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Chick-fil-A opened its first New York location. (Reuters)
Despite LGBT Rally, New York Chick-fil-A Opens Largest-Ever Store
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Thousands of New Yorker's lined the street for Chick-fil-A's fried chicken sandwiches and waffles fries this weekend.
The restaurant opened in the Big Apple on Saturday, and some customers camped out overnight to be the first in line to make an order.
But not everyone shared their enthusiasm.
Vegan, gay, and transgender rights activist staged a demonstration to protest the chain for its Christian values and its belief in traditional marriage.
"We are aware of the demonstrations," Chick-fil-A spokeswoman Carrie Kurlander said. "Grand opening day activities will continue as planned. We are excited about serving customers great food with remarkable service."
Chick-fil-A's New York location is its largest restaurant to date.
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Chick-fil-A Lands in Another Gay Marriage Firestorm
The gay agenda sought to besmirch Chick-fil-A's business after president and chief operating officer, Dan Cathy, made his beliefs about traditional marriage known to the radio listening world. The company was maligned, protested against and otherwise attacked. (Flickr/Creative Commons)
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Chick-fil-A took a bold stand against gay marriage in 2012—and the company is still paying the price.
Here's the backstory: The gay agenda sought to besmirch Chick-fil-A's business after president and chief operating officer,Dan Cathy, made his beliefs about traditional marriage known to the radio listening world. The company was maligned, protested against and otherwise attacked.
The Christian world applauded when former Gov. Mike Huckabee declared "Chick-fil-A Appreciation Day." The chicken chain set a world record for sales and the enemy backed down—at least for a season.
Since then we've seen at least one school ban "offensive" Chick-fil-A sandwiches and First Lady Michelle Obama declaring war on the company. One town even canceled a leadership event Chick-fil-A sponsored because of its so-called "homophobia." This all despite the fact that Cathy publicly stated he regretted making the chain a symbol in the same-sex marriage debate.
In the latest turn, Chick-fil-A may be denied the right to open up a store in the Denver International Airport. The Denver City Council is deciding on the chicken chain's fate even now, noting the city "has been at the forefront of honoring gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender employees and their families with non-discrimination clauses and partner benefits." So apparently that means the First Amendment goes out the window.
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The City Council told CNN Money: "When Denver International Airport proposed a concession with a company that had a history of funding opposition to this recognition, it was important that we as a City Council take a pause to ensure that all the policies are in place with all of the entities involved to ensure there will be no discrimination, and that benefits will be provided equally to all employees and their spouses, regardless of their sexual orientation."
Mark Cowart, Senior Pastor of Church For All Nations, Colorado Springs told Charisma News expressing our First Amendment rights in any situation is one of the cornerstone freedoms that America was founded upon. As he sees it, "This situation is not about politics, it is about something much greater—the disregard and disrespect of God's moral law in America and of those who uphold biblical values and principles."
I agree. It's ridiculous that Denver is compelled to waste time discussing what should be a non-issue. Tim Wildmon, President of the American Family Association, told me, Chick-fil-A is the highest ranking fast food restaurant for customer satisfaction, according to the 2015 American Customer Satisfaction Index Restaurant Report. Why deny travelers a tasty sandwich because of moral values? Selah.
"Based on this fact alone, we can see that customers around the country are pleased with Chick-fil-A's service and way of doing business as a whole," Wildmon says. "Therefore, members of the Denver City Council are acting on their own activist beliefs to keep the chain from serving customers at the Denver International Airport, making it obvious that the problem is with their bias against and intolerance of Christianity and those who choose to uphold it in all areas of their lives."
Sam Rohrer, President of the American Pastors Network, agrees—and asks a pointed question: Where does it end when activists are now blocking businesses from operating in the marketplace because of the Christian views of their leaders? I can answer that. It won't end unless we enact laws that end it—or, even better, preach the gospel with signs following and open the eyes and hearts of those who don't yet know Christ. Laws can only do so much. The real power is in the gospel.
"This is yet another example of the faithful being pushed aside—from doing business, from making decisions based on their faith, and even from being welcomed to certain cities to serve customers," Rohrer told me. "We should applaud those who base business decisions on biblical and constitutional principles rather than punish them."
Dr. Alex McFarland, author, speaker and religion and culture expert, argues that what appears obvious to most: stalling of a business location based on its religious beliefs goes against First Amendment rights. That's really the bottom line here, but it shouldn't be surprising—and we should expect more of this in the days ahead unless God breaks in with power and wakes up the church and the world to His love.
"All Americans have the right to provide a service to our nation's people, no matter what skill set they offer, in addition to their political and religious views," McFarland told me. "Our nation should respect the religious liberties of all American businesses, and not be deterred by a changing cultural environment."
I agree, but what should be is not what's happening. I am believing for a Third Great Awakening in America that will see mass repentance. Everyone won't respond to this outpouring—the religious-minded and lost souls alike will reject it—but many will. Will you believe with me?
Jennifer LeClaireis senior editor of Charisma. She is also director of Awakening House of Prayer in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, co-founder of awakeningtv.com, on the leadership team of the New Breed Revival Network and author of several books, including The Next Great Move of God: An Appeal to Heaven for Spiritual Awakening; Mornings With the Holy Spirit, Listening Daily to the Still, Small Voice of God; The Making of a Prophet and Satan's Deadly Trio: Defeating the Deceptions of Jezebel, Religion and Witchcraft. You can visit her website here. You can also join Jennifer on Facebook or follow her on Twitter. Jennifer's Periscope handle is @propheticbooks.
News of Chick-fil-A founder and chairman emeritus S. Truett Cathy's death has prompted an outpouring of pastors, ministry leaders and politicians praising his faith and business ethic.
Media notices from the family indicate that Cathy, 93, died early Monday morning in his home surrounded by loved ones.
Son and Chick-fil-A CEO Dan T. Cathy shared the news on Twitter writing, "We will miss him dearly. Please remember our family in prayer this week."
Remembrances poured in as the news quickly spread throughout both Twitter and Facebook. Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed tweeted, "Our city is saddened by the loss of Truett Cathy, founder of GA's own @ChickfilA. His legacy will live on through his family and good works."
Cathy, who grew up in Atlanta, built up the chicken sandwich chain from a small diner in Hapeville, Georgia. Chick-fil-A has since grown to become one of the nation's largest family-owned companies, exceeding $5 billion in annual sales in 2013.
Cathy's admirers celebrated his business acumen. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, tweeted, "Sad to hear of Truett Cathy's passing. He was a great American entrepreneur who treated his employees well."
Megachurch Pastor Perry Noble described the-late restaurateur on Twitter as "a great man who built a great business, has a great family and kept your eyes on Jesus, you will be missed!"
Financial guru Dave Ramsey posted on his Twitter account, "RIP My friend Truett Cathy. A godly man who loved his family well and showed us faith in the market place."
Billy Graham Evangelistic Association CEO Franklin Graham posted on Facebook, "I knew Mr. Cathy for many years and had the privilege of riding motorcycles with him. He was a fine Christian gentleman that carried his Christian business principles throughout life. His restaurants were never open on Sunday out of respect for the Lord's day. He was kind and extremely generous and used the profits from his business to help others. He will be greatly missed."
Cathy, a devout Southern Baptist who taught Sunday school for 50 years, enacted a company-wide "Closed-on-Sunday" policy that allowed employees of all its locations to have a day for family, worship, fellowship and rest.
The policy is but one example of the founder's faith. As his business began to take off, Cathy reached out into the Atlanta community through his nonprofit, the WinShape Foundation. The foundation, formed in 1984, set its sights on shaping winners by "helping young people succeed in life through scholarship and other youth-support programs." Those programs eventually grew into national platforms for leadership training, long-term foster care housing, and marital counseling.
The Cathys' conservative stance on marriage has become the subject of much criticism over the years. Dan Cathy, in a 2012 interview on "The Ken Coleman Show," said of the company: "We are very much supportive of the family — the biblical definition of the family unit. We are a family-owned business, a family-led business, and we are married to our first wives. We give God thanks for that."
Though Dan Cathy later pledged the company would not champion any political agendas surrounding marriage or family, the Cathys stood firm on its Christian values.
Former Congresswoman and presidential candidate Michele Bachmann, R-Minnesota, posted on Facebook, "He was a remarkable man whose life was purposely lived in a manner that pointed toward the cross. Thank you for a lifetime of honorably standing strong for American free enterprise, job creation, faith in Christ, and religious liberties. My thoughts are with his loved ones today."
Southern Baptist Theological Seminary President R. Albert Mohler tweeted, "Thankful to God for the generous life and courageous Christian example of S. Truett Cathy, founder of @ChickFilA — a life well lived."
The Cathy family will host two public viewings at First Baptist Church in Jonesboro, Georgia. The first viewing is scheduled at 4 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday. The second will be noon to 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday. A public funeral will be held after the second viewing. A private burial service will be held on Thursday.
The Family Research Council has organized a 'Hobby Lobby Day,' and Mike Huckabee is urging people to show their support for the company by participating. (Nicholas Eckhart/Flickr/Creative Commons)
After Chick-Fil-A Success, Mike Huckabee Pushes 'Hobby Lobby Day'
When Chick-fil-A came under fire for comments CEO and President Dan Cathy made about homosexuality, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee asked customers to show their support. Now he’s doing the same for Hobby Lobby.
The Supreme Court began hearing arguments this week in the arts-and-crafts retailer’s case opposing the contraception mandate in Obamacare. The Green family will be forced to pay $1.3 million per day in fines or cancel health care coverage for their employees if they lose this case.
According to a poll commissioned by Family Research Council and Alliance Defending Freedom, 59 percent of likely voters disapprove of the HHS mandate (including 54 percent of women ages 18-44).
The Family Research Council is asking Christians across the nation to show their support for Hobby Lobby on Saturday.
An event called “Hobby Lobby Day” on Facebook asks people to change their profile to show support, shop at Hobby Lobby stores or online on Saturday, say thank you with a card, and share a photo of the shopping trip on social media with the #HobbyLobbyDay hashtag.
“If Obamacare forces Hobby Lobby ... to provide abortive drugs, even though the privately run, family-run business opposes it on moral grounds, then the government has decided that you can only believe so much," Huckabee said on his Fox News television show Saturday. "And when there’s a conflict, the individual loses to the government. Now that, my friend, is a loss of liberty. This is a fundamentally outrageous action to anyone, liberal or conservative, who believes the Constitution was created to keep us free, not to keep us from being free.”
Huckabee says Hobby Lobby Day gives people the opportunity to show their support “and to express appreciation for [Hobby Lobby’s] courage in risking the very existence of their business to stand for what should be clear-cut, constitutional rights.”
Huckabee adds, “If religious liberty and freedom of conscience doesn’t exist for Hobby Lobby, how long will it be before it’s taken from you? Enough of government thinking it’s God and trying to act like it. We not only owe it to our children and grandchildren, but we owe it to the founders who meant to guarantee our freedom.”
