With at least three major projects in the works, company officials set aside the day to help employees focus on the tasks ahead, Rainer said.

Participating in the fast was "strictly voluntary," Rainer said, and the company told employees anyone with health issues or other concerns might not want to take part.

Rainer said the employees were given about a week's notice of the fast. Food was available at snack machines, but the main cafeteria was closed for the day.

Employees at LifeWay locations across the country—corporate offices in Nashville, warehouse and distribution center in Lebanon, Tenn., 160 LifeWay Christian Stores and two national conference centers—were asked to participate, along with the company's board of trustees.

Employees were encouraged to fast from midnight Thursday to midnight Friday or start at 6 p.m. Wednesday and end at 6 p.m. Thursday.

"Without a doubt, today was a special day at LifeWay," Rainer said. "But I don't want this to become just another corporate initiative. As often happens with special days, it can be very hard to re-create them."

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