When Carla Dietrich came into work at Waffle House in Wapakoneta on Christmas Eve, she had no reason to believe it'd be any different than the last nine Christmas Eves shes worked. Then sometime after 11 PM, Pastor Mick Whistler led his Grand Lake United Methodist Church congregation into that Waffle House.
"I thought we were going to have to cook for everybody, so I was freaking out because the place was packed," Dietrich, a cook at Waffle House, said. "I thought 'Oh my gosh! We’re going to have to cook.' I told the other cook I don’t even want to turn around. She said 'Then don't.'"
Whistler presented the five women working with a $3,577 tip to split between them. He asked his congregation to hold back a dollar at each Sunday service this month and Christmas being the fifth dollar, but didn't tell anyone what the plan was until his 11 o clock service on Christmas Eve. Whistler got this idea from a book where a pastor takes his daughters to a Waffle House to show that people work while the rest sleep, just like shepherds did.
"God didn't tell the religious leaders or the powerful, he told the shepherds," said Whistler. "I had a shepherds costume on. Then I told the Waffle House story. Then I said 'But we don't have shepherds really in our day in age.' And I took it off and I had an apron on. I said 'So if God made that grand announcement would he come to the ladies at Waffle House? Yes, I think he would. We're going to Waffle House and your offering is for the shepherds working the late shift at Waffle House.'"
Grand Lake United Methodist Church had a live stream of the service and people were so excited to be a part of it that they got dressed and headed to Waffle House to meet the congregation.
The women working at waffle house couldn't believe the news, thought there was a catch and then shed tears of happiness.
"All of us needed something," said Dietrich. "My car’s going to the shop Friday. We truly needed it. Each one of us, for one thing or another."
Whistler said the idea behind his actions was to excite his congregation about how God is still working in the world and how strength in numbers is still prevalent.
As members of the congregation hung around to enjoy some Waffle House food, Whistler's wife actually paid for everyone's meal in the restaurant.
