Eat Mor Chikin!

I still remember my very first Chick-fil-A sandwich. I was sitting on a stone wall with a group of friends in Knoxville, TN. Someone provided lunch and I opened my bag to see a genuine Chick-fil-A sandwich. It only took one bite. Despite the fact that we were in a hurry and I was absolutely famished, I savored every last bit of the tasty hot chicken nestled inside that fresh crispy bun. Everyone else was impatiently moving on when I finished, but I looked around. Couldn’t I have just one more?

Life led me to Chicago and one day I end up craving a chicken sandwich. I hop on my computer and start searching for the nearest Chick-fil-A. To my utter disappointment, I discovered that the nearest location was across the border in Wisconsin, over an hour away! What a letdown. If time had allowed, I just might have traveled the entire distance . . . .

Imagine my excitement when I found out last week that Chick-fil-A was coming to Chicago! On top of that, my connections with a friend in Chicago allowed me to be part of their VIP gathering last Tuesday night! Important business leaders from all over Chicago were there, including many government officials. That didn’t stop Chick-fil-A president Dan Cathy from being open and honest about how his business is based on the Bible and the wise advice that Solomon gives in Proverbs: “A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favor rather than silver or gold” (Proverbs 22:1).

I was honored to receive my own personal copy of Mr. Truett Cathy’s book, “How did you do it, Truett?” It’s a quick and fun read. By the time you get to the end of the book, you realize that he didn’t do it and his statement in the preface rings true, “Truett, you didn’t do it. God did it, along with high-quality people at Chick-fil-A who have great ideas and work extremely hard to make the business successful, and our loyal fans, who are just as important to our success.” (Loyal fans? That includes me!)

eHow claims that “of all the fast food restaurants out there, Chick-fil-A is one of the easiest places to eat healthy at.” And, sure enough, Yahoo! Health gives them the highest grade of any other fast-food restaurant with the statement that “Chick-fil-A excels in every category we tested for.” Even better than that, though, is the healthy, friendly, wholesome atmosphere I’ve experienced every time I’ve walked into one of their stores.

What really impresses me about Chick-fil-A is their commitment to Biblical principles. And they don’t hide it, either. Can you think of any other multibillion-dollar restaurant chain that is closed on Sundays so that their employees can “spend time with family or friends, or in a place of worship”? Here is the official Chick-fil-A Corporate Purpose:

To glorify God by being a faithful
steward of all that is entrusted to us.

To have a positive influence on all
who come in contact with Chick-fil-A.

Now that’s a purpose worth living for.

Eat mor chikin!


10 Comments

  1. Michael April 26, 2010 at 5:36 am #

    What an exciting post! Great links and pictures!

  2. Kathryn April 26, 2010 at 6:03 am #

    I enjoyed reading Chik-fil-A’s purpose – I had never heard it before. Thanks for sharing!
    Isn’t it ironic… every time we drive past a Chik-fil-A, it is strawberry-jam-packed with people! Just goes to show that the Lord truly does honor those who put Him first in EVERY area of life, including business!
    Absolutely LOVE the last shot! Too funny! Was that photo courtesy of Lenspiration?

  3. Crystal April 26, 2010 at 10:00 am #

    They also have the most hilarious cowlanders (with coupons attached). I don’t know about other Chick-fil-A’s, but ours will take expired coupons! And you don’t have to order what’s on the coupon, you can ask them to apply the price!! So… just ask if your local one will, too. We have saved a lot of money that way & have eaten free a couple of times.

  4. Martin Family April 27, 2010 at 5:31 pm #

    Mmmmmmmm. Makes me hungry!

  5. Daniel Staddon April 28, 2010 at 4:49 pm #

    Eat Mor Chikin? Will Dew! 🙂

    What a great testimony, Robert. I am so glad you were able to go! Seeing they’re such a Godly example, we’ll have to support them with as much business as we can manage! (Hidden Smile)

  6. Patrick April 30, 2010 at 6:17 pm #

    Robert,

    As a matter of fact, Mrs. Neely and I just had Chik-fil-a for supper tonight just a few miles from their corporate headquarters. I got the fried, she got the grilled. Sorry, Robert, I got the iced tea, not the Mountain Dew 🙁

  7. Denise April 30, 2010 at 9:28 pm #

    And one of the best things about this company is that they are pro-Christian, meaning all Christians of many denominations. My BF’s husband is an operator for this company and a very devout Catholic to boot.

  8. Robert Staddon May 1, 2010 at 9:44 pm #

    Thanks for the comments, everyone!

    @Kathryn: No, James wanted nothing to dew with that picture. 🙂

  9. Matthew Hancock May 5, 2010 at 9:35 am #

    What a great testimony of how God can work through someone who is willing to give Him the credit!

  10. Wendy May 18, 2010 at 6:24 pm #

    Would you believe that our family has never had a Chik-fil-a sandwich? We do not have this restaurant here–oops, scratch that, I just checked, and we do have two in Minnesota, one at the U. of M. and one at Mankato State! (Apparently, it’s very big amongst college students!!)
    Our family is truly missing out, it is evident! What a great testimony, and that verse is one of our family’s “mottos”–“a good name is rather to be chosen than great riches.”
    Blessings,
    Wendy

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