Who hasn’t enjoyed a delicious chicken sandwich from Chick-fil-A?
Known for its scrumptious menu and excellent customer service, the franchise is one of the fastest growing fast-food chains in the nation.
Its success has proudly and publicly been built on Christian values.
But have you read the whole story behind Chick-fil-A’s Christian roots?
Chick-fil-A’s Christian affiliation has been a family affair since the restaurant chain’s founding.
1. Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A, grounded the company in the Biblical values of love, humility, and service. When he started the original Chick-fil-A restaurant in Atlanta, he wanted to positively impact the community through philanthropic work and job creation.
“[We] intended to leave Georgia better than we found it,” says the Chick-fil-A website. That sentiment is extended to every community that finds itself hosting a Chick-fil-A restaurant.
Wherever Chick-fil-A goes, generosity follows.
“I have always found more joy in giving when I did not expect anything in return,” said Truett, reflecting on the philosophy behind the restaurant’s community engagement and giving. He wanted people to experience kindness and true service at his restaurants.
That includes the employees of Chick-fil-A. When Truett founded the first restaurant in Georgia, he knew it was important to close the doors every Sunday in order to give his employees a day to rest and worship if they chose.
This sets Chick-fil-A aside from many other fast-food chains, which are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Although loyal customers might miss their chicken biscuits on Sundays, they respect the chain’s decision and are even more eager to come back on Mondays!
When Truett was preparing to sign over control of the company to his son, Dan, he wanted to be sure that the fast-food chain would continue to uphold Christian values and impact communities for the better.
So he asked Dan, as well as Dan’s siblings Bubba and Trudy, to pledge a covenant agreement to carry on the values of America’s favorite restaurant.
“We will be faithful to Christ’s lordship in our lives,” pledged the three siblings. “As committed Christians we will live a life of selfless devotion to His calling in our lives.”
Dan and his siblings knew that chasing money and success would draw them away from God. They’ve pledged to keep Him first in their lives, no matter what.
“We will prayerfully seek His leadership in all major decisions that impact our family and others,” the pledge continued. “Our family roles as spouses to our lifelong mates, parents to our children, and loving aunts and uncles will be our priority.”
The Cathy family knew that behind the scenes of any successful business is a successful support system! So they acknowledged the importance of keeping their familial relationships intact and putting each other before profit.
Dan and his siblings also pledged to honor the Sabbath and keep the restaurant closed on Sundays, to continue Chick-fil-A’s philanthropic work across the country, and to keep the company privately owned.
Dan took control of the fast-food chain in 2013, and he’s kept every promise he made to his father. And the results have shown the wisdom of the pledge!
Chick-fil-A has grown massively in the last several years, becoming the third largest fast-food restaurant chain in the United States. The franchise has drawn fire from some social activism groups for its openly stated Christian values, but that hasn’t stopped its success.
For four years in a row, Chick-fil-A has occupied the top spot on the American Customer Satisfaction Index for fast-food restaurants. Customers can’t stop coming back!
“We are honored by the ranking and grateful to our customers for choosing Chick-fil-A, it’s truly our pleasure to serve them,” the chain recently shared. In keeping with the pledge, however, the restaurant isn’t focused on profit margins or million-dollar deals, but what it can give back.
The Chick-fil-A Foundation encourages employees to volunteer their time and gifts in service to local communities. The Foundation also partners with other organizations to support scholarships, foster care, academic outreach, and services for the disabled.
The chain also sponsors the annual Peach Bowl, which has raised over $19 million for the Foundation over its 14-year history. Chick-fil-A’s consistent and faithful generosity has impacted millions of lives across the country.
To learn more about the Foundation and about Chick-fil-A’s Biblically based community work, visit the franchise’s website.
And keep praying that Chick-fil-A will stand strong in Christian values!
