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.

Luke 19:12-13, 15, 26 NIV “He said: “A man of noble birth went to a distant country to have himself appointed king and then to return. So he called ten of his servants and gave them ten minas. ‘Put this money to work,’ he said, ‘until I come back.’ “He was made king, however, and returned home. Then he sent for the servants to whom he had given the money, in order to find out what they had gained with it. “He replied, ‘I tell you that to everyone who has, more will be given, but as for the one who has nothing, even what they have will be taken away.” https://bible.com/bible/111/luk.19.26.NIV 

God in Jesus came to earth to be appointed King. He was king, and He became king by sacrificing Himself upon the cross. While He was God, He became man, a servant of men, in order to give Himself as an offering for men so that all men could be reconciled to God. Because of this work, He has been appointed King of kings and Lord of lords before Whom every knee will bow and every tongue confess that He is Lord. While here, He commanded His disciples to make disciples perpetuating His work on earth through the proclamation of the gospel and the teaching of obedience to all His words.

This work continues not in the constant offering of human sacrifice but in the continual remembrance through the proclamation of the work of Jesus on the cross. The mission of every Christian is the Great Commission. So what if we produce nothing in this work? What if we make no effort to see people come to Jesus through proclamation or grow in Jesus through discipleship? What if we fail to own this responsibility, disobeying God’s command to make disciples? The parable Jesus tells is of God’s pleasure and reward to the faithful and rebuke and condemnation of the lazy and unproductive.

How much must we do to gain interest in the gift He has given to us? We should regularly assess our work at seeing God’s kingdom come and His will be done on earth as it is in heaven. We should constantly challenge one another to love and good works that result in people coming to faith and growing in their faith. To do little or nothing in this work is to jeopardize our souls to hell. Why would we not want to receive God’s greatest reward by giving our greatest effort in time and treasure to the work of God so that when we do see Him face to face, we see His pleasure and hear His commendation as good and faithful servants?

Our Opportunities 

1. Join CBMC men for prayer and Bible study every Friday from 8-9 am at Panera Frandor.
2. Do you enjoy these weekly devotionals? You can listen to them daily on your favorite podcast player. The know God coach huddle is a 2-3 minute review of God’s word for application in your life. Subscribe today wherever you listen to podcasts. 

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

June 9, 2025 

Visionary Leader’s Secret: Showing Up In The Moment

By Chris Simpson 

Visionary leadership is a term that gets thrown around a lot these days. In a fast-moving, globalized world, leaders are expected to anticipate the future, set bold directions, and shape organizations that thrive in a rapidly changing marketplace. Richard Stearns, former CEO of World Vision, once said, “A leader must define the current reality, articulate a desired future, identify a way forward, and personally ‘own’ the vision.” And he is right – without vision, leadership becomes reactive rather than proactive. The best leaders see not only what is but also what could be. 

And yet, this presents a hidden danger: Leaders so consumed by the future can easily lose sight of the people right in front of them. There is a paradox at the heart of leadership: to truly shape the future, one must be fully present in the now.

The apostle Paul reminds us in Romans 12:15, “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” That is not a command to those with flexible schedules or abundant free time – it is an essential trait of Christian leadership. If leaders are too absorbed in strategy, too fixated on long-term outcomes, they will fail to notice the joys and sorrows of those they are called to serve. And when people feel unseen, they disengage. They will not follow a leader who appears distant, even if that leader has a compelling vision for the future. 

This is where many leaders stumble. They believe their primary calling is to cast vision – to inspire, to strategize, to set bold goals. But the Bible suggests leadership is not merely about direction – it is about presence. Colossians 3:14 reminds us to “put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony.” Love is not just a virtue to cultivate in personal life; it is the glue that holds together an organization, a team, a community. 

And love, at its core, requires presence. Showing up in the moment. Leaders who truly lead well do more than articulate the mission; they walk alongside their people. They listen before they speak. They notice the exhaustion in an employee’s voice. They recognize the quiet victories worth celebrating. They see people, not just productivity.

Jesus Christ embodied this. As the ultimate visionary leader, He did not simply arrive with a grand vision of redemption – He walked among the people. He touched lepers. He dined with sinners. He wept at Lazarus’ tomb. He did not merely announce salvation; He lived among those He came to save. 

Here is the irony: a leader too obsessed with the future may never actually get there. People do not follow vision alone. They follow those who know them, who love them, who walk with them. The best leaders are not only visionaries; they are shepherds. 

To lead well is to love well. And to love well is to be fully present. Leadership is not just about taking people somewhere; it is about being with them on the way. And in doing so, we reflect Christ, the ultimate servant-leader, who did not remain distant but entered our world, walked our streets, and called us to something greater. If we want to lead like Him, we must learn to do the same. 

© 2025. Christopher C. Simpson is dedicated to fostering a bold and triumphant Christian faith within the global marketplace, driven by a deep conviction in the Gospel’s transformative power. Before becoming President of CBMC International, Chris dedicated 28 years to a distinguished career in the public sector – as a Commanding Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps; and serving in the U. S. Secret Service, responsible for protecting seven American presidents and leading elite teams in complex, high-stakes international missions. With his wife Ana, a native of Nicaragua, and their three children, Chris resides in Boca Raton, Florida.  

MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

June 2, 2025

Reflection/Discussion Questions

1. How can a leader balance the tension between casting a vision for the future and being fully present with the people he or she leads?
2. Paul instructs us in Romans 12:15 to “rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” What practical steps can leaders take to cultivate and demonstrate genuine empathy and engagement in their daily leadership?
3. Jesus modeled leadership by walking among His people rather than leading from a distance. What are some modern leadership habits or mindsets that can unintentionally create distance between leaders and their teams?
4. The article states, “A leader who is too obsessed with the future may never actually get there.” How have you seen this play out in leadership, either in your own experience or in others? What are ways to ensure that vision does not come at the expense of presence – not being readily available to people when needed? 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Proverbs 27:23-27; Mark 10:42-45; Luke 22:26-27; Ephesians 6:7-9; Philippians 2:3-4 

Challenge for This Week 

If God has placed you in a leadership role, whether it is as CEO of a company, a vice president, manager of a department, or leader of a small team, how would you evaluate yourself in terms of “showing up in the moment”? 

Are you too preoccupied with goals and objectives, striving toward the future, that you ignore or neglect the people who work around you every day? It might be helpful to ask a friend, a trusted advisor, or an accountability group to help in assessing how effective you are as a leader in demonstrating your concern and care for their needs. If you find yourself deficient in this respect, what steps might you take to be “fully present in the now”? 

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