From the Pulpit to the Fryer: "Together" is Not a Bad Word

We do indeed love our committees.  Years ago, I listened to arguments by committee members for over two hours to determine how much money the church should spend on flowers for funerals.  There was a motion to increase the amount by $10.00 early on in the meeting.  Needless to say the meeting was “mind numbing” with no real results other than hard feelings.  It’s no wonder people say and believe a committee of one gets more accomplished.  Hind sight is 20/20 and I have learned much through the years as I grew and matured in Christ. The basic problem in that particular meeting was there was no real mission statement to guide the actions of the committee to work together toward the same goal.  It was a meeting of several different opinions and trying to accommodate everyone’s preferences.

The second part to the “three Cs to success” is Cooperation.  Cooperation is critical to the work I do at Zaxby’s.  I am fortunate to work with some great people from different walks of life.  They all bring their own personality and experiences to the mix.  Do we all get along all the time? No.  Do we all agree on everything all the time? No. Does everyone like everyone at work? I would like to think so, but probably not.  So, what is it that brings about cooperation? I believe it is the continuous drum beat of the “ENCORE” culture within the Zaxby’s store. It is not something that is taught, but lived out daily. The mission statement for Zaxby’s is “Consistently Create ENCORE Experiences that Enrich Lives, One Person at a Time. 

At first glance, we assume the statement is totally directed to taking care of our customers, but that is only part of it.  There are so many opportunities to enrich lives of those we work with every day!  How does this work?  For me, it is consistently being an example to show others how it is done.  It is simple math 1+1=2; 2+2=4; 4+4=8, etc…We can teach others by being consistent ourselves.  Cooperation is working together toward the same goal – ENCORE Experiences that Enrich Lives…

It all connects for me in ministry, because is this not the way we share faith in Christ? BY EXAMPLE!

It is easy to cooperate with someone who is cooperative!

“Together” is not a bad word!

God is good all the time!

Charlie W.

From the Pulpit to the Fryer: HEARD

I have had so many experiences and have learned so much since March 31^st that it is difficult to know where to begin. 

Like many pastors and colleagues in ministry, I was privileged to further my education and complete college and seminary many years ago.  God has allowed me to pastor some wonderful churches, but through the years I had to relearn many things over and over again.  Early on in training to do my job at Zaxby’s, the General Manager shared with me three C’s to success: Communication, Cooperation, and Coordination.  Actually, there’s a sermon outline in there somewhere.  I’ll investigate that later…

This article will address the practice of communication.   There’s a practice in the kitchen at Zaxby’s that works really well when everyone is on board.  It is the practice of saying “heard.”  Here’s how it works: There are various stations where one person is assigned for a shift to complete a specific job. 

Example – George’s job for the day is to salt the pickles and he is on the “pickle station” and Susie is preparing the plates to be served to customers. A customer orders two dozen salted pickles.  Susie calls for the pickles and George says “HEARD.”  (Note: Zaxby’s at present does not serve salted pickles and there is no pickle station).

Since George heard what another has asked for and communicated that he heard the request, now he must act to fill the request. He then salts two dozen pickles and places that on the preparation table for Susie to fill the order. 

REQUEST IS MADE (communication)
REQUEST IS HEARD (communication)
REQUEST IS ACKNOWLEDGED (communication)
REQUEST IS ACTED ON (communication fulfilled)

If you are thinking at this point, this sure is silly, or you already know this stuff, you are probably right. However, I do have a point to make in this article.  Many people are crying out and making requests in our churches, our communities, and in our world.  Can we not say “HEARD” and either fill that need or point people to where their need can be met? 

Application: I have relearned how to really listen in the past several months!  HEARD!!

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME!

Charlie W.

Note: I will be cautious in these articles as to not inadvertently give away any trade secrets so I will make up fictitious stations, etc… (It’s not as though I’m entrusted with the secret recipe or anything that affects the national chicken industry – I just have a very strong respect and support the Zaxby’s brand). 

From the Pulpit to the Fryer: Introduction

It’s been almost ten months since I stepped away from fulltime ministry as a Southern Baptist pastor of more than thirty years. The following articles, beginning with this one as a way of introduction, is intended to encourage and challenge all of us who accepted and pursued that “calling” from God whether it be recent, many years ago, or maybe you are at the very beginning of your journey in ministry.  In any case, my focus is to honor God by sharing how He has stirred in my life a deeper sense of “calling” to ministry that goes beyond and reaches farther than the modern day pulpit. Calm down, and take a deep breath!  I am not saying there is no power or effectiveness in today’s pulpit ministry.  There are many spirit led preachers who faithfully proclaim God’s word from the pulpit every Sunday.  The preaching ministry brings the message of salvation to the masses every week. I, too, still preach from a pulpit every Sunday as a bi-vocational pastor.  Remember, I am writing to share with you how God has moved in my life to transition from where I was to where I am now.

In March, 2014 I began a new career in the food industry. I became a brand new 52 year old employee of Zaxby’s.  When I began there, I was terribly overweight and out of shape.  Needless to say, my first few months there were very painful.  But I just knew in my heart that was where God placed me.  I still remember the day I learned how to cook chicken fingers, and the franchise owner called me the “poultry preacher.”  We still get a few laughs when the title finds its way into conversation today. 

Through the years there have been powerful, life changing testimonies by those in ministry who have come from “the world” to the “pulpit.”  Those wonderful preachers who have had a past of sin that would make a sailor blush and now proclaim the Word of God from the pulpits of great churches.  However, God has moved me from the pulpit to the fryer!  How strange!  Did God fire me?  Absolutely not! I believe He promoted me to a time of renewal and much needed change in me and my family.  His tool for change for this “burned out,” “washed up,” “heart broken,” “out of shape,” “dying preacher”? Zaxby’s! 

Stay tuned for my next articles as I share those nuggets of wisdom in my training as I have moved “FROM THE PULPIT TO THE FRYER!”

GOD IS GOOD ALL THE TIME,

Charlie W.