Our Mission

To present Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord to business and professional men and to develop Christian business and professional men to carry out the Great Commission.

1 Thessalonians 2 records, “but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not intending to please people, but to please God, who examines our hearts. For we never came with flattering speech, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is our witness— nor did we seek honor from people, either from you or from others, though we could have asserted our authority as apostles of Christ…….For you recall, brothers and sisters, our labor and hardship: it was by working night and day so as not to be a burden to any of you, that we proclaimed to you the gospel of God. You are witnesses, and so is God, of how devoutly and rightly and blamelessly we behaved toward you believers;” NASB2020

The Great Commission is the mission of every Christian. Our failure to execute our assigned duties are obvious to all in this culture gone amok in doing, believing, and wanting more of all that God has promised to condemn men for unless they repent before Him in Jesus the Savior of the world.

Who is the man who is approved by God, whose entrustment of the gospel has been shown faithful? What does that Christian look like who is faithful to the work of God?  First, he seeks to please God and not people. This means he speaks what the Bible says and not words that make men feel good about themselves. Of course, that doesn’t mean the Bible makes us feel bad, it is a glorious account of God’s love for us demonstrated by His sacrifice for us, but it reveals the necessity of God’s grace to all men for all men are born rebels against God and need reconciliation to God.

The man approved by God labors daily for people to be reconciled to God. His words and deeds are constantly encouraging people to live according to the will of God revealed in the Word of God. This declaration is backed up by living a holy life, devoted to God and revealed by moral living that is unarguable in its character.

Who desires to be approved by God when He returns to judge all men for the way they lived in accordance with His will? The man God approves shares Jesus with others and lives as Jesus did before others.

Our Opportunities

Our first luncheon is scheduled for May 12th. Download a flyer and register here, then pray fervently for men to join you on May 12th to hear our speaker and come to saving faith in Jesus the Lord.

The City Rescue Mission Needs YOU.  Join the Team We are in need of individuals desiring to serve as the hands and feet of Christ in our community. Positions at the Mission are in-person and mostly evenings and weekends. Please pray that we can fill the more than 24 open positions at the Mission. If you are unable to serve as staff but willing to volunteer, there are openings available to assist staff in most of these positions. Note: times vary and hours are flexible.  Call 517.485.0145 or email volunteers@BEaRESCUER.org for information.

You can partner with us here: https://give.idonate.com/cbmc-inc/lansing 

CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917  / 517 481 5996 www.lansing.cbmc.com

 MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

April 11, 2022 

Starting a Business God’s Way Part I

By Rick Boxx 

(Editor’s Note: This is the first of two articles on how to start a business God’s way.) 

If you don’t count the greeting cards, ice scrapers or newspapers I sold as a child, my first business startup was a car rental agency. After I liquidated that business, I made a commitment to myself never to launch another startup. This was when I began to learn that if you want to give God a good laugh, tell Him your plans – His plans are very different from yours. Because from that time, I have been part of at least seven startups! 

Since those who track marketplace trends report well over one million businesses have been started since the COVID pandemic started, a “Monday Manna” looking at what the Bible teaches about “Starting a Business God’s Way” seems appropriate. 

The first principle to remember in starting a new business is: follow God’s call and leading rather than your own plan. Then proceed accordingly. As Proverbs 19:21 teaches, “Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the Lord’s purpose that prevails.” 

When I was 25 years old, I left the public accounting world and struggled to determine what I wanted to do next. I read about a new concept called Rent-a-Wreck. It sounded like a groundbreaking idea, so I started my own used car rental agency. It never occurred to me to seek God’s leading, asking if He thought this was a good idea. 

Looking back, my only real objective was to make lots of money. I had no knowledge or passion for renting cars, and no legitimate answer for the question – the second principle – “Why should this business exist?” Proverbs 20:5 teaches, “The purposes of a person’s heart are deep waters, but one who has insight draws them out.” If you’re considering launching a business, consider, “Why should this business exist?” If your only answer is to make money, seek to find a better purpose for your career. 

After my son was diagnosed with autism, a group of parents and I decided to start a school for children with special needs. Some professionals advised that we could establish a school for children with learning disabilities or autism, but could not serve both. 

As parents, we balked at accepting that conclusion. It took several months, but eventually we concluded the professionals were right, that we could not effectively do both. We discovered the third principle, when starting a business, determine who you will serve. So, we developed a school for learning disabilities, even though several of our children would never be able to attend. That school has since helped over 1,000 children. 

Matthew 6:24 teaches, “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other.” Your business needs to have a focused audience. Lack of a clearly considered business focus can result in going in too many different directions, failing to properly serve any of your intended customers. We will cover three additional biblically based principles for starting a business next week. 

Copyright 2022, Unconventional Business Network. Adapted with permission from “UBN Integrity Moments,” a commentary on faith at work issues. UBN is a faith at work ministry serving the international small business community. 

CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917 / 517 481 5996  lansing.cbmc.com 

MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

April 11, 2022

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. Have you ever started a business of your own, or have you given help to someone else as they were starting their own business? If so, what has that experience been like for you? 

1. How would you suggest that someone go about trying to determine and follow God’s leading for a new business startup, or even for making a major career change? 

1. What is your reaction to the question, “Why should this business exist?” – do you think many people give the answer to that question a priority when they are trying to start a business? 

1. Why do you think it is necessary for a company to have a clear understanding of who their customers are – essentially, who are those people (or entities) that they intend to serve? 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Psalm 37:3-6; Proverbs 3:5-6; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3:17, 23-24 

CBMC Central Michigan 4407 W. St. Joe Hwy. Lansing 48917 / 517 481 5996  lansing.cbmc.com