The original post on the r/sandiego subreddit, which drew thousands of comments, described how one employee "prayed for" a customer's husband while taking his order. A second employee then reportedly asked, "Did anyone tell you today that Jesus loves you?" The exchange left the customer stunned. "No hate to Christians or people just trying to do something nice," the poster wrote, "but… wtf?"
Other Redditors chimed in to report similar experiences at the same Carmel Mountain In-N-Out, including invitations to Bible study groups and prayer offers during food pickup. Multiple users identified the employees as a pair of young twin brothers, former co-presidents of their high school Christian club, who have a history of proselytizing in public.
While In-N-Out is known for its Christian roots - scripture references have long appeared on the underside of cups, fry boxes, and burger wrappers - this level of direct evangelism from employees appears to be a new development, and one that has sparked strong reactions online.
In-N-Out Burger was founded in 1948 in Baldwin Park, California, and remains a privately held, family-run company with deep Christian values. The brand’s current president, Lynsi Snyder, is the granddaughter of founders Esther and Harry Snyder and a vocal Christian who has spoken publicly about her faith, personal struggles, and desire to use the business as a platform for spiritual messaging.
In a recent appearance on a conservative Christian podcast, Snyder discussed her intent to relocate In-N-Out’s corporate headquarters from California to Franklin, Tennessee, citing challenges in raising her family in California’s "cultural climate." While she did not explicitly mention proselytizing as part of In-N-Out's service model, her public embrace of faith-based leadership has reignited scrutiny of the company’s blending of religion and commerce.
However, there is no public indication that the company instructs employees to pray with customers or offer religious messages at the point of sale. In fact, some current and former employees commenting on Reddit believe this behavior is likely the action of "a particularly zealous manager" or a few rogue workers, rather than a corporate mandate.
While some customers expressed amusement or indifference at the unusual display of faith - "Better than being cursed at," one joked - many others voiced discomfort, calling it "inappropriate," "awkward," and "a violation of boundaries." Several commenters compared the experience to Chick-fil-A, another fast-food chain known for conservative Christian leanings, but noted that even Chick-fil-A staff don't typically engage in direct missionary-type conversation.
Others pointed out the double standard at play: "Would people be okay if a cashier said 'Allahu Akbar' or 'May Satan bless you' instead?” one user asked. "Unsolicited religious messages - Christian or not - don’t belong in food service."
The incident highlights a broader tension playing out across the country as religiously motivated businesses navigate secular customer expectations, especially in culturally diverse states like California. While faith-based companies are protected by the First Amendment, the line between corporate values and customer imposition is often blurry.
Some customers have called for complaints to be filed with In-N-Out's corporate office, while others vowed to stop patronizing the Carmel Mountain location altogether. One commenter summarized the sentiment bluntly: "Just put the fries in the bag. I don’t need a sermon with my shake."
In response to a request for comment, In-N-Out corporate had not yet issued a public statement regarding the reports of prayer at the drive-thru. For now, it appears the incident is isolated to the Carmel Mountain location - but with social media amplifying both support and backlash, the burger chain may soon face pressure to clarify whether proselytizing is welcome within its famously clean, consistent, and tightly controlled customer experience.
Whether you consider it a blessing or a breach of boundaries, one thing is clear: the drive-thru window has become the latest unexpected battleground in America's culture wars.
Originally published on July 21, 2025.
