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News We Love: Man offers hope and conversation at Chick-fil-A

News We Love: Man offers hope and conversation at Chick-fil-A
THOSE IN NEED - HE'S ALSO GIVING HOPE. 16 WAPT'S ALLIE WARE HAS HIS STORY OF THE POWER OF FACE TO FACE COMMUNICATION. IN A WORLD WHERE MOST COMMUNICATION HAPPENS THROUGH SCREENS MIKE TURNBOW HAS TURNED THIS TABLE AT A LOCAL CHIC FIL A INTO A PLACE WHERE MEANINGFUL CONVERSATIONS HAPPEN FACE TO FACE. <I CANT HAND ANYONE ANYTHING I JUST SIT HERE AND THEY CAN APPROACH ME> TURNBOW SAYS IN RECENT YEARS HE HAS SEEN FAMILIES AND GROUPS OF FRIENDS SIT TO GATHER AND NEVER EVEN LOOK AT EACH OTHER. <THEY ARE TALKING TO SOMEONE ON THE PHONE RATHER THAN COMMUNICATING AMONGST THEMSELVES> ALMOST EVERYDAY HE CAN BE FOUND OFFERING GOSPEL TRACTS TO PASSERBYS <I REALIZE WE LIVE IN A LOST WORLD AND THERE ARE ALOT OF PEOPLE THAT COME TO CHIC FIL A THAT WOULDN'T GO TO A CHURCH> BUT HE IS ALSO GIVING PEOPLE SOMEONE TO TALK TO. <TO FIND SOMEONE SITTING ALONE THAT LOOKS KNOWLEDGEABLE ENOUGH HELP THEM THEY WILL SIT DOWN.> <WE CAN TALK ANOUT ANYTHING WE DON'T HAVE TO TALK ABOUT RELIGION > AFTER RETIRING FROM A CONSTRUCTION JOB TURNBOW SAYS HE JUST HAD CALLING TO BRING HOPE AND THROUGH THE YEARS HE'S HAD MANY HEART TO HEART CHATS. <WHEN TEENAGERS COME TO ME AND TALK TO ME BUT DON'T TAKE IT TO THEIR MOM AND DAD BUT JUST LOOKING FOR THAT OUTSIDE SOURCE> <THIS GENTLEMAN SAT DOWN AND SAID SIR I WAS ABOUT TO TAKE MY LIFE AFTER LUNCH TODAY AND HE PUT YOU HERE> WHILE SOME TALK ABOUT LIFE MANY WILL SPEAK ON FAITH AND SOME WILL JUST WATCH OR LISTEN TO OTHERS TALK BUT HE SAYS EVERY EXCHANGE IS AN OPPORTUNITY. <IF I DON'T DO ANYTHING BUT SIT HERE AND MAN THIS TABLE AND SOMEONE PICKS THIS UP WELL SEED PLANTED.> WHAT STARTED OUT AS A PERSONAL MISSION N
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Updated: 6:27 PM EST Jan 3, 2026
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News We Love: Man offers hope and conversation at Chick-fil-A
WAPT logo
Updated: 6:27 PM EST Jan 3, 2026
Editorial Standards
In a world where most communication happens through screens, Mike Turnbow has turned a table at a Chick-fil-A in Flowood, Mississippi, into a place for meaningful face-to-face conversations."I can't hand anyone anything. I just sit here and they can approach me," Turnbow said.He has noticed that families and groups often sit together without interacting, choosing instead to engage with their phones."They are talking to someone on the phone rather than communicating amongst themselves," he said.Almost every day, Turnbow offers gospel tracts to passersby, recognizing that many people who visit Chick-fil-A might not attend church."I realize we live in a lost world and there are a lot of people that come to Chick-fil-A that wouldn't go to a church," he said.Beyond sharing religious materials, Turnbow provides a listening ear to those in need of conversation."To find someone sitting alone that looks knowledgeable enough to help them, they will sit down," he said. "We can talk about anything, we don't have to talk about religion."After retiring from a construction job, Turnbow felt a calling to bring hope to others, leading to numerous heart-to-heart conversations over the years."When teenagers come to me and talk to me but don't take it to their mom and dad, but just looking for that outside source," he said. "This gentleman sat down and said, 'Sir, I was about to take my life after lunch today and he put you here.'"While some visitors discuss life or faith, others simply observe or listen, but Turnbow believes every interaction is valuable."If I don't do anything but sit here and man this table and someone picks this up, well, seed planted," he said.What began as a personal mission for Turnbow now serves as a reminder that meaningful connections don't require Wi-Fi.

In a world where most communication happens through screens, Mike Turnbow has turned a table at a Chick-fil-A in Flowood, Mississippi, into a place for meaningful face-to-face conversations.

"I can't hand anyone anything. I just sit here and they can approach me," Turnbow said.

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He has noticed that families and groups often sit together without interacting, choosing instead to engage with their phones.

"They are talking to someone on the phone rather than communicating amongst themselves," he said.

Almost every day, Turnbow offers gospel tracts to passersby, recognizing that many people who visit Chick-fil-A might not attend church.

"I realize we live in a lost world and there are a lot of people that come to Chick-fil-A that wouldn't go to a church," he said.

Beyond sharing religious materials, Turnbow provides a listening ear to those in need of conversation.

"To find someone sitting alone that looks knowledgeable enough to help them, they will sit down," he said. "We can talk about anything, we don't have to talk about religion."

After retiring from a construction job, Turnbow felt a calling to bring hope to others, leading to numerous heart-to-heart conversations over the years.

"When teenagers come to me and talk to me but don't take it to their mom and dad, but just looking for that outside source," he said. "This gentleman sat down and said, 'Sir, I was about to take my life after lunch today and he put you here.'"

While some visitors discuss life or faith, others simply observe or listen, but Turnbow believes every interaction is valuable.

"If I don't do anything but sit here and man this table and someone picks this up, well, seed planted," he said.

What began as a personal mission for Turnbow now serves as a reminder that meaningful connections don't require Wi-Fi.

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