Chick-Fil-A Does Business With Religious Conviction

"If we don't create an atmosphere in which that person can be very comfortable, then we're not fulfilling our mission statement," Dan Cathy said. "Because, you know, the Bible speaks of love. The Bible speaks of acceptance. The Bible speaks of embracing others that are different than you are."

But what about talking about Jesus Christ and God and the Bible so openly — does Cathy think that makes the goal of making everyone comfortable that much harder to achieve?

"I've tried to be very guarded in the times in which I would use God's name or mention the Bible and scripture," he said. "We would never want to be, you know, shoving this in front of people's face and wearing it on our shirt sleeve."

But Chick-Fil-A is not shy about its faith here. An hour out of Atlanta, at Chick-Fil-A’s charitable foundation Winshape, the company spends some of its profits to promote its beliefs, through Bible-based programs.

Winshape is where Chick-Fil-A holds corporate meetings and offers employees marriage counseling. But it's also where Truett Cathy fulfills one of his personal callings — to help children. There are scholarships, summer camps, homes for foster kids, and all of it bankrolled by Chick-Fil-A.

In fact, the company owns the 40-acre campus, and spent $13 million last year to run the programs. And the next generation of Cathys seems more than happy to carry on the family’s beliefs — like 25-year-old Mark Cathy. One of a dozen grandchildren, Mark and his wife, Amy, opened a Chick-Fil-A in San Marcos, Calif.

"I know that grandfather, he — he's seen no problem in running his business on Biblical principles," Mark Cathy said. "And then, my uncle talks about, you know, that treating everybody with that honor, dignity and respect and the second mile service — I think that that's the type of stuff that I'm interested in." 

And can he see a day when the company backs off the mention of God?

"I think if we pursue the honor, dignity, respect and integrity — things that are timeless — then we'll continue on with the, you know, success of the business, I hope," Cathy said.

Back in atlanta, Dan Cathy eyes global expansion. He knows not all of Chick-Fil-A's practices — like closing on sunday -- will translate across different countries and cultures. But Chick-Fil-A's mix of business and faith is a recipe he knows the company can't abandon.

"As we build these personal relationships and legacy of loyalty, it produces sales and raving fans," he said. "So it's a formula that has been modeled out for me for the last 60 years and one that I, my brother, my sister are intent on preserving, you know, for the next 60 years."

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