How is CBN different from groups like BNI & CBMC?
BNI (Business Networking International) is a business and professional networking organization that offers members the opportunity to share ideas, contacts and most importantly, referrals. BNI refers to itself as The Business Referral Organization. Its purpose is to substantially increased referrals and to secure the tools to network more effectively with other business people primarily to increase one's source of business leads.
CBMC (Christian Business Men's Connection) is a worldwide network of business and professional men who are committed to one purpose: To present Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord to business and professional men, and to equip Christian businessmen to carry out the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18-20).
The Christian Business Network was established to stand in the gap between organizations such as these. CBN is comprised of Christian business men and women within various communities throughout the United States who are committed to embracing and implementing the purpose, vision, mission and core values of this organization. (See About Us)
While we have a strong business component, we do not exist primarily to help business men and women increase their base of business referrals. We believe that credible referrals are the by-product of business people learning to trust one another's character, competence, and commitment. As we earn the trust of others, we also earn the privilege of caring for and serving others' clients with the same level of integrity and professionalism that we extend to our own.
And while we have a strong spiritual component, we do not exist primarily to equip business men and women to carry out the Great Commission. CBMC does an excellent job of that already. We believe that more focus needs to be given to equipping and encouraging business people to practice Christian community in the marketplace, i.e., to live out their faith in how they operate their businesses, in how they treat their employees and employers, and in how they serve their clients.