Christian Business International

CBI Vision

CBI equips Christ followers to produce a sustainable Kingdom Impact in the marketplace.

Purpose[1]

  1. CBInternational exists
    1. to create sustainable solutions to poverty,
    1. to improve the welfare of impoverished communities, and, above all,
    1. to strengthen the church of Jesus Christ worldwide.

Leaders and mentors of CBInternational educate and coach Christ-following business owners who commit to support themselves, their churches, evangelical Christian missions, and to strengthen their communities.

  • Christian Business Alliances are formed
    • to encourage and mentor other Christ-following business owners in their community,
    • to train and mentor Christ-followers to organize and start new Kingdom Businesses,
    • to provide resources and leaders to the Corporate body, CBInternational, as needed and led by the Holy Spirit,
    • to identify opportunities for extending Kingdom Impact in their communities and to develop projects or ministries to sustain such Impact.

Who we are

  • Candidates for the CBI Business Development training are recommended Christ-followers who have a heart to own and operate a business that will make a positive Impact in God’s Kingdom (the “Kingdom Impact”) and to glorify God in the marketplace as well as in every area of their lives.
  • Partners: CBInternational seeks to join with local churches as mission partners.
    • This partnership can take the form of presenting to the local church’s mission committee and/or congregation, having a “table” at “mission fairs,” and even having a line in the church’s mission budget.
    • We also seek to partner with church members who are business persons.
    •  Candidates for business development training  must have the recommendation of their church’s Pastors and leaders.

Leadership

  • CBI-USA – the “corporate officers” who provide overall program direction and leadership.
  • Local CBI Liaison – the local “contact” between CBI USA team and the local Christian leadership structures.
    • This person has typically been identified through relationships with missionaries, mission teams, through business contacts, etc.
    • This person must have participated in the initial CBI Business Development orientation meetings and must attend subsequent training of the first cycle of trainees (leaders).
    • The liaison officer should be fluent in English as well as the lingua franca of the local community and provide guidance in understanding the financial and legal policies and practices of the country. He/she will also identify and/or provide translation resources as required.
  • Local Spiritual leadership – Pastors/Associational Leaders who can recommend local business leaders and potential training candidates, as well as help the business leaders hold the graduates accountable.
  • Local Business leadership – in-country business owners/community leaders; proven/demonstrated character and reputation as mature Christ-followers, willing to practice their faith in the marketplace.
    • The Local leaders are willing and ready to exemplify the process taught in 2 Timothy 2:2 “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.”
  • A Business Development Project Training Cycle should proceed as follows:
    • Year 1: The local business leadership will be the first training cycle and the local CBI leadership team will be drawn from this group.
    • Year 2: They will be responsible for training the second cycle of candidates with training assistance from the CBI USA team. Expenses for the local team will be borne by the local team members.  
    • Year 3: It is expected that by the third cycle all training and conference expenses will be supported by the Local Business Leadership team.

Kingdom Impact

Actions and activities that honor God and bring attention to Him and to His message and to His Life Principles. One does not have a solitary Kingdom Impact; one’s entire life with family, friends, and business must honor God.

A primary distinctive of the CBI process is the Kingdom Impact Statement. Every Kingdom Business should have a clear, written declaration of how the successful operation of the business will be used by God to help His people and glorify His Name. The Kingdom Impact can be financial, such as dedicating a percentage of the profit to bless a ministry (such as an orphanage or Christian school), or it can be non-financial in nature, such as providing Gospel tracts to customers, offering to pray with them, having Christian books on hand for loaning or as gifts. The Kingdom Impact statement is the Spiritual Mission Statement for your business.

Curriculum

The basic curriculum for CBI Business Development training was adapted from material provided by Breakthrough to People Network. It is adapted as required to meet the context of the culture and conditions in which the prospective business owners live and operate. The essential elements of this curriculum are:

  • Understanding the Fundamentals of a “Kingdom Business”
  • Understanding Money (Finances, budget, etc.)
  • Defining and developing Your business idea
  • Doing a Market Research project as appropriate
  • Developing a Business Plan
  • Learning to Operate a Kingdom Business

Not every business will have a complex, detailed business plan. E.g., the “One cow business” won’t have a detailed, month-by-month 3-year plan, but it should recognize seasonal variations, growth opportunities, potential expenses, etc.

[1] As stated in CBInternational’s Corporate Articles of Formation

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