CBMC 2020 Winter Connector

CONNECTOR

THE

W I N T E R 2 02 0

Then and Now CBMC, Inc. The Connector Newsletter – Winter 2020 P.O. Box 8009 Chattanooga, TN 37414-0009 800.566.CBMC (2262) www.cbmc.com We’re Social!

❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱ From the Desk of the President Dear Friends and Fellow CBMCers, It has been my pleasure to have served as President for these past three years. When I first began my season as President, I started at the same time planting the seeds that when the Lord said it was time, I would have the ministry well prepared and provide a smooth transition to the next President. With that in mind, I always felt a 3 to 5-year plan was not only best for the ministry but also my family and myself.

Therefore in October 2018, I informed the board of my desire to begin praying and planning for my successor.

Therefore, my tenure as President will be completed as of January 31, 2021, or upon a new President being chosen by the board of directors. At which time I will serve the new President at his pleasure for a smooth transition.

CBMC’S TWOFOLD 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.

ON THE COVER 24th Annual CBMC International Convention in Montreal, Canada in 1961, 2018 Chattanooga Prayer Breakfast

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I am very pleased to announce that over the past three years, we have started CBMC ministries in 79 new cities and expect that to be well over 100 by December 2020.

Through Vision 650, we’ve grown by 146 new teams of men, which is expected to surpass 175 by the end of 2020.

It is not possible to state all of the blessings the Lord has provided to us as we have stayed focused on the Great Commission of men in the marketplace.

Please join me in prayer as we look for the next President. What has held us together for the past 90 years will continue to do so.

Your fellow servant to our Lord Jesus Christ,

William J. McAvinney III President, CBMC, Inc. 540-840-8620 P.S. Your financial support is very much appreciated. Every gift matters and every dollar supports the mission of CBMC- transforming men’s lives through the power of the Gospel. Thanks for considering CBMC in your giving for 2020. For more information on how you can play a part in the mission, see the inside envelope.

The Board of Directors of CBMC would like to thank Bill McAvinney for his past and continued service of the ministry. Bill’s passion for Christ and commitment to the mission of CBMC is an inspiration to us all. With prayerful anticipation, we look forward to discerning God’s direction for future leadership of CBMC. Further details regarding the submission of candidates will be forthcoming.

All questions may be directed to the Board Chairman, Dirk Block at either dblock0505@gmail.com or (402) 660-8702.

90 Years Strong – A Celebration of CBMC’s Long Legacy Young Professionals on the Move Steve Solomon and the South Florida Team Regional Updates

Page 3 Page 4 Page 6 Page 7

FROM 1930 TO THE PRESENT,

CBMC Ministering in the Marketplace with a 20:20 Mission The year was 1930: The United States was in the throes of the Great Depression, spawning widespread poverty and unemployment. Franklin D. Roosevelt was President. An unknown German named Adolf Hitler was emerging into power. Clarence Birdseye was selling his first frozen foods. RCA Victor was preparing to release the first long-playing phonograph record. Nestle produced its first white chocolate candy, the Milky Way bar. Radio programming was predominant in mass media.

Another event 1930 received little attention at the time, although its impact has touched many thousands, even millions of lives over the nine decades since: the founding of a ministry called CBMC, which initially stood for Christian Business Men’s Committee, and now Christian Business Men’s Connection.

It began in Chicago, where a small band of business leaders – A.J. Leaman, C.B. Hedstrom, J.S. Lincoln, Frank Sheriff, Frank W. Sheriff, and Ernest Wadsworth – had a vision for addressing the spiritual poverty that accompanied the financial woes of the Depression. They soon were joined in their mission by men like Arnold Grunigen, Charles E. Gremmels, N.A. Jepson and R.G. LeTourneau, and subsequent movements were spawned in other cities, including San Francisco, Philadelphia, Seattle and Detroit.

The ministry initially consisted of noonhour evangelistic meetings broadcast over the radio, with thousands of people responding to the Gospel-centered messages. Through the years, CBMC’s strategies changed, even incorporating servicemen’s centers to minister to young men being deployed to fight in World War II or returning from battle, as well as reaching out to men in prisons and homeless missions in the name of Jesus Christ.

In the 1970s, its focus was sharpened to evangelizing and discipling business and professional men. This year, 2020, CBMC marks the 90th anniversary of its

founding, so it’s appropriate that the ministry is pressing forward with a clear, 20:20 vision of its 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.”

Past CBMC Presidents and wives with current President, Bill McAvinney and wife Ginny

Through the years the faces and names of key leaders in CBMC have changed, but all have shared the same sense of passion and urgency for reaching out to peers and colleagues with the Good News of Christ and helping fellow believers to grow in their faith.

Strategies for reaching men in the marketplace, their wives and families, peers and coworkers have been changed and refined over the years. Public street evangelistic meetings were succeeded by mealtime outreach events. Guests responding at those gatherings were followed up through personal visits in their offices and workplaces, and later through small Bible studies designed for seekers and persons new to the faith.

Formalized Bible study tools were developed, including “First Steps” and “Operation Timothy,” which has been rewritten and redesigned several times over the years. Recognizing the national trend toward secularization and post-modernism, training in lifestyle evangelism was introduced, including the “Living Proof Adventure Series”, initially presented in video form and later as an online, interactive resource.

At its heart, however, despite societal changes and ever-modern innovation,

CBMC has remained a life-on-life, deeply personal ministry, described in the words of the late CBMC President Ted DeMoss as, “one beggar showing another beggar where to find bread.”

Today, CBMC members across the United States – and around the world – understand their biblical calling, to serve as Marketplace Ambassadors, in keeping with 2 Corinthians 5:20, which says, “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.” Just as satisfied customers can serve as the best spokespersons for products and services, 90 years later, men of CBMC – and their wives – continue to serve as “satisfied customers” of the life-saving, transforming power of Jesus Christ through His Spirit ■

Robert J. Tamasy served as editor and director of publications for CBMC and CBMC International for 20 years and is the author of the newly published Marketplace Ambassadors: CBMC’s Continuing Legacy of Evangelism and Disciplemaking, available on Amazon. com.

❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱ Weston: Attracting and Developing the Right People by Becoming the Right Person As a certified talent organizer with a company that helps organizations to hire the right people, retain the right people, and develop the right people, Jared Weston, about eight years ago began learning how to become the right person himself.

“I was working with the athletics department at Oklahoma State University, and was invited to a CBMC golf outing in Oklahoma City,” Weston said. “I didn’t get to play in the event, but went to the luncheon. Afterward, I thought, ‘What’s this all about?’”

Doing some online research about CBMC, he found a group nearby that worked with his schedule, and began attending the 6:30 a.m. meetings at an IHOP restaurant. “I was the youngest guy there by 15-20 years, but I viewed it as an opportunity to soak in a lot of wisdom from around the table.”

Growing up, Weston went to church on occasion, and always believed in God intellectually. “But I wasn’t always a follower.” Upon meeting his future wife, Marguerite, who had attended a parochial school, he had begun attending church with her. After moving from

The Weston family

began seeking the Lord and growing my spiritual foundation.”

A key to his growth was going through Operation Timothy with Jim Hammack, leader of the CBMC group, a relation-

I felt a stirring in my heart to keep seeking spiritually, and the messages I heard at church were resonating with me on a personal level, but it wasn’t until CBMC that I truly began seeking the Lord and growing my spiritual foundation.

Toledo, Ohio to Oklahoma City, they married in 2011 and started going to a vital, Bible-teaching church, even joining a couples’ group.

“I felt a stirring in my heart to keep seeking spiritually, and the messages I heard at church were resonating with me on a personal level,” Weston said, “but it wasn’t until CBMC that I truly

ship that continued for several years.

He also benefited from meeting key leaders in the local ministry, including Dr. Herman Reece, the city’s longtime staff director.

“When Marguerite, who is a family practice and sports medicine physician, and I moved to Madison, Wisconsin in 2015 with our two daughters, Adalynn and

Rylann, I was able to stay plugged in with CBMC. A group there was meeting on a monthly basis, and I completed Operation Timothy with its leader, Tom Pelletteri.

“Then in 2017, Marguerite had an opportunity to take a position in Columbus, Ohio, where we could be closer to our families. Looking back, each of our career moves fit perfectly – you couldn’t make up the story about the ways things lined up,” he said.

The one difference was that at the time, there was no active CBMC presence in Columbus, the state’s largest city. However, by reaching out to CBMC’s Ministry Support Center for help, Weston was able to connect with Steve Conzaman, the staff director for Northeastern Ohio, including Cleveland.

“I went through the Connect3 Leadership Training and began praying about

❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱

Weston’s CBMC team and Mark Whitacre

re-establishing CBMC in central Ohio,” Weston said. He started a CBMC team early in 2019 and it continues to meet in his home on Tuesday evenings. Consisting of 8-10 men, the group has gone through the 10 Attributes of a Marketplace Ambassador series, Living Proof, and this year is anticipating going through Operation Timothy together.

Today, Weston works part-time with Learfield IMG College, which works in sales training with university athletic departments in both communications and marketing, as well as In2Great, a talent optimization consultant group that assists organizations in discovering how to understand their people better and devel-

op them into highly effective employees.

With In2Great, he is becoming more deeply involved in its mission “to hire the right people, retain the right people, and develop the right people.”

Sounds like this also is an excellent strategy for a Young Professional like Weston, with a passion for leading other men to become Marketplace Ambassadors in a vibrant Midwestern city where many thousands of business and professional men need to hear the gospel of Jesus Christ. ■

Jared and Marguerite

For more information about how you can get involved in CBMC Young Professionals, visit cbmc.com/yp

Vision 650 in Action in South Florida

Steve with a CBMC team.

Steve Solomon may have a thick New York accent, but don’t let it fool you. Steve broke the Yankee mold when he became a South Florida transplant. His CBMC team in South Florida is making waves, and as Steve says, “We are now at the table.”

“He is so happy. He loves what he is doing. CBMC has changed everything. I am so thankful for it,” Jeanne shares.

He goes on to share how the local CBMC team has risen to the challenge by getting involved and working together.

When I asked Steve, “Why CBMC?” he is quick to answer. “The biggest thing guys are looking for in the marketplace is connection. Connection to other men and to God. That is the #1 thing CBMC provides.”

What’s on the horizon for CBMC South Florida? Steve can hardly contain his excitement as he shares some exciting things around the corner. “Another Young Professional team will be starting soon as well as Trusted Advisor Forums.” (TAF is a Peer Advisory Group for C-level executives and business owners.)

South Florida is comprised of Miami-Dade County, The Keys, Palm Beach, and Ft. Lauderdale and is a unique melting pot with a wide variety of ethnic backgrounds.

Miami-Dade County is predominately made up of immigrants. The main street of downtown Miami is a mecca of businessmen.

Steve shares that CBMC has grown from 3 teams to over 20 teams in 18 months!

❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱ I had the privilege of meeting Steve this past summer and got to experience firsthand his contagious joy that would light up a room.

Steve came to know the Lord in 1991, sitting in an insurance office. A salesman at heart, he always reached out to other businessmen. That gifting would later be a catalyst for many businessmen to know Christ.

An invite to a CBMC luncheon in Fort Lauderdale introduced Steve to a whole new world of possibilities. At the time, Steve worked in the telecom industry. A CBMC mentor began discipling Steve as the two went through Operation Timothy together.

Within three years, Steve was asked to serve on the local board of directors for the South Florida CBMC team.

Fast forward to 2018, and many years of marketplace ministry under his belt; Steve began to feel God calling him to full-time work with CBMC. “It became apparent that things needed to change, we needed to reach out to more men in the marketplace, and it got me thinking about what I needed to do to help make it happen.”

After 30 years in the telecom industry, Steve joined CBMC as Area Director for the South Florida teams in July 2018.

“God doesn’t do His still, small voice with me. He has to smack me in the back of the head.” Steve is quick to give credit to his wife, Jeanne, whose support made it all possible.

By increasing the number of outreach luncheons from 3 to 5, the team has seen incredible growth. “These outreaches serve as launching points for men seeking connection,” Steve says. Not only are they focused on luncheons but also evening outreaches. “Our Cigar Night Fellowship is impacting men’s lives, as well. So far, three men have come to the Lord, three have rededicated their lives, five men have returned to church and now actively serve, and five marriages have been repaired.

We could never have imagined how God would use these events.”

CBMC South Florida has successfully launched several Connect3 teams, and in October, their first Young Professional team (Peer Advisory Group made up of 25 to 40-year-olds) began. Operation Timothy participants have grown from 20 to 75.

“We are excited to be participating as partners in the follow-up for the Super Bowl LIV breakfast in February,” Steve states.

As momentum continues in South Florida, we rejoice at what God is doing in men’s lives there. Continue to pray for Steve and his team as they seek to reach more and more men with the Gospel. From the Florida Keys to Fort Lauderdale, pray for the men of CBMC. May the movement of God continue to advance throughout South Florida! ■

South Florida Team

Not only are they reaching businessmen with the Gospel, but Steve’s team is connecting with several major churches in the area to help disciple people using Operation Timothy. They have also partnered with a local agency that helps those with disabilities find jobs and in a crisis pregnancy center ministering to the male partner of couples seeking connection to God and other men. Using OT, men are being saved, being mentored, and returning to church. South Florida has also partnered with Tim Keller’s City to City network.

“There is a movement of God in Miami that I just can’t explain,” Steve says.

Written by Holly McAfee, Marketing & Communications for CBMC

Steve and Jeanne Solomon

REGIONAL REPORT FROM THE FIELD –

The Qualities of Men of CBMC CBMC has the 10 Attributes that answers the question about men in CBMC; “What does a Marketplace Ambassador look like, and what are the attributes that others see in this man?” What a valuable tool for CBMC men in our ministry. We have seen much fruit from investing in men through this tool.

We also have three key qualities of men in CBMC that helps define our purpose and who we are when we meet together for weekly Connect3 meetings, Peer Advisory Groups, Young Professional gatherings and other regular CBMC meetings.

Boston Team Planning Meeting

Leadership Coach Training in Kansas and Nebraska with Gary Tenpenny

Men of Triangle CBMC in prayer

Louisville Young Professionals

1. Men who are Thankful – Philippians 4: 6-7 “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

2. Men who don’t give up – I Corinthians 15:58

Therefore, my dear brothers and sisters, stand firm. “ Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain.”

3. Men who don’t do life alone – Prov 27:17 “As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another.”

MEN WHO ARE THANKFUL Gary Tenpenny, Area Director for greater Kansas City recently celebrated an important milestone. Gary presented graduation certificates to his twelfth group of men participating in CBMC Leadership Coach Training. Over the past three years, 50 men have participated in this training designed to equip them to use basic Christian Coaching skills in their family, ministry, and vocational endeavors.

MEN WHO DON’T DO LIFE ALONE The group of leaders from Boston met to plan for their 2020 goals for the local field ministry. These leaders prayed, deliberated, examined the Biblical calling TOGETHER for their group and

Written by David Balinski, National Director of Field Staff

defined there 2020 objectives by saying, “lets grow discipleship and the number of our weekly meetings”. We will follow the Lord to reach more men and grow these men toward maturity in Christ.

The Louisville men, led by Area Director Brian Goul were heard to say during a meeting with a new disciple (we call them “Timothy” in CBMC terminology); “this is a lifelong commitment. I am with you for the long haul.”

MEN WHO DON’T GIVE UP Our Triangle CBMC from North Carolina is transitioning from a staff city to a volunteer city lead by Chris Amey. They know what they have been doing over many years with CBMC. These men cannot stop doing what CBMCers have done for over 90 yearsevangelism and discipleship. Key leaders lined up to take on roles to continue the work in the Raleigh- Durham area. These are men who don’t give up and continue the work to present Christ and disciple men in the marketplace.

What qualities are you exhibiting as part of your engagement with the men who are part of the field ministry of CBMC? Are you thankful, are you doing life together with other men and are you steadfast in your purpose? ■

Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Montgomery, AL Permit No. 275

CBMC, Inc. The Connector, Winter 2020 P.O. Box 8009 Chattanooga, TN 37414-0009 800.566.CBMC (2262) www.cbmc.com

Upcoming Events CBMC Young Professional Peer Advisory Group Facilitator Training Thursday, January 30, 2020 8:00 AM - Friday, January 31, 2020 Tampa, Florida Topeka Marketplace Ambassador Luncheon Wednesday, February 5, 2020 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM AJ’s NY Pizzeria Topeka, KS 14th Annual Recognition Banquet Saturday, February 8, 2020 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Greenwood Village South Greenwood, IN CBMC Boca Raton Luncheon Tuesday, February 11, 2020 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM Rafina Greek Taverna Boca Raton, FL Overland Park Marketplace Ambassador Luncheon Wednesday, February 12, 2020 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM The Signatry Overland Park, KS Topgolf Luncheon with Michael Parks Monday, February 17, 2020 11:45 AM - 4:00 PM Independence, OH CBMC Fort Lauderdale Luncheon Tuesday, February 18, 2020 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Tower Club - Fort Lauderdale Fort Lauderdale, FL Coral Gables Cigar Fellowship Thursday, February 20, 2020 5:30 PM - 7:30 PM The Galiano Cigar Room Coral Gables, FL

❱❱❱❱❱❱❱

Couple’s Night Out Thursday, February 27, 2020 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM Jasco Event Center Oklahoma City, OK

Leadership Coach Training Friday, March 27, 2020 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM The Signatry Overland Park, KS

2 Timothy 2:2 CBMC Leadership Developing Godly Leaders Retreat Thursday, February 27, 2020 7:00 PM - Saturday, February 29, 2020 The Red Rock Guest Ranch Soldier, KS

50th Anniversary of the Tampa Bay Leadership Prayer Breakfast Friday, April 3, 2020 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM Armature Works Tampa, FL

Topeka Marketplace Ambassador Luncheon Wednesday, March 4, 2020 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM AJ’s NY Pizzeria Topeka, KS 34th Government Leaders’ Prayer Breakfast Friday, March 6, 2020 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM Irvine Marriott Irvine, California 2020 Prayer Breakfast Saturday, March 7, 2020 6:00 AM - 8:00 AM Chattanooga Convention Center Chattanooga, Tennessee CBMC Northland Leadership Coach Training Program, Spring 2020 Wednesday, March 11, 2020 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Right Connections Minnetonka, Minnesota Overland Park Marketplace Ambassador Luncheon Wednesday, March 11, 2020 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM The Signatry Overland Park, KS CBMC Leadership Institute Facilitator Training Thursday, March 12, 2020 8:30 AM - Friday, March 13, 2020 Sheraton Minneapolis West Hotel Minnetonka, Minnesota

The Prayer Breakfast for Greater St. Louis Wednesday, April 8, 2020 7:00 AM - 9:00 AM America’s Center Convention Complex St. Louis, MO Overland Park Marketplace Ambassador Luncheon Wednesday, April 8, 2020 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM The Signatry Overland Park, KS 2020 Good Friday Breakfast Friday, April 10, 2020 6:30 AM - 8:30 AM Hanover Marriott Hanover, NJ Greater Omaha Leadership Prayer Breakfast Friday, April 10, 2020 6:30 AM - 8:30 AM Embassy Suites by Hilton Omaha La Vista Hotel & Conference Center La Vista, NE 37th Annual CBMC Metro Prayer Breakfast Wednesday, April 15, 2020 6:30 AM - 8:30 AM Cox Convention Center Oklahoma City, OK Faith in Business Tuesday, April 21, 2020 7:45 AM - 9:00 AM Quail Creek Golf & Country Club Oklahoma City, OK Add these events:

To register or get more information about CBMC events in your area visit www.cbmc.com/events