The Platform of Love

Editor's note: If you've ever had an In-N-Out burger, you know their dedication to serving really delicious fast food. This year is the 75th anniversary — 75 years of Double Doubles, shakes, and fries... Mmmm! Lynsi Snyder, the owner and President of In-N-Out shares their story in her new book The Ins-N-Outs of In-N-Out Burger. Enjoy this excerpt!

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He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” — Mark 16:15

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He Himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ — Acts 20:35

Customers often notice Bible verses printed on In-N-Out products, and that practice has a history tied to my good memories about Uncle Rich.

Both Dad and Uncle Rich grew up with some faith in their home. As boys, my grandmother told them about God and taught them how to pray. When they were teens and young men, they wandered from their faith. But in the early 1980s, Rich reconnected with God in a much bigger way. He became an active member of Costa Mesa’s Calvary Chapel, led by Pastor Chuck Smith, and dedicated his life to Jesus. Rich didn’t claim to be perfect. But he finally found that the deep need in his heart could only be satisfied by Jesus and by finding his own identity in Him. I remember my uncle telling me once,

“I’m not always a good Christian, but I’m a Christian.”

In 1985, Rich began printing tiny references to Bible verses on In-N-Out paper goods. It was a way for him to express his faith, and he wanted to put that little touch of faith on our brand. In a 1990 episode of BTV, Rich explained, “I quietly did it a few years ago. I’m a Christian. For those who know me, they definitely know that I’m not perfect and neither is In-N-Out. We are trying to serve our communities and do a good job the best we can. I guess the reason [for the verses] is it’s my way of thanking God for helping In-N-Out so much. I took over In-N-Out when I was twenty-four years old, and for me it was kind of tough. I thank God that He helped me.”*

To this day, Revelation 3:20 is discreetly printed on hamburger and cheeseburger bags. Nahum 1:7 is on the Double-Double wrappers. Proverbs 3:5 sits underneath milkshake cups, Isaiah 53 is on certain holiday cups, Isaiah 9:6 is on Christmas cups, and John 3:16 is underneath soda cups. That tradition continues to this day. After I became president, I added Proverbs 24:16 to our fry boats, Luke 6:35 to coffee cups, and John 13:34 to the hot cocoa cups... We never try to force our beliefs on anyone, and customers with any faith tradition, or none, are certainly welcome through our doors. We hire and promote associates and managers who don’t share our faith.

God loves all people, and so do we! My family simply wants our faith to take a meaningful place in everything our company does. The verses act as encouragements. 

 Always, the goal is to love God and to love other people, and we’ve learned the platform of love is huge. 

The feedback we get about the Bible verses is almost always positive. Customers don’t always share our faith, but they appreciate that we’re honest about our own faith journey, and that we want it to be part of the integrity of our company. Many commend our efforts to reach out, care for people, and lead with love. 

An awareness of the blessings God has given inspires generosity. I think that was Rich’s intention in 1991, when he began sending In-N-Out Cookout Trailers to the missions around Los Angeles to prepare meals for the unhoused. That’s how the In-N-Out Feed the Homeless Program began, as a quiet way of providing delicious meals for the less fortunate. 

We currently serve people involved with the Los Angeles Mission, Ventura Rescue Mission, San Diego Rescue Mission, and Long Beach Mission. These initiatives fit beautifully with part three of our mission statement, which states our purpose to help “communities in our marketplace [become] stronger, safer, and better places to live.” We invite other people to serve alongside us too. 

• It’s better to give than to receive.

*Rich Snyder on BTV, In-N-Out Archives. 

Excerpted with permission from The Ins-N-Outs of In-N-Out Burger by Lynsi Snyder, copyright Lynsi Snyder.

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Your Turn

If you’ve eaten at In-N-Out, you’ve likely seen the Bible verses on cups and burger wrappers. How are you sharing your faith in Jesus? None of us is perfect or behaves perfectly, but let people know that you’re a Christian! ~ Devotionals Daily