Wining & Dining
The Bishop of Barbecue by John O’Donnell
Paul Pettefer wasn’t always a barbeque fan. Yet five years ago, there he was, standing in his kitchen, craving a rack of ribs. So Pettefer made himself a rack of ribs. “They weren’t great, but they hit the spot and satisfied my craving,” he said. “Even meat that’s cooked badly is still pretty good.” That day Pettefer vowed to perfect his rib cooking. He bought a cheap smoker and started experimenting and learning the craft and art that goes into cooking meat. One day he invited a friend to visit and taste some of his latest creation. The ribs were a hit and Pettefer noticed something. “Dudes love talking about barbeque.” That’s when it hit him. Pettefer would use barbeque as a way to bring people together and build community, fellowship, and faith. That’s how the Rib List started. “The Rib List” is a multi-page document that Pettefer keeps on his phone. It’s full of names, dates, and recipes. “It’s like a barbeque diary!” he explained. Once on the rib list, Pettefer
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would look for an opportunity and shoot people a text when he would have extra ribs on the smoker. Then you go to his house and pick up a rack of delicious meat. “If I invite twenty people to come over and pick up ribs from the house, we basically have a street party in my driveway. If someone wants to talk, they’ll linger until the end, and sometimes we end up praying together.” Word spread about the incredible cooking and the good deeds of the “Bishop of Barbeque,” and it wasn’t long until Pettefer was cooking for special events. He was approached by a local school that was having trouble getting parents to participate in their Parent Teacher Organization. They asked if Pettefer would cook for their first meeting of the year to try and attract more participation. Not one to back down from a challenge, Pettefer accepted, then upped the ante. He recruited a class of 5th graders to help him cook and used it as a teaching opportunity.
September 2017