Chicken Chaplain
My mind is flooded with memories this morning as I reflect on the last decade of my life at Simmons. Ten years ago this morning, September 15, 2010, I showed up to the Home Office for my first day as “Chaplain”.
When I moved to Siloam Springs in 2005 to attend JBU, I started out as a Computer Science major - I wanted to be in IT. To be honest, I wanted to make a lot of money and get away from people, haha! No one was more surprised when God led me into ministry than ME! I was always really shy and timid growing up and I couldn’t imagine standing in front of people and speaking. I’ve always had a heart for people, especially when they were hurting. If God wanted me in this type of role, He was going to have a lot of work to do in me.
When I graduated from JBU, I took a position in Gravette, AR as a part-time Youth and Worship Pastor and at the same time, continued to manage the Eureka Pizza in Siloam Springs where I had worked throughout college to pay for books (and it didn’t hurt that I got a free pizza every shift). I struggled, because I felt a calling into ministry, but I felt like I was having more of an impact in the business world.
I knew very little about Simmons when I first got the call. I certainly had never heard of a company having a Chaplain. In fact, when they reached out about the part-time position at Simmons, my first question was, “What is a Chicken Chaplain?” All I could picture is someone praying over chickens all day. I went in for an interview with Chaplain Wil Gardner, and as he began describing the role, I was so impressed that a company actually cared enough about it’s team members to have this.
And then I turned the job down.
Wil looked at me sort of stunned. I remember telling him, “Sir, I’m only 23. Everything you just mentioned about this job sounds amazing - I’ve never done any of it. I’ve never done a funeral or wedding, I have made two hospital visits, I’ve never been a parent and I’ve been married for a little over a year - I’m still trying to figure things out. I’m more likely in need OF a chaplain than to BE one.” I thanked him for his time and went back to work at the restaurant.
I have no idea why Wil called me back the next day, but he did. He said, “Nick, every reasons you gave was true. But here’s what I know: you have a heart for people and you are willing to learn. I believe that you can do this and I will mentor you along the way.” He took me down the hall to meet Todd Simmons, and I asked him why he had Chaplains at his company and what his vision was for the future of Simmons. As I listened to his response, he had a genuine care and concern for his people and a vision of a culture where strong relationships and superior results were both experienced. That was the reason I came to Simmons and it’s the reason I’m still here.
For the next month, I got the same question over and again from my family and friends, “So, what exactly is a Chicken Chaplain?” I would respond, “As soon as I figure that out, I’ll let you know.”
In the Beginning
My first few weeks have some hilarious memories. Wil took me to every plant and office we had at the time and introduced me to everyone. I think he did it intentionally, but every person we met he would say the exact same thing, “This is Chaplain Nick Braschler. I trust him and so can you.” I later understood how significant that transfer of trust would be.
One of our first stops was at the Siloam Springs Pet Food (now Treats) plant. We met the HR manager and I noticed that she kept staring at me, like she knew me from somewhere. I finally fessed up and reminded her that I had delivered pizza to the plant for their fundraiser two weeks ago...she half smiled, looked at Mr. Wil and said, “How desperate were we for help?” It was equally funny and hurtful, haha. I told her not to worry, I had been wondering the same thing!
On Day 4, we went up to Southwest City and toured the plant. I met a team member named Susie that day. Wil introduced us and then he walked off. She came over and whispered in my ear, “I’m sure you are a fine young man, but you’ll never be Wil Gardner.” And walked away. The more I got to know Wil, I realized that while blunt, she was right.
My first trip to Emporia was eventful as well. We had just acquired Menu Foods in the few months prior to my visit. I walked through the plant that afternoon and met a group of supervisors. I continued to walk and one of them caught up to me and shared the good news with me. He said, “Nick, is it? Well, I just want you to know that we think you’re just a spy from corporate and this whole ‘Chaplain’ thing is just a cover.”
I didn’t know what to do with that, so I just said, “The name is Bond.” No, I think I awkwardly said, “Thanks” and walked away wondering how that was going to work out.
On the same trip the next morning, I showed up around 3am to visit folks on the other shift. As I was walking to a group of folks at the stacker, this lady’s face just lit up and she waved at me with both hands in the air. I thought, finally someone is excited to see the Chaplain! I walked over to her feeling pretty good about myself and she said, “I know who you are!” I opened my mouth to respond and she said, “You’re Todd Simmons!!! I am on Undercover Boss aren’t I?” She started looking around to find the cameras...I let it ride for a few more seconds and then burst her bubble. “Oh man...haha, well I am actually just the Chaplain, not Todd Simmons. I don’t have a check to pay off your house or pay for your kids college…” To say she was disappointed is an understatement. We laughed about it after that and every time she saw me she asked if I had her check yet.
Chaplain Wil was going to let me shadow him for six weeks. Six weeks and one day, Wil’s wife called me and said they were in the hospital and they think it’s Pancreatic cancer. It’s incredible for me to think about the impact that Wil had on my life and ministry in my first few years, even while he was battling cancer. He taught me how to have empathy, to listen, and what humble courage looked like in the midst of crises. I am so grateful for his friendship and so much of how I do what I do is from what I learned watching and being coached by Wil Gardner.
When I felt called into ministry, I called my Grandpa Braschler to ask for some advice. He said, “If there is anything else you could do besides this, do it. It will be the hardest, most challenging thing you will ever do. It will be worth it, but it will come with a cost.”
Boy, was he right. I’ve been on call 24/7 for the last 10 years. I’ve had to kneel down at the hospital in front of more kids and try to explain to them their mom or dad passed away than I want to remember. I’ve sat in the living room with families whose loved one took their own life. I’ve cried with parents who did not know if their child would be able to overcome this addiction. I’ve answered calls in the middle of the night, scrambled to find clothes and keys in the dark to make it up to the hospital or the plant after a late night accident. Thousands of counseling appointments as people try to navigate the normal stresses of life, as well as circumstances that you cannot believe that the people you work next to every day are having to deal with.
There have been a few times over the last ten years that I have almost given up. It would get to be too much and I’d dream about doing something else. Those are moments I dig into my files and read notes from people who have been impacted by something our Chaplain team did to help them in a time of need. They are encouraging reminders and have been helpful on some of the hardest days.
Even more so today than when I started, my faith is centered on trust in God. In those moments, a simple prayer of, “God if you still want me here, You are going to have to show up. I am empty.” And you know what, He is faithful. I’ve witnessed this countless times in the lives and stories of others and even when I walk into crises or challenging situations now, I know without a doubt that God is good, that He is soverign, and He has been/is/will be faithful.
I had a lot of growing up to do when I started, and still do. I am so thankful for the leaders and mentors that God has placed in my life along the way. Some of the most important wisdom I have learned though was sitting across from our team members in a hospital room, funeral home, or at Pour Jons over a cup of coffee. So many of my conversations with team members I wonder if God crossed our paths for what He wanted to teach ME. I often feel like the student instead of the teacher as I learn from other people’s life experiences.
Here are a few of the many things that I have learned over the last 10 years as Chaplain at Simmons:
The chapter of life someone is in today does not have to define the rest of the book.
Growth happens more often in the valley rather than the mountaintops.
People don’t care how much you know until they know that you genuinely care.
Effective counseling involves 90% just keeping your mouth shut and listening. People almost always know what they need to do next, they just need someone to give them space to process openly without judgment.
When you meet with a friend in crisis, you don’t have to have all the right words or a fix. You just need to remind them who they are.
Failure is not fatal. It often leads to the humility needed so God can accomplish something great in and through you.
Take time to rest and recharge regularly. You can’t pour out of an empty bucket.
Loving someone means having the uplifting and encouraging conversations as well as the hard and uncomfortable conversations involving discipline and accountability.
You have to define what a “Good Day” and a “Bad Day” are or else life and work can be miserable.
God is faithful. On your best day and on your worst day, God can be trusted.
These last ten years have been rich. I feel like I lived 40 years worth of life in the last decade. I have a bald spot and grey hairs to prove it. I am grateful to the Simmons family and the leadership team for trusting me with this role ten years ago and still today. I still have a heart for our people and I’m still learning something new every day. It is an absolute privilege to get to lead our Chaplain team and see the lives that they are able to impact every day.
I get out of bed every morning because I know we get to play a small part in feeding people and pets we love all over the country and world. That is so motivating to me. Every time my family goes out to eat at Chick-fil-a, my kids tell everyone sitting around us that, “That’s Simmons chicken!” They are dead set on coming to work at Simmons some day and I want to do everything I can to continue to build a company and culture where this next generation can come to and absolutely thrive.
I am looking forward to what God has in store the next ten years!
