cagle said. "That time was transformative, but in the last seven years, my faith has truly taken off. I work at U.S. Steel, and they covered my college tuition, so I took advantage of that opportunity and learned a lot along the way. Now, I serve in the jail ministry at the La Porte County Jail every Monday, lead a public ministry, and have also spent three years in youth ministry and four years at Gracewin."
Cagle shared that his company provides a large tuition reimbursement and has been very helpful to him. He described his studies as diverse and in-depth, covering a range of subjects from Old Testament literature and poetry to wisdom literature and history.
“I began my studies at Shiloh University, where I spent two and a half years, before completing his degree at Global University,” said Cagle. “Along the way, I focused on meeting prerequisites and engaging deeply with courses centered on biblical studies.”
Holy Smokes Ministries regularly provides free services for church and nonprofit events. Its work often occurs at local churches, including multiple events each year at Calvary Church of Valparaiso and GracePoint Church. Recently, Holy Smokes Ministries expanded its outreach by hosting its first event in Michigan City.
"I think food adds a special element to bringing people together," Cagle said. "When Jesus sat with people, he shared meals with them, creating moments of fellowship. If the food is good, it makes the experience even better. It's what draws people in and helps the fellowship grow. At my home church, GracePoint, we host three or four events yearly, but we’re starting to branch out to other locations. We aim to keep growing and connecting with as many people as possible through our food and ministry."
One of Cagle’s favorite moments in the ministry was when he came up with the name. It felt like a special moment that stuck with him.
"When I was starting the ministry, I had a moment that I truly believe was a God moment,” said Cagle. “I was cooking and preparing to donate some food when the name 'Holy Smokes Ministry of Sale' just popped into my head. It felt like it came from God, and the name certainly stuck around. I also love seeing the joy on people’s faces when they receive the food, especially those who are in need. We always try to give extra so they can take some home, and that makes it all worthwhile."
Cagle loves to give credit to his family, as he feels he couldn’t do it all alone. Their support is a key part of his ability to continue his work.
"The good ministry I do is a family effort with me, my brother-in-law, my sister-in-law, and my wife, as the four of us working together to get tasks done,” said Cagle. “For larger events, we also involve our nieces, nephews, and anyone else we can get to help. It’s truly a family ministry with Holy Smokes. There’s no way I could do it alone. For example, at our last event, we served over 200 people at a wedding, which was a big task. We had our nephews, a few close friends, and a lot of others helping out."
Cagle has started getting involved in hospice ministry, aiming to help wherever possible. While he hopes to eventually do ministry full-time, he currently focuses on it as much as he can, with the food ministry running seasonally from early spring to late fall.
"My dream is to have more time to focus on the things I love, like jail ministry,” Cagle said. “I’ve started getting involved in the prison ministry, although I haven’t officially joined yet, but I’m in the process. With my degree, I’m hoping to find full-time employment in ministry, where I can do something I truly enjoy and feel passionate about."
For more information on Cagle and Holy Smokes Ministries please visit the website here.