You may be surprised to know that there are Christian business owners who still instill Christian values in their business. Here are five of these companies.
1. Forever 21
Jin Sook ad Do Won Chang are born-again Christians who owns one of the largest retailers in the United States. Forever 21 was a product of hard work. Sook and Chang struggled to make ends meet when they emigrated to the U.S. But by working tirelessly to achieve a dream, they were able to make Forever 21. "Forever 21 is my American Dream," said Chang. Their love for God is made obvious through printing "John 3:16" on their yellow bags. They describe it as a statement of their faith.
2. In-N-Out Burger
In-N-Out Burger have always been vocal about their Christian faith. Since they started in 1948, Bible verses have been seen in the supplies they use like wrappers and cups. Some of the verses they've used include Proverbs 3:5 and Revelation 3:20. Not everyone liked this idea and In-N-Out even garnered a few haters because of this. But, Lynsi Snyder, President of In-N-Out Burger, doesn't mind.
"My uncle's the one who put the [bible verses] on the packages before he passed away. Our main thing is that we're giving God the glory and that we believe that He's blessed this company and He's really had His hand on it through all the tragedy and all the deaths and everything, so, I don't feel bad about having that on there. Do we face some persecution or haters? Sure, but I don't spend too much time thinking about it," Synder told CBS.
3. Chick-fil-A
Chick-fil-A doesn't just make delicious fried chicken, they also consider their Biblical values as part of their huge success. Truett Cathy was the late founder and chairman of Chick-fil-A back in 1946. He made a policy that their restaurants would stay closed on Sundays. This was to give employees the chance to worship God and spend time with loved ones and it remains their tradition to this today. Moreover, their corporate purpose is pretty straightforward. It says:
"To glorify God by being a faithful steward of all that is entrusted to us and to have a positive influence on all who come into contact with Chick-fil-A."
4. Tyson Foods
Tyson Foods is also run with Christian values. In 2000, the company created the Chaplaincy program that aims to give support and encouragement to their employees. There's over a hundred chaplains who are ready to counsel employees regardless of their religious backgrounds. Tyson Foods Chairman John Tyson describes the program as "a reflection of who we are," and "a reflection of our core values... a reflection of us striving to take care of each other. Additionally, one of their core values is to "strive to honor God and be respectful of each other, our customers, and other stakeholders."
5. Hobby Lobby
Brian Green is the founder and CEO of Hobby Lobby. He has always been vocal about his religion and how he gives all the glory to God for the success of his business. "So I have learned to say, 'Look, this is yours, God. It's all yours. I'm going to give it to you,'" he told Forbes Magazine.
Hobby Lobby also supports charities and organizations. Apart from the donations, they also give a 10 percent discount to schools, national charitable organizations and churches.
One more important thing to remember about Hobby Lobby is the newspaper ad back in 1996. At that time, Hobby Lobby was already selling Christmas crafts and decors. However, they felt that God had commissioned them to do something different. So, they made this ad to tell others about what Christmas is about:
As you celebrate this Christmas season in the warmth of family and home, may you be drawn to the Savior; He who left the beauty of Heaven on our behalf and became like us, that we might become like Him. If you know Jesus as your Savior, then this season already has a special meaning. If you do not, we encourage you find a Bible-believing church in your community, and to discover a relationship this Christmas with the God who loves you more than you can begin to imagine.
Do you feel happy knowing that there are businesses out there that stick to their values and will not compromise their faith and beliefs for money? It's a good thing to hear these stories because they give everyone hope that when God is at the center, love and care will follow all the time. It's a great thing that these huge companies are taking a stand and also helping out people at the same time.
