2019 Spring Connector

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Advancing Marketplace Ambassadors IN THIS ISSUE: The Value of Connect3 ❱ MAAS New Release ❱ From Building Casinos to Churches

CBMC, Inc. The Connector Newsletter – Spring 2019 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 Friend of CBMC, My life has been a result of CBMC men investing in me. Through the years, men with the CBMC DNA taught me to share my faith relevantly and how to do business God’s way. Anything I have done in the marketplace was done because someone mentored me and showed me the appropriate way to do things. As a 36-year-old starting out in Fredericksburg, VA, I had no idea how to do business and did not yet have a desire to share my faith in the marketplace.

Fast forward 30 years, following many mistakes made and lessons learned, I stand in the business community of my small town as one who has strived to honor God. My life is a testimony of what God can do in the activity of a man through CBMC. I was very humbled to receive the Prince B. Woodard Leadership Award recently in the Fredericksburg Chamber of Commerce. This recognition has only come about because of the impression of CBMC in my everyday business relationships and my community involvement. Men, I invite you to become a Marketplace Ambassador and see what God does through you!

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.

HAVE A STORY TO SHARE? Have you been recognized by your community? Has your CBMC team or event made the news? Let us know at hmcafee@ cbmc.com

Recently, many of you joined us online for the inaugural Truths for the Marketplace webinar. If you missed this event, you can still listen to the interview and Q&A with Hewlett Packard VP Dr. Tom Bradicich at this link. cbmc.tech/tombradicich Also, the CBMC Young Professionals podcast is available on iTunes or cbmc.com.

Episode 3 holds a special treat as two Young Professionals discuss the impact of CBMC and how their Peer Advisory Group has changed their lives.

As we look to the future of the ministry of CBMC, I hope you will continue to join with me in prayer for our board members, the local team leaders, and volunteers who are in the trenches and the CBMC events that are happening in record numbers across the nation.

Your fellow servant to our Lord Jesus Christ,

William J. McAvinney III President, CBMC, Inc. 540-840-8620

TABLE OF CONTENTS The Value of a Connect3 Team MAAS New Release Update Leadership and Remembering Your Why Upcoming CBMC Events

On the Cover: Young Professionals in cities around the nation are catching the vision of CBMC. This inaugural training meeting in Tampa Bay, FL was attended by several CBMC staff and leaders. If you are interested in getting more information about this growing movement visit www.cbmcyp.com or email youngprofessionals@cbmc.com.

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What’s the Value of His C3 Team?

Steffen says, “I have to have it!”

Attracted. Like a moth to a flame.

These are words Stan Steffen used to describe the impact being introduced to one of CBMC’s Connect3 teams in Oklahoma City, Okla. had on him two years ago.

Having committed his life to Jesus Christ early in his life, and then having a strong support group of fellow believers while attending Oklahoma State University, “I avoided the common pitfalls of that period of life,” Steffen said.

As an adult, he continued to have “good Christian friends” and engaged in a variety of church activities, “but I seemed stalled. I had grown a little dry in my Christian walk. My church involvement didn’t seem to translate to the real world.”

A part-owner of Landmark Construction Group, a commercial construction company, Steffen had attended CBMC-sponsored Metro Leadership Prayer Breakfasts, but knew little about CBMC beyond that. From his first encounter with a Connect3 team in 2017, “I was hooked. I couldn’t help being attracted like a moth to a flame. I got recharged, looking forward to each meeting like a breath of fresh air.”

The level of honesty and vulnerability, along with the immediate acceptance by other members of the C3 team, made an impact unlike anything he had experienced.

Soon after becoming a regular participant with the group, Steffen started taking a man through Operation Timothy. “I was a little reluctant at first, wondering how do I mentor a younger man? But (in Operation Timothy) CBMC has a fantastic lesson plan and program for discipling another person. We’ve been meeting now for nearly a year.”

Drawing from his nearly four decades of experience in commercial construction, as well as 38 years of marriage, Steffen has been able to understand what Nathan, a mechanical engineer, is

Stan Steffan, standing, with an Oklahoma City team

going through professionally as well as the emotions and challenges of being newly married.

“We talk through a lot of things, but I don’t advise him what to do. I just try to help him in the decision process.

Going through Operation Timothy together, it’s amazing how our lives and the passages we’re studying seem to coincide.”

“There were a lot of discussions about problems men have, things that seem to isolate us, that are almost never talked about in church.

I realized I was not alone in struggling with various issues.”

Steffen said the discipling experience has proved life-changing for both of them. “It’s amazing how much he teaches me as well. It’s been so beneficial to dig into these points of faith and think through what we believe and why.

“The apostle Paul told Timothy to study to show himself approved, rightly dividing the word of truth. It’s a fantastic opportunity going through this series with Nathan, talking about being ambassadors for Christ and taking His light wherever we go. The whole thing is a real blessing to me, seeing the reality of what Christ can do in a tough world.”

Another blessing has been the support he received from his C3 team members following the passing of his father several months ago, and then when his father-in-law passed away weeks later.

“The prayers and support I received from them – God showed Himself so real, so faithful through them.” Steffen said. “My relationship with these guys has become vital and has meant so much to me. And now I’m being able to give back to others.

His wife, Shelly, has seen the changes in her husband and appreciates the value of his participation in the weekly C3 sessions.

One of the passages that has proved especially meaningful for Steffen in their relationship is Ephesians 5:25, which talks about how Jesus gave up His life so sacrificially. “This is obviously about the Church – the body of believers – but it’s also an example for husbands and how we interact with our wives. The old ‘dying to self’ that can be so difficult.

“It’s gotten to the point that if my alarm goes off in the morning and I’m not moving right away, she’ll nudge me to get going. She’s seen the great difference it’s made in my walk and how I relate to her. If I tried to quit going, she wouldn’t let me!

“And I feel the same way. There’s no question this was God’s timing, bringing CBMC and the Connect3 team into my life at a time when He knew I was going to need it. I’ve got to have it!” ■

❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱ Marketplace Ambassador Advancement System New Release – RAISING THE BAR

ered to be the best available. Living Proof Adventure, the newest offering, is an evangelism training tool ideal for Connect3, Peer Advisory Groups, small groups, or churches. These time-tested CBMC tools have recently been enhanced with new features and functionality and can be found at advance.cbmc.com.

NEW RELEASE UPGRADES

Next level discipleship and evangelism tools designed for the modern man.

Integrate your work and faith with an emphasis on the Great Commission.

Relational and Biblical, available on mobile, tablet, and desktop.

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The Marketplace Ambassador Advancement System (MAAS) is a trusted source of discipleship and evangelism resources provided free of charge and accessed by thousands in over 100 countries. Tools like Operation Timothy, originally introduced in 1970, provide an interactive one-on-one discipleship experience that is consid-

The Print function includes the user’s answers “Add Resources” feature allows “Pauls” the ability to assign current “My Resources” to other “Timothys” A prominent START HERE button is included in the slider for easy access to the Advancement System Icons for Attribute Resources have been added to indicate the type of resource When a “Paul” invites a “Timothy,” and the “Timothy” accepts, the “Timothy” is sent directly to the OPERATION TIMOTHY tab.

When a “Timothy” reaches the end of a chapter, a dialog box appears with a reminder to check the “complete” box.

A “Paul” can now mark a question as a “favorite” to remind him to cover the question with his “Timothy.” “Timothy” may also mark a question as a “favorite” to remind him to discuss with his “Paul.”

“Timothys” now have access to the Leader’s Guide.

“Take It Further” studies are now interactive with the ability to type in answers and print the entire document with answers.

❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱ 10 Attributes of a Marketplace Ambassador 1. WALKING DAILY IN INTIMACY WITH JESUS CHRIST 2. LIVING IN ACCOUNTABLE RELATIONSHIPS WITH BELIEVERS 3. SHARING FAITH IN CHRIST IN MY SPHERE OF INFLUENCE 4. HELPING OTHERS GROW SPIRITUALLY THROUGH LIFE-ONLIFE DISCIPLESHIP 5. LIVING AN INTEGRATED LIFE WITH PROPER LIFE PRIORITIES 6. LIVING A LIFE OF GENEROSITY

New to MAAS? Registration is free and opens up the entire toolbox.

Access Operation Timothy, Living Proof Adventure and other studies that will encourage and challenge you to a deeper walk with God. Visit advance.cbmc.com today! ■

7. APPLYING BIBLICAL PRINCIPLES IN ALL AREAS OF MY LIFE 8. MAINTAINING A STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE WITH INTEGRITY 9. GENUINELY CARING FOR PEOPLE 10. LIVING OUT GOD’S CALL ON MY LIFE

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A Marketplace Ambassador is a believer who RESOLVES to become an effective ambassador for Christ in the marketplace based on 2 Corinthians 5:20. “Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us.” For almost 90 years, CBMC has been developing tools to equip men to be these ambassadors in the marketplace. If you’ve not visited MAAS lately, we invite you to jump back in. Dive deeper into the fully interactive features and invite a friend along for the journey.

ADDITIONAL FEATURES The CBMCTV tab will become the LIBRARY tab with improved search capability and accessibility.

An Accountability Tool in eOT with a companion smartphone app called Accountable will enhance the discipling process. Available on Google Play and in the App Store.

❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱❱ Old Things Have Passed Away…

All Things Have Become New The Scriptures promise that committing our lives to Jesus Christ means undergoing major transformation, becoming new creations. If you’re looking for a good example, you might consider Daniel Cook of Ogden, Utah.

Born and raised in Montana, Cook graduated from Montana State University before starting a career as an architect, developer and general contractor, establishing a niche in building hotels, night clubs, casinos and restaurants. This led to the dubious distinction of helping to bring gambling into Montana by putting casinos into his facilities.

“I got involved with partners from Las Vegas, and this became a very dark part of my life.”

In 1983, he relocated to Ogden, Utah where his contracting company began renovating a 13-story hotel owned by Weber County. “I did not fit in with the Mormons in town at all,” he admitted.

Cook’s notoriety followed him, most notably when an article in the local newspaper focused not on the hotel he was refurbishing but his own history, which included involvement with organized crime, alcoholism and a failed marriage.

One bright side for him, was because of the publicity, he met Brian Ascherin, who at the time was serving as CBMC’s Metro Director for the Salt Lake City area.

As a result, Cook later would realize “what was really a terrible day in my life became a really good day.” Since Ascherin’s vocational background was mechanical engineering, the two of them quickly made a connection.

Their friendship developed over time and in May 1986, Cook accepted Ascherin’s invitation to attend a CBMC outreach meeting where the speaker was Adolph Coors IV, a member of the Coors Brewing Company family.

“That was the kind of beer I drank at the time, so I was curious enough to go,” Cook said. What Coors had to say, however, was very little about the

beer business but a lot about what the Bible teaches about God, Jesus Christ, sin and eternal life.

“Adolph’s talk made quite an impression on me – he would prove to be a difference maker in my life.”

Later that day, Ascherin and Coors paid Cook a personal visit at his office to ask what he thought of the meeting and the message he had heard.

“That day I came to a full understanding that the things I was doing in my life were wrong.”

“They arrived about 4 p.m. and stayed until around midnight. I was shocked that somebody would spend so much time with me and cared that much.

They were quite gracious,” he recalled.

“That day I came to a full understanding that the things I was doing in my life were wrong. Until then, I really didn’t believe that. When the realization hit me, I just wept.”

Convicted of his sin and having sincerely prayed to turn his life over to the Lord, Cook faced a dilemma. “The things I had been doing, I literally didn’t know how I was going to get out of it.”

While praying earnestly for God’s direction, Cook joined Ascherin and others in CBMC to study the Scriptures for the first time. He also became involved in a local church, and the pastor, Les Magee, became his spiritual mentor.

They met weekly for years.

“I had never even seen a Bible, but once I started reading it, I couldn’t get enough of it. These men fed me and fed me.”

The solution for severing his unsavory business ties came in a tragic way.

Within a month after Cook attended his first outreach, a car driven by an intoxicated patron who had just left a bar and casino he still owned in Montana collided with another car, killing a medical doctor and injuring several

other people.

According Daniel Cook to the state’s drunken driver law, the establishment that served the drunken driver shares in the liability of such cases. Subsequent lawsuits were filed, and Cook was one of the defendants. Over the next several years, he lost “about 18 million dollars in cash and assets – and my partners in different businesses.”

Freed from his ties to the bars and casinos, Cook envisioned a new company that took his career in a radically different direction. About 22 years ago he founded Building God’s Way, which he describes as “a ministry of construction.”

Not only does the company build worship centers and other facilities for churches and other ministries, but it also seeks to reach workers in the construction projects for Christ.

“To date we’ve been involved in about a thousand projects and have seen 10,000 workers accept Christ on the job sites. And we know many other people beyond that have been reached as well, as these people go home to their families and their neighborhoods,” Cook said.

He’s now retired from Building God’s Way, but stays active in his architectural and development firm, Daniel Cook Architect LLC, serving as “an entrepreneur for churches” across the country.

His book, Ten Tsunamis Impacting Ministry, guides them through a process for growing, thriving and becoming change agents in their communities.

Cook and his wife, Claudia, have six children and 11 grandchildren. They have been involved in starting three Christian schools in their area, and God has been at work to heal damaged relationships within his family.

In 2 Corinthians 5:17, we’re told, “if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Daniel Cook is a living example of this truth. ■

Leadership and Remembering Your Why Bill McAvinney is the 2019 recipient of the Prince B. Woodard Leadership Award.

Why Fredericksburg?

“We moved to Fredericksburg from New England 30 years ago for one reason, to put our 4 daughters in Fredericksburg Christian Schools (FCS). We had searched up and down the country and after finding FCS, we decided that was the kind of education we wanted for them. We moved here knowing no one, into a rental house we had never seen, and I had to completely restart my business. So, the day after we moved in, I put on a suit, went down to the Fredericksburg Regional Chamber of Commerce office and started looking for who I could meet. From the connections I was able to make at the Chamber, I launched my business.

Fredericksburg really, really, really invested in our family’s life.”

came out on the other side stronger.”

What has motivated you?

“My motivation is to serve my Lord through my business appropriately, professionally, ethically, and relationally. It’s to have a good reputation among all and to help people in their life pathways whatever that might be. I love helping people. And the Christian Business Men’s Connection is what taught me how to live a life of servanthood in the business world and caring about others more than myself.”

What are some of the things that have helped you in business?

“Something that has helped me tremendously is having people in my life that have strengths in areas I don’t.

They are an informal advisory board that are not making money from me and have no personal gain except to see me do well. They give advice, input, and feedback, but don’t have final say. This has been huge.

What do you think is missing from leadership styles today?

“Being a servant, relationships, and remembering not to think so highly of ourselves. As leaders we tend to become isolated. We also tend to think we need to be in charge and run things, but we can do all of that while still having a servant spirit. As a business owner and/or a professional, people do not understand how much they can impact their sphere of influence. They have influence whether they know it or not, wherever they go. I do not believe we recognize it, but once we do, what a tremendous opportunity to make it a positive sphere of influence.”

Also planning for the long term. I have had those moments where I was three days from not being able to take a paycheck. Having the long view and realizing that life and the world changes has helped me prepare.”

What qualities do you believe are the most important to be a leader?

What is one of the challenges you have faced as a business owner?

“Legislative change has been the biggest challenge to my business for the last 20 years. After performing a SWOT Analysis with my informal board of advisors 20 years ago and identifying it as my biggest threat, I decided to diversify my business to keep my health insurance portion at no more than 40%. When the Affordable Care Act came in, my employee benefit business took a 50% loss that will not be recovered. But we were prepared for it, nobody lost a paycheck, and we

“Sincere humility. If it is not sincere, people know immediately. Putting others first and being F.A.T. – Faithful, Approachable, Teachable.”

Can leadership be taught? If so, how?

“Yes, but the teaching has to follow with observing it. Leadership is not something you can demand, it’s something you command based on your actions, spirit, how you are, and how you treat people. That is true leadership, and the real teaching of this comes from walking with someone that has it and that has been successful in business.”

What are a few resources you would recommend to someone looking to

Bill McAvinney

gain insight into becoming a better leader?

“Most of my leadership teachings and applications came from Proverbs.

There is a tremendous amount of business principles in the Bible. There is also a book written by Larry Burkett called Business by the Book which was a tremendous help to me.”

What message do you have to other business leaders?

“Keep the reason why at the top of all that you do. For me, it was for my Christian faith, my family, my community, and my customers. If you haven’t, consider developing a life purpose statement. Why do you do what you do, and what is your purpose in life?”

Is there anything else you want to share with business leaders or individuals in the community?

“If you haven’t thought about your faith, I would just ask you to take a journey down that path and check it out. It has worked for me. If you’d like to talk more about this journey, please reach out to us at CBMC any time at 540-840-8620.” ■ Interview by Kristin Mills and published by permission from Fredericksburg Regional Chamber’s Regional Business Magazine.

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CBMC, Inc. The Connector, Spring 2019 P.O. Box 8009 Chattanooga, TN 37414-0009 800.566.CBMC (2262) www.cbmc.com

SPRING MATCH: All gifts designated to Vision 650 are doubled for twice the impact, more encounters leading to connections in the marketplace!

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2019 UPCOMING CBMC EVENTS 2019 Cleveland Leadership Prayer Breakfast Thursday, May 9, 2019 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM Cleveland I-X Center Cleveland, Ohio 2019 Akron Community Prayer Luncheon Thursday, May 9, 2019 11:15 AM – 1:00 PM The Tangier Akron, Ohio CBMC Coral Springs Lunch Thursday, May 9, 2019 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM Wings Plus Coral Springs, Florida Marriage Workshop for Couples Thursday, May 9, 2019 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Jasco Event Center Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 2019 Leadercast Omaha Friday, May 10, 2019 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM Flatland Church Omaha, Nebraska Gastonia CBMC Leadership Lunch Friday, May 10, 2019 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM Webb Custom Kitchen Gastonia, North Carolina CBMC Boca Lunch Tuesday, May 14, 2019 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM Rafina Greek Taverna Boca Raton, Florida CBMC Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 15, 2019 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Mimi’s Cafe Lakewood, Colorado Key Man Meeting Thursday, May 16, 2019 7:00 AM – 9:00 AM The Lodge Des Peres St. Louis, Missouri Conquer Series Thursdays, May 16 – July 25 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM Sandler Training of Oklahoma Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Hamilton County Prayer Breakfast Friday, May 17, 2019 7:30 AM – 9:00 AM Ritz Charles Carmel, Indiana

Men’s Prayer Retreat Friday, May 17, 2019 6:00 PM – Saturday, May 18, 2019 1:30 PM Sullivant Retreat Center Norman, Oklahoma CBMC Informational Meeting Saturday, May 18, 2019 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Mimi’s Cafe Lakewood, Colorado CBMC Fort Lauderdale Lunch Tuesday, May 21, 2019 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Tower Club – Region’s Bank Fort Lauderdale, Florida CBMC Leadership Institute Peer Advisory Informational Meeting Wednesday, May 22, 2019 8:00 AM – 10:00 AM Heritage Financial Advisors, LLC Columbia, Maryland Truths for the Marketplace Webinar Thursday, May 23, 2019 1:00 PM EST/10:00 AM PST Register online at cbmc.com CBMC West Broward Lunch Tuesday, June 4, 2019 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM Blue Moon Diner Cooper City, Florida 6:10 To Connection Thursday, June 6, 2019 6:10 AM – 7:10 AM Buzzbrews Victory Park Dallas, Texas First Thursday Prayer Gathering Thursday, June 6, 2019 7:00 AM – 8:00 AM Jasco Products Company Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

Fly Fishing Weekend Friday, June 7, 2019 3:00 PM – Sunday, June 9, 2019 11:00 AM Rockbridge Rainbow Trout and Game Ranch Rockbridge, Missouri Indy Car Special Event Saturday, June 8, 2019 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM Texas Motor Speedway Fort Worth, Texas CBMC Boca Lunch Tuesday, June 11, 2019 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM Rafina Greek Taverna Boca Raton, Florida

CBMC Kansas/Kansas City – Marketplace Ambassador Luncheon Wednesday, June 12, 2019 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM The Signatry Overland Park, Kansas CBMC Miami Lakes Lunch Wednesday, June 12, 2019 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM Italy Today Miami Lakes, Florida CBMC Coral Springs Lunch Thursday, June 13, 2019 12:00 PM – 1:15 PM Wings Plus Coral Springs, Florida Fort Lauderdale, Florida CBMC Albany Quarterly Breakfast Tuesday, June 18, 2019 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM The Desmond Hotel Albany Albany, New York CBMC Fort Lauderdale Lunch Tuesday, June 18, 2019 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Tower Club – Region’s Bank Fort Lauderdale, Florida Couples Dinner Cruise Wednesday, June 19, 2019 6:00 PM – 9:30 PM The Goodtime III Cruise Ship Cleveland, Ohio Trusted Advisor Roundtable – Introductory Meeting Thursday, June 20, 2019 7:30 AM – 9:30 AM Kendall Capital Management Rockville, Maryland Adirondack CBMC Breakfast Thursday, June 20, 2019 7:30 AM – 8:30 AM The Queensbury Hotel Glens Falls, New York Paul & Timothy Family BBQ Saturday, June 22, 2019 3:00 PM – 9:00 PM TBD (Missouri) St. Louis, Missouri Family Night at the Ballpark Friday, June 28, 2019 6:00 PM – 10:30 PM Bricktown Ballpark Oklahoma City, Oklahoma