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. 

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. Anyone who believes in him is not condemned, but anyone who does not believe is already condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the one and only Son of God…..The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.” John 3:16-18, 36 CSB https://bible.com/bible/1713/jhn.3.16-36.CSB 

God exists, and God loves people. God loves people so much that He desires to live with people forever. The corruption of humanity, a result of our forefather’s rebellion against God now passed onto us through our spiritual DNA, does not keep God from moving toward us to reconcile us to Himself. His remedy for our sickness is Himself. Coming to us as one of us in Jesus the Savior, God has exchanged His life for ours by dying on the cross as punishment for our rebellion against Him. 

Jesus’ resurrection from the dead, proving He is both God and Savior, now appropriates His righteousness to us so that we can live forever with a holy God. This love of God reflected in the person of God, Jesus the Savior, is God’s only means for reconciling us to Himself. The sin of humanity, if they think they have done nothing else against God, is rejecting Jesus as Lord and Savior. No other religion, no amount of doing what they call good, can reconcile a person to God. Only Jesus can pardon a person from the wrath of God predisposed against us because of our rebellious nature. 

The love of God for humanity is manifest in Jesus and through Jesus for redeeming humanity. We must come to Him in humility and repentance, acknowledging His person, work, and pardon for receiving God’s love that will give us eternal life in His blessed kingdom forever. Hell is for all those but only those who refuse to accept God’s love God’s way, which is through Jesus the Savior. 

Our Opportunities 

1. December is the last month of 2024 to invest in this marketplace ministry to men. We depend on your partnership to continue the work of evangelism and discipleship in the concrete jungles of Michigan. I invite you to give as generously as possible this year to help us finish strong and begin stronger in 2025. You can make your donation at: https://give.idonate.com/cbmc-inc/lansing
   
2. Come alive in 2025. The mission of every Christian is the Great Commission. CBMC helps you practically and effectively evangelize and disciple men in the marketplace. There is a growing hunger for God today. God wants laborers in this ripe harvest. Will you join us to build His kingdom this coming year?

 MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

December 16, 2024

Wisdom And Understanding For The Workplace 

By D.C. Chen 

I began my working career at an early age, at Chung Hwa Chemical Industrial Works when I was 14 years old. At that time, I was physically weak and often felt inferior due to my lack of strength. However, my boss reminded me success in business relies not on physical strength but on wisdom. Moses taught the Israelites how to become wise and discerning people as they prepared to enter the Promised Land. The key, he said, was in obeying God’s laws and commandments: “Observe them carefully, for this will show your wisdom and understanding to the nations” (Deuteronomy 4:6). Through daily Bible reading we can understand and learn to follow God’s Word, becoming wise. 

When I was young, a female Canadian missionary came to Taiwan and introduced me to Jeremiah 17:7, “But blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. They will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit.”  This verse inspired me to rely on God in my business endeavors. I also was greatly inspired by the story of David, who with unwavering faith in God faced and overcame threats from lions, bears, and giants. 

In the company where I worked there was a personnel dispute. Someone threatened to harm me as I was taking over the factory’s operations. However, when I interacted with this individual, he said someone had informed him not to harm me. This experience deeply reinforced my belief in God’s unseen protection. 

Thirty years ago, I began managing Everlight Chemical. From the start I incorporated the teachings of Deuteronomy as part of my business philosophy. After joining CBMC, I memorized the following verses to remind myself to let the Lord lead me: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6). 

Obeying God’s Word not only provides wisdom but also strengthens the foundation of a business and fosters continuous growth. Throughout my journey in managing Everlight Chemical, two passages from the Bible have been particularly impactful for me. The first is 1 Kings 12, which recounts how Rehoboam, by listening to unwise advice, faced betrayal from the Israelites. The second, 2 Samuel 23, describes how three of David’s mighty warriors risked their lives to fetch water for him. However, David offered the water to God instead of drinking it himself. This has taught me that a leader must not only possess wisdom but also embody a servant’s heart – serving employees and conducting business with integrity. 

Thirty years ago, Everlight Chemical had only 20 employees. Today it has grown to more than 1,000. Our annual revenue has increased from five million to over four billion. Throughout this journey, I have relied on God’s Spirit and wisdom. He has moved professionals from around the world to assist us. These resources were not a result of my planning but a result of God’s grace. As “Higher Ground,” one of my favorite songs teaches, by continually looking upward and standing on a spiritual plateau, we can make important decisions and confront challenges without fear. 

May the foundation of our business be built upon God’s Word, allowing us to face competition with confidence and reliance on Him. Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, let us mature so when we stand before our Heavenly Father, we may receive His commendation as faithful, good, and wise servants. 

Ding-Chuan Chen – D.C. Chen – is the founder of Everlight Chemical, a publicly listed advanced dye and high-tech chemical company in Taiwan. The company currently operates subsidiaries in six countries worldwide and has more than 1,800 employees. He is the author of “Ever Admire the Light” and “Higher Ground,” a member of CBMC for more than 50 years, serves as the Honorary Chairman of CBMC Taiwan, and has held the positions of Chairman for both CBMC Taiwan and the Asia-Pacific region, as well as the International Director of CBMC.  

MONDAY MANNA

A service to the business community

A Publication of CBMC International

December 16, 2024

Reflection/Discussion Questions 

1. How do you believe that seeking to learn and apply God’s Word in the workplace can serve as a source of wisdom?
2. Have you ever faced challenges in the workplace that you were able to overcome through your faith? If so, what was that like for you?
3. When facing adversity or difficulties in the workplace, on whom or what do you typically choose to rely? Have you ever considered relying more on God instead? Why or why not?
4. How do you think you could cultivate more spiritual growth in your daily life and work, and experience more of God’s grace and presence in your life? 

NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: 1 Samuel 17:34-37; 1 Kings 12:13-15; 2 Samuel 23:15-17; 2 Peter 1:5-8 

Challenge for This Week 

This week, take time to reflect on how to practice the teachings of God’s Word in your daily life and work more consistently, allowing them to serve as your guiding principle. When faced with challenges, try spending time in prayer and seeking the Lord’s guidance. If you find yourself tending to rely primarily on your own understanding and experience, challenge yourself to first entrust these matters to God and wait for His direction. 

If you notice someone in need of help in dealing with competition or difficulties, pray and consider encouraging them to rely on God’s wisdom rather than their own strength. This week, let us all strive to walk in faith and obedience, following the path guided by God’s Word. 

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