From opening their doors for a makeshift church service to serving food on Sundays to natural disaster victims, Chick-fil-A is well known for being the hands and feet of Jesus.
In the words of the fast-food chain’s founder Truett Cathy, “I believe that you can combine biblical principles and good business practices.”
Though Cathy passed away in 2014, those principles he set forth are still being carried out by Chick-fil-A employees today.
This summer, a team member named Stephen Spray was captured leaning over a female customer with his eyes closed in fervent prayer.
Brittany Calden just so happened to be passing through at the right time to witness the rare but beautiful sight. A photographer by trade, Brittany couldn’t help but snap a photo of the man taking the time out of his busy day to do the Lord’s work as commanded in Ephesians 6:18.
“In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other’s spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.”
“As a photographer, it was instinctual for me to document this moment,” said Brittany after her photo stirred up a viral storm on social media. “I find myself always searching for things that move me, and this was one of those instances.”
After Stephen finished praying for the woman, he told the intrigued spectator that the “Spirit led him to pray for her.”
“That’s not unusual,” he added. “I work at a place where if I’m led to pray for someone, I’m able to do that and I’ll do it right on the spot. People need prayer, encouragement, and love. That’s what we try to do here.”
And this isn’t the first time that Chick-fil-A employees have made a profound impact on Brittany.
“As soon as we enter we are greeted by our names, it’s seriously unreal,” the photographer shared. “They hold my baby when my hands are full and go out of their way to make us feel good. The other day we were leaving and an employee ran for the door to hug my daughter before she could leave. They don’t do what they do for recognition. These employees have hearts that are led by Jesus and its evident every time we enter their restaurant.”
She also clarified that Stephen had no clue his picture was being taken at the time, so he wasn’t doing it for show.
“That’s just who he is,” she remarked, “and because of who he represents, Christ.”
