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  • Rooftop Faith: The Kind of Brotherhood That Carries You to Jesus

    Rooftop Faith: The Kind of Brotherhood That Carries You to Jesus

    Every man needs a few 2:00 AM friends, the guys who will pick up the phone when everything is falling apart and show up no matter when you call. Men who won’t just pray about you, but will pray over you. Men who will fight for you, stand with you, drag you when you can’t walk, and tear through a roof if that’s what it takes to get you to Jesus.

    Tear through a roof? Yes. Scripture shows us exactly what men like this look like.

    The Scene in Mark 2

    Mark 2 tells the story of a paralyzed man who had four friends convinced that if they could get him to Jesus, everything could change. Mark begins the account like this:

    “A few days later, when Jesus again entered Capernaum, the people heard that he had come home. They gathered in such large numbers that there was no room left, not even outside the door, and he preached the word to them.”
     —Mark 2:1–2

    The house was packed with no open doors and no available space; it was standing-room-only. There was no easy path to Jesus, which becomes central to the story:

    “Some men came, bringing to him a paralyzed man, carried by four of them. Since they could not get him to Jesus because of the crowd, they made an opening in the roof above Jesus by digging through it and then lowered the mat the man was lying on. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralyzed man, ‘Son, your sins are forgiven.’”
     —Mark 2:3–5

    “Your sins are forgiven.” An unbelievable moment, for sure, but the story doesn’t end there. Some teachers in the crowd silently accused Jesus of blasphemy, questioning who He thought He was. Jesus responds:

    “‘Why are you thinking these things? Which is easier: to say to this paralyzed man, “Your sins are forgiven,” or to say, “Get up, take your mat and walk”? But I want you to know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins.’ So he said to the man, ‘I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home.’ He got up, took his mat and walked out in full view of them all.”
     —Mark 2:8–12

    With that, the man experiences complete restoration. Jesus forgave and healed, but it was the faith and persistence of four brothers that got him to the One who could do both. They climbed a roof, tore a hole through it, and lowered their friend straight into the presence of Jesus.

    It’s one of my favorite stories in the Bible.

    As a man who has been blessed with brothers like this, here are three things I know…

    Some Days You’re the Man on the Mat

    Some days you can’t walk on your own. Temptation knocks you flat. Anxiety paralyzes you. Sin and shame weigh more than you can carry. God never intended for you to handle those days alone. You were meant to have brothers who will pick you up, put you on the mat, and carry you to Jesus when you don’t have the strength.

    Some Days You’re One of the Four Friends

    There will be seasons when another man needs your strength, your faith, and your courage.

    Galatians 6:2 says it plainly: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” The four friends in Mark 2 showed up, climbed, dug, and fought for their brother’s healing and salvation. Jesus honored their faith. Brotherhood isn’t sentimental; it’s sacrificial. It costs energy, time, and emotional bandwidth – and it’s worth every bit of it.

    Some Days You Need to Refuse to Give Up

    The crowd blocking the doorway would have stopped most men. It was too hard, too crowded, and there was too much resistance. We might say, “Maybe another day…” Not these four. The paralysed man’s friends chose persistence, grit, and spiritual stubbornness. Their mindset was simple: as long as Jesus was there, turning back was not an option. We need brothers who help us think like that when our own hope wears thin, the kind that won’t take “no” for an answer.

    Today, Ask Yourself:

    1. Am I willing to be the man on the mat? Am I humble enough to let brothers carry me when I’m hurting?
    2. Am I willing to be one of the four friends? Am I committed enough to carry another man to Jesus, even when it costs me?

    This example of the four friends is what Christian brotherhood looks like. It’s how men grow, how faith deepens, and how healing happens.

    Every man needs a rooftop-tearing brotherhood. Find your four, be someone’s four, and bring each other to Jesus.

    …

    Written by John Gamades, author of WAR: A Tactical Guide for Christian Men and Conquer: Daily Devotions for the Christian Man

    Matt Trayler

  • IMPORTANCE OF SETTING THE ATMOSPHERE

    IMPORTANCE OF SETTING THE ATMOSPHERE

    We all know atmosphere. It’s the air around us; the oxygen filling our lungs, sustaining life without us even thinking about it. We don’t often pay attention, but without it, we couldn’t last a moment.

    The same is true in our work. Every office, every meeting, every conversation carries an atmosphere. Sometimes it’s heavy, sometimes it’s light, but it’s always there. And whether we realize it or not, we bring atmosphere with us into every space we enter.

    Our body shifts the air. Our voice carries. Our presence fills space. There is no such thing as neutral. Whenever we step into a room, we change its atmosphere. This is true for anyone. However, it is especially true for those of us who follow Jesus. We don’t just carry our physical body into a room – we carry the Spirit of God. The air must change when we walk in.

    The apostle Paul expressed it like this: “For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing” (2 Corinthians 2:15). We are the fragrance of heaven in a world that too often smells like hurry, fear, and pressure.

    Think about your workplace: A tense meeting. A hallway conversation. The client call that could go either way, moving toward a good outcome – or not. The way you speak can oxygenate someone’s soul, or it can leave them gasping. Your presence is never background noise. It sets the tone.

    This is why Paul’s words in Galatians matter: “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:22–23). These are not just private virtues. We could call them corporate atmospherics. They can shape the culture, the mood of the room. They are how people experience you at work. Leadership is not only vision and execution. It is also atmosphere. The air people breathe when they’re around you. What psychologists call “emotional contagion.” Jesus called it “salt and light” (Matthew 5:13-16).

    With this in mind, here are three important principles we should remember:

    • People catch your spirit before they hear your strategy.
    • Presence is always more powerful than position.
    • Atmosphere spreads – fear and pressure multiply quickly, but so do love and peace.

    Paul wrote to the followers of Jesus in Colossae, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt” (Colossians 4:6). Imagine a workplace where meetings lift people up instead of draining them. Where words are seasoned with grace, reflecting love, compassion, and kindness. Where your presence quietly but intentionally points people toward life in Christ.

    Not everyone will respond favorably toward us. As Paul also pointed out, “To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life” (2 Corinthians 2:16). And yet, all we can do is reflect Christ.

    So leader, capture the space. Not with ego. Not with force. But with the Spirit. Walk into the room with the intention of letting heaven leak out. Breathe in the Spirit. Breathe out grace. Watch the atmosphere change.

    © 2025. C.C. Simpson is dedicated to fostering a bold and triumphant Christian faith within the global marketplace. Before becoming President of CBMC International, Chris dedicated 28 years to a distinguished career in the public sector – as a Commanding Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps; and serving in the U. S. Secret Service, responsible for protecting seven American presidents and leading elite teams in complex, high-stakes international missions. With his wife Ana, Chris resides in Boca Raton, Florida.

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    • In what ways do you think your presence – your tone, body language, or words – helps to shape the culture of your workplace?
    • Paul calls us “the aroma of Christ” (2 Corinthians 2:15). What might be the impact on others if they can “smell” Christ through your leadership this week?
    • Leadership often prioritizes results and performance. How can you reframe leadership in terms of setting spiritual atmosphere – love, peace, patience – instead of just seeking to drive outcomes?
    • When you reflect on the fruit of the Spirit (listed in Galatians 5:22-23), which “atmospheric quality” do you most need to embody more intentionally in your daily work?

    NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Matthew 5:13-16; Mark 10:45; Romans 12:18; 2 Corinthians 5:20; Philippians 2:3-4,14-15

    Challenge for This Week

    When we awaken every morning, we cannot physically see the atmosphere, but we know it is there. We breathe it in without even thinking about it. This week would be a good time for you to reflect on how you are contributing to the atmosphere at your workplace. When you enter a building, office, or meeting room, are you enhancing the atmosphere?

    Take some time to discuss this with someone – a close friend, colleague at work, someone you are mentoring or who is mentoring you, or a small group you are a part of. Invite their honest feedback. Then, think and pray about any changes you might need to make through the power of Christ.

    Matt Trayler

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  • SERVE IN SILENCE, TRANSFORM THE WORLD

    SERVE IN SILENCE, TRANSFORM THE WORLD

    When we think about leadership, our minds often go to people with names we quickly recognize, as well as people holding positions of power: kings, generals, presidents, CEOs, and others at the top levels of their profession. We perceive them as the individuals who give the orders, cast the vision, define the mission, direct those who report to them. We regard leaders as “the boss,” people who are in charge.

    However, the Bible shows us a different model for what leadership should be. In the Scriptures, we have the incomparable example: Jesus, who the Bible tells us, “Did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).

    True leadership does not come from a title or a position, but from the daily choice to serve. It is noticing those around us, seeing who is struggling, extending a hand to those who have fallen, and offering words of encouragement at the right moment. Often, these gestures go unnoticed. They do not earn applause or social media posts. But in the eyes of God, nothing is invisible. He knows those who are “recognized as rulers of the Gentiles who lord it over them” (Matthew 20:25), and those who lead with humility and hearts of a servant.

    In the Old Testament, we have the example of Joseph, who remained faithful even while forgotten in prison, serving with excellence until God lifted him up to be instrumental for the people of Israel. And in the New Testament, Barnabas, called “the son of encouragement” (Acts 4:36), did not seek the spotlight, but his encouragement was essential for Paul’s ministry. We can serve in silence and transform the world.

    Leadership according to God’s heart generates trust and security, inspires others to grow, creates caring environments, and forms disciples.

    A recent sermon reminded me of this. In 1934, Mordecai Hamm was preaching in a tent in Charlotte, North Carolina, U.S.A. His message caught the attention of two 14-year-old young men. When they arrived, they saw the tent was full and decided to leave. But a deacon, sensitive and attentive, ran after them. He had no title as a preacher; he was not scheduled to stand behind the pulpit, but he had the heart of a servant. He found space, asked a few people to squeeze together, and secured two seats. That night, these teenagers gave their lives to Christ. Their names? Billy Graham and Grady Wilson.

    For most people, the name of that deacon has been forgotten, if it was ever known. But his action paved the way for millions to be reached through the ministry of the Rev. Billy Graham. This is the power of servant leadership: It does not seek the spotlight, yet leaves an indelible, eternal legacy.

    Jesus taught the principle of servant leadership this way: “Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:26-28).

    The lesson is clear: Serving others increases our influence – not for recognition, but to inspire and raise up other leaders. Every act of care and encouragement is a step that transforms cultures and sparks movements. Decide today to be a leader who serves – do not wait. Make a difference now!

    © 2025. Erenia Mendoza is the National Director of CBMC Brazil and a member of CBMC International’s Global Leadership Team. She also serves on CBMC’s Executive Committee for Latin America. Born in Nicaragua and raised in Brazil, Erenia built her career in the entertainment industry, specializing in distribution and marketing for films and series. She has worked with and for major studios, including Sony, Walt Disney, and Warner Bros., across Latin America.

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1.    If someone were to ask you to define or describe leadership, what would be your response? Has the message of this Monday Manna changed your mind at all?

    2.    Now consider the term “servant leadership.” Have you heard of that before? What does it mean to you, being a servant leader?

    3.    Can you think of any examples you have encountered – directly or indirectly – of leaders who have served faithfully behind the scenes, making a tremendous impact on their sphere of influence? People who have always seemed to be focused on others more than themselves?

    4.    What do you think Jesus Christ meant when He talked about becoming a servant to be great, and becoming a slave to be “first”?

    NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: Mark 10:45, Luke 22:25-27; John 13:4-17; Romans 5:8; 2 Corinthians 8:9; Philippians 2:3-8

    Challenge for This Week

    How would you evaluate yourself in terms of servant leadership? When you lead, do you impose your authority on others, or is your primary goal to serve and help others to excel in the work that they do?

    This week might be a good time to pray about how God would want you to lead, in whatever capacity you have been given. Share your thoughts with a close friend, a trusted advisor or your CBMC group if you are part of one.

    Matt Trayler

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  • High Capacity, Low Surrender?

    High Capacity, Low Surrender?

    The modern marketplace runs on giftedness. Strategic thinkers. Visionary entrepreneurs. High-performing executives. If you can move the needle, you’re given the platform. Your résumé becomes your brand. Your results become your worth.

    I’ve met leaders who can close the deal in the morning, turn a profit by lunch, and still have time to headline a conference before dinner. They are the kind of people others look at and think, That’s the standard. And in purely business terms, it is. But in Kingdom terms? Not necessarily.

    Because Jesus tells us in Matthew 23:19, the gift isn’t what makes something sacred. The altar does.

    He was talking to religious leaders who had it backward. They were obsessed with the gift, how polished it looked, how impressive it sounded, while neglecting the altar. And the altar is where something dies. It’s where ambition is laid down. It’s the place of surrender, where your offering becomes holy precisely because it is laid down.

    That’s not just temple talk from the first century. That’s Monday morning reality in every boardroom, startup pitch, or quarterly review from Quito to Tainan and Miami to Abuja.

    I’ve lived this tension. The skills I honed during my years in the public sector—command presence, decisive leadership, the ability to perform under extreme pressure—were considered workplace gold. Those skills got me noticed. They opened doors. And for a while, I used them exactly the way the world told me to: to climb ladders, to earn approval, to prove I belonged at the table.

    And it worked. On paper, I was winning. But in the quiet moments, I realized those gifts, left to themselves, were empty. They didn’t carry eternal weight.

    Everything changed when I laid them before Christ. When I stopped asking, ‘How can these serve me?‘ and started asking, ‘How can they serve Him?’ That’s when my leadership stopped being transactional and started becoming transformational. The same instincts that once built my career began building people. The same drive that once secured my position began advancing His Kingdom.

    That’s the pivot point: surrender.

    Because here’s the truth, your talent doesn’t become sacred just because it’s successful. A gifted leader can exceed every target and still miss the Kingdom. A visionary entrepreneur can scale their business and never glorify God. Even generosity can become self-serving if it’s about optics, not obedience.

    When you place your work, your strategy, your deal-making, your influence, on the altar of God’s purposes, everything shifts. It stops being about personal gain and starts being about eternal impact. Your leadership becomes worship. And that’s the difference between temporary applause and a lasting legacy.

    I’ve seen leaders with extraordinary capacity become a bottleneck to Kingdom work because they refused to surrender what God had given them. High capacity without high surrender is a dangerous combination—it feeds pride, isolates you from accountability, and blinds you to your true mission.

    To receive a gift is grace. To sharpen it is stewardship. But to lay it on the altar? That’s worship. That’s where your leadership becomes sacred ground.

    So here’s my challenge: Take an honest inventory of your gifts, your influence, and your platform. Ask yourself—are these tools in my hand to build my name, or are they on the altar to magnify His?

    Because in the end, only what is placed on the altar will last.

    © 2025. C.C. Simpson is dedicated to fostering a bold and triumphant Christian faith within the global marketplace, driven by a deep conviction in the Gospel’s transformative power. Before becoming President of CBMC International, Chris dedicated 28 years to a distinguished career in the public sector – as a Commanding Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps; and serving in the U. S. Secret Service, responsible for protecting seven American presidents and leading elite teams in complex, high-stakes international missions. With his wife Ana, Chris resides in Boca Raton, Florida.

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1. What gifts or abilities has God given you that you are tempted to use for personal recognition and advancement, rather than for Kingdom purposes?
    • What would it look like to lay those gifts on the altar today – fully surrendered for God’s glory, not for yours?
    • Where in your leadership have you focused more on impressing others than serving them in Jesus’ name?
    • In what ways are you using your influence to encourage and strengthen others in their relationship with Jesus Christ – rather than to build your own platform?

    NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about principles it presents, consider the following passages: Matthew 6:33, 16:24-25; Mark 10:45; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 6:19-20

    Challenge for This Week

    So here is the question for today: Are you leveraging your gifts for your name, for your honor and recognition – or for God’s? Are you stewarding your role in the workplace for earthly gain or eternal reward? Because only what is placed on the altar will last.

    What practical step can you take to begin turning your workplace into an altar, not just an office? Think about discussing this with someone this week – a trusted friend or advisor, or perhaps your CBMC group.

    Matt Trayler

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  • Leading with Confidence When The World Feels Unsteady

    Leading with Confidence When The World Feels Unsteady

    Uncertainty has become a constant companion lately. The economy is shifting. The workforce keeps changing. Customer spending habits seem unpredictable. Tariffs and new regulations keep shaking the ground beneath us.

    Every headline feels like another reminder that the world is unstable. What will 2026 hold? No one knows, really. Leading teams, businesses, and families, it can feel like walking a tightrope, trying to make confident decisions when the future feels foggy.

    As Christian leaders, though, we are called to something different. We’re called to lead with peace in the middle of the storm, to wade into the uncertainty, not with fear, but with faith. We’re called to lead with a calm confidence that doesn’t come from our own strength or the circumstances around us… but from the God who never changes.

    That’s what true leadership looks like. It’s not pretending the uncertainty isn’t there. It’s standing in it, anchored in the unshakable truth that God is still in control.

    In the Old Testament, God gives Jeremiah a powerful reminder:

    “I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?”

    — Jeremiah 32:27 (NIV)

    Those words echo into our world today. When the markets fluctuate, customers pull back, and it feels like everything’s shifting under our feet, God is whispering the same thing: Nothing is too hard for Me. Our confidence as Christian leaders can’t come from things that move: the economy, revenue, or trends. It has to come from the One who doesn’t move.

    The New Testament gives us a clear picture of that through Peter’s story:

    “Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, ‘Lord, save me!’”

    — Matthew 14:29–30 (NIV)

    As long as Peter kept his eyes on Jesus, he walked confidently above the waves. But the moment his focus shifted to the wind and storm, fear set in… and he began to sink. That’s us, isn’t it? When our eyes are fixed on Christ, we can walk through challenges with strength and peace. When we fixate on the headlines, the numbers, or the unknowns, we start to feel ourselves going under.

    Here’s the good news. When Peter began to sink, he cried out, “Lord, save me!” and Jesus immediately reached out His hand. That’s the confidence we get to walk in, not confidence in ourselves, but confidence in the God who lifts us up when we start to fall.

    As Christian leaders, our job isn’t to control every outcome. It’s to stay faithful in the middle of uncertainty, and to trust that God is doing something bigger than we can see. Yes, we need to pay attention to the economy. Yes, we should stay wise about workforce trends and customer needs. But our confidence doesn’t come from the data or the forecasts. It comes from knowing that the same God who called Peter to step out of the boat is the same God walking beside us today.

    We’re simply stewards of these businesses we’re in. He’s still in charge, and He hasn’t changed. He’s still Lord over the wind and the waves, and if we can rest in that, some of the pressure to “make things happen” starts to subside. The uncertainty starts to feel just a little less uncertain. Confidence starts to rise, because it’s not on our shoulders. It’s on His, and He’s got us.

    So, if and when things feel unstable, remember this: Keep your eyes on Christ. Keep leading with faith. Keep trusting the One who never wavers. You don’t have to have all the answers. You just have to keep your focus on the One who does. That’s how we lead with confidence in uncertain times.

    …

    Written by John Gamades, author of WAR: A Tactical Guide for Christian Men and Conquer: Daily Devotions for the Christian Man

    Matt Trayler

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  • The Challenge of the Workplace ‘Shepherd’

    The Challenge of the Workplace ‘Shepherd’

    Of all the terms used to describe leaders, among the least-mentioned is “shepherd.” Have you ever heard a leader – your boss, another company’s top executive, or even yourself – referred to as a shepherd? If so, you are in a small minority. However, for those who are striving to follow Jesus Christ, the shepherd role is part of our job description.

    Very few of us have actual experience as a shepherd, so it is difficult to comprehend what God expects when He encourages us in the Bible to be good shepherds. But that is exactly what He does. In the book of Jeremiah 23, for example, God gives a glimpse of the contrast between a bad and a good shepherd. Through the prophet, Israel’s leaders were warned, “‘You have scattered my flock and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. Behold, I will attend to you for your evil deeds,’ declares the Lord” (Jeremiah 23:2). The leaders had demonstrated their failure as shepherds.

    In that same chapter of Jeremiah, we find three primary ways God instructs us to be good shepherds. The first challenge is: To care diligently and even sacrificially for our flock. When God calls us to lead and care for our team members, He desires for us to consider what is best for them, not just what serves for achieving our self-interest. This is what the leaders of Israel had failed to do.

    Our second challenge is: To create a peaceful and safe environment for your team. Working directly with customers can leave some employees fearful and anxious. If they do not feel adequately supported by management, this lack of support can result in fear and anxiety and undermine trust. When other members of our team are striving to do their best, they need to know that, to borrow the phrase, “I’ve got your back.” In other words, I will come to your defense if necessary.

    In Jeremiah 23:4 we read, “‘I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing,’ declares the Lord.’” Sheep are naturally timid animals with no means to defend themselves. They must rely on their shepherd. In a similar sense, if you desire to see your team members thrive emotionally, you need to create a peaceful environment where they feel supported and protected.  

    Our final challenge is: Being able to retain the people God has called to your team. Much earlier in my career in the financial industry, I had a person working for me who became verbally abusive and rude to many of our team members. But I faced a dilemma: This person was adding significant value to the organization in other ways, causing me to move slower than I should have in confronting his abusive behavior. 

    Because I was slow in responding, our workplace environment became toxic, a very unfriendly place to work. As a result, a number of good people left the organization before I finally determined to address the problem appropriately. This was a painful but important learning experience for me. 

    Jeremiah 23:1 provides these words of caution that we should take to heart today: “‘Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture!’, declares the Lord.” To retain good people, we not only need to care for them, but also address any challenging people and circumstances promptly before they cause significant distress for our “flock.”

    © 2025, Unconventional Business Network. Adapted with permission from “UBN Integrity Moments”, a commentary on faith at work issues. Visit www.unconventionalbusiness.org. UBN is a faith at work ministry serving the international small business community.

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1. When you hear the term “shepherd,” what comes to mind? Have you ever heard it used within the context of the typical work environment? If so, in what sense?
    2. What are some other words used to describe leaders? Think of terms that are used both in positive and negative ways. In your own role as a leader – whatever capacity that may be – how do you think you are (or should be) described?
    3. Describing people as “sheep” might seem like an insult, but as Isaiah 53:6 indicates this description is justified. It says, “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way.” What do you think that means – especially as it applies to us as human beings?
    4. How important is maintaining a safe, supportive working environment for maximizing productivity, as well as for worker satisfaction and building camaraderie?

    NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more about this subject, consider the following passages: Psalm 23:1-6; Ezekiel 34:16; Luke 15:3-7; John 10:1-15; 1 Peter 2:24-25

    Challenge for This Week
    What do you know about sheep and their behavior? This week might be a good time to do a little research and learn about the characteristics of sheep, how basically helpless they are when in danger, and how dependent they are upon their shepherd.

    Then, consider how effective you are as a shepherd of others you oversee or work with every day. You might discuss this with a friend, trusted advisor or mentor, or your small group to determine how you can become a better shepherd for your team or colleagues.

    Matt Trayler

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  • Tell Them We’re Not Their Enemies

    Tell Them We’re Not Their Enemies

    By: C.C. Simpson – President & Ceo, CBMC International

    The United States sits under relentless scrutiny. In Europe, in Asia, and even from within its own borders, America has become a global dartboard — criticized, written off, mocked for its “outdated Christianity.” The headlines insist she is fractured beyond repair. But here’s what the news will never tell you: Christians in hostile territories are praying for the United States, not against her, but with tears of love for the American faithful.

    I was in Macau to strengthen marketplace leaders from across Asia when I saw them arrive — wave after wave of believers crossing the border from mainland China. The largest contingent. No cameras. No fanfare. Just professionals with unshakable resolve in their eyes. They moved with the quiet confidence of people who have already died to themselves. They didn’t walk like tourists. They walked like envoys of a Kingdom no regime can authorize, and no party can stop. After I finished teaching, one of them approached me. I’ll call her “Edith.” She’s been laboring in marketplace ministry for over a decade, mentoring executives, discipling women, and building the Church behind closed doors. She gripped my hands, tears already forming. “We look to America,” she said. “To keep being bold for Christ.” Then came the sentence that rearranged me: “Please, tell them we’re not their enemies. Tell the Americans that we love them. The government here does not speak for us.”

    She wasn’t finished. And in a way that would unsettle the cultural elites, she told me she loves the current U.S. administration — for praying publicly, for speaking the name of Jesus without apology, for refusing to treat faith like a liability. “That kind of clarity,” she whispered, “gives us courage.”

    She wasn’t talking politics. She was talking bloodline.

    The news follows nations. Heaven follows disciples. And history is being written through a family that the headlines do not even see.

    Months later, I was in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, another communist nation. Another place where faith is policed rather than celebrated. And yet, there it was again. Life. Underground. Rising like a blade of green through concrete. A local doctor led me through back streets to what is now the first Christian bookstore in the country. No branding. No business plan. Just light burning quietly in a place where darkness is cheaper. In a back room, I found a wall of blue binders. One of them with four letters written in pen: CBMC. Our marketplace ministry. Hidden. Preserved as a part of the Christian history of Vietnam. Reverently guarded. This was not an office. It was an archive of the faithfulness of God — so the testimony would not die. Ours was just one binder — but full of fruit: business owners discipling engineers, CEOs mentoring founders before launch day, prayer whispered over spreadsheets before trading hours.

    Marketplace — not as career — but as Kingdom insurgency. From Ho Chi Minh to Hanoi, the gospel has been running across supply chains and startup corridors. Economics has become the riverbed of revival. The very commercial system the enemy has worked so hard to enslave us with has become the vehicle by which Christ is entering places pulpits will never reach.

    And this is what many American Christians still have trouble seeing: there is a vast, radiant, global Church moving beneath the border walls that politics and news headlines construct. Millions of believers, living under regimes that publicly curse the United States, do not see Americans as enemies. They see you as family. Kin. Same Spirit. Same Savior. Same future. They do not envy American freedom. They pray you will not waste it. Your internal chaos does not scandalize them. They are watching for your courage. I’ve looked into the faces of Gen Z believers across the planet — and I promise you — if my own children sat at their tables, whether in Shanghai or Moscow, they would feel no friction. Only family. Their plea — again and again — is never for protection. Never for money. “Tell them we’re not their enemies. Tell them we love them.”

    This is not a call to be naive about global threats. Evil is real. Regimes persecute. But governments are not the same as people. And people are not the same as the people of God. This is not some fragile remnant, clinging to survival. This is not a dying minority, fading out of history. This is the greatest unreported reality of our time. There is a living Church in places we only ever hear about in crisis language — and they are more awake, more faithful, and more full of love for America than we are prepared to believe.

    So if you are a believer in the United States, lift your eyes. Your faith has been noticed. Your boldness — when it is real — is already strengthening churches you will never see. Your freedom is not envied; it is interceded for. You are not isolated. You are not the last ones holding the line. You are part of a roaring family that heaven has woven across the earth. And that family is moving — through airports and boardrooms, export routes and tech corridors — preaching Christ where pulpits don’t fit but their voices ring true.

    Edith didn’t ask for sympathy. She asked for solidarity. She asked us to see clearly; to remember what the news refuses to. “Tell them we’re not their enemies.” So I am. Because flesh and blood are not as divided as governments. The Church is not as small as it looks.

    And despite the volume of the culture all around, the Kingdom is doing just fine.

    Christopher C. Simpson is President & CEO of CBMC International, a Christian marketplace ministry founded in the United States in 1930 and now equipping business and professional leaders to advance the gospel in more than 90 nations. A former U.S. Marine Corps officer and retired Senior Special Agent with the U.S. Secret Service, he has spoken in over 40 countries on faith and leadership in the public square.

    Matt Trayler

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  • Where Are You Going To End Up?

    Where Are You Going To End Up?

    Can you envision preparing to take a business trip but having no idea where you are going – or why you are going there? Sounds ridiculous, right? Because it is. When planning to travel, whether for business or personal reasons, we usually have a destination. Unless we are just responding to an adventurous impulse and decide to go for a drive, we first determine where we are going and for what reason.

    Many people, however, do not conduct their lives in the same way. They embark on their journey through life with little idea of where they are going, how they are going to get there, why they are going, or even how they will know when they have arrived. As I heard someone observe recently, “Everybody ends up somewhere, but few end up somewhere on purpose.”

    Most of us get up each morning and go to work, whether our own business, a large corporation, or small company. But have you ever asked yourself, “Why am I going to work?” One reason, of course, is to earn a living. Monthly payments on a house or an apartment, maybe a car payment, utility bills, groceries, and other essentials all require money. But would it not be more fulfilling to proceed to work knowing you had greater intentions than only to earn a paycheck?

    A verse from the Old Testament book of Proverbs addresses this: “Where there is no vision, the people perish” (Proverbs 29:18). There are several applications of this principle, but without vision – a greater sense of purpose behind our vocational pursuits – we can easily become as cynical as the author of Ecclesiastes who said, “‘Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless.’ What does man gain from all his labor at which he toils under the sun?” (Ecclesiastes 1:2-3).

    How do we gain vision, a broader sense of why God has placed us where we are, with the gifts and talents we possess? I think it starts with understanding that although He did not have to do so, the Lord has chosen us to be active participants in His work. In 1 Corinthians 3:9, for example, we are told, “For we are God’s fellow workers; you are God’s field, God’s building.”

    Think about it – being “fellow workers” with God! Imagine receiving a personal phone call from a famous executive and being asked, “Would you be willing to help me with an important project?” Then, multiply the magnitude of that question a million times, since God wants us to be working with Him.

    Writing and editing have always been my career. I spent the first 10 years as a newspaper editor. But if I had asked myself “why?”, most likely I could not have given a very good answer. Then I read a Bible verse that God seemed to have designed specifically for me. It read, “My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer” (Psalm 45:1). 

    Suddenly I had an answer to my “why?” The Lord had given me unique abilities, passion, gifts, and experience to serve Him as a writer and editor. Monday Manna, this weekly workplace meditation created to help business and professional people discover how to integrate their faith in the marketplace, is just one of the ways I strive to do that.

    What has the Lord uniquely equipped you to do? We know one thing for certain: As followers of Jesus, we are “ambassadors for Christ” (2 Corinthians 5:20). The question we must each answer is, “How can I be that ambassador most effectively and fruitfully where God has placed me?”

    © 2025. Robert J. Tamasy has written Marketplace Ambassadors: CBMC’s Continuing Legacy of Evangelism and Discipleship; Business at Its Best: Timeless Wisdom from Proverbs for Today’s Workplace; Pursuing Life With a Shepherd’s Heart, coauthored with Ken Johnson; and The Heart of Mentoring, coauthored with David A. Stoddard. Bob’s biweekly blog is: www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com.

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1. When you are intending to go somewhere, how detailed is your planning? Do you seek to have a clear understanding of where you are going, how you want to travel, and what you hope to accomplish when you arrive? Explain your answer.
    2. Why do you think many people are not as precise and particular about charting the course their lives will follow? What are some of the problems with simply letting life “happen,” without a vision for where they want to go and what they hope to become?
    3. Have you ever started a workday and thought, like the writer of Ecclesiastes expressed, “Meaningless! Everything is meaningless”? Whether that has been your own feeling, or one being felt by someone you know, how would you go about trying to change that sense of futility?
    4. When you read that “we are God’s fellow workers,” what thoughts go through your mind? Is that a good thing, in your opinion? Why or why not?

    NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: 1 Corinthians 10:31; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3;17,23-24; 2 Timothy 3:16-17

    Challenge for This Week
    This week, try to set aside some time to consider the ‘what’ and ‘why’ of your work. Do you have a clear vision of where you are going, what you hope to achieve along the way, and how you will know that you are on the right course?

    You might get with some good friends, a mentor, or some trusted advisors to discuss this. What are their perspectives, not only for you but also for themselves? Do you know where you are going to end up – and why?

    Matt Trayler

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  • Biblical Principles For Your Finances

    Biblical Principles For Your Finances

    Many of us keep calendars for noting and scheduling each of our activities, trusting everything will unfold as planned. But sooner or later – whether at work or within the home – unexpected crises disrupt our routine. Suddenly, important events must be cancelled, work commitments are put on hold, and everyday tasks are affected by circumstances beyond our control. In those moments, our financial and emotional stability can be shaken, generating uncertainty and concern. No person or community is exempt from these difficult challenges that eventually reach us all.

    In every economic crisis we experience, we need to pay close attention to principles the Bible offers for managing our finances so we can live with peace and confidence as we work through our challenges. Throughout Scripture, God has given us wisdom for handling every resource He places into our hands. Here are some basic principles found in the book of Proverbs and other parts of the Bible:

    1. Recognize our true situation. “Some who are poor pretend to be rich; others who are rich pretend to be poor”(Proverbs 13:7). If company revenues or our family income has decreased, we must adjust our spending. For example, I know people whose businesses were struggling so they decided to trade in a luxury car for a more economical one. The apostle Paul said, “I know how to live on almost nothing or with everything” (Philippians 4:12). This helps us understand that there are times of plenty and times of austerity. We can be grateful to God in both circumstances. “So if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that” (1 Timothy 6:8).
    2. Distinguish between what we want and what we need. Before spending, it helps to ask: Do we really need what we are about to buy, or will it just take up space among unused items? There never is a right time to waste money on non‑essentials. There is wisdom in seeking counsel and advice before taking on loans we might not be able to repay. “The wise have wealth and luxury, but fools spend whatever they get” (Proverbs 21:20).
    3. Be sensitive and generous toward others’ needs. Pray and help others as your faith leads. While trusting in God’s protection and provision for us, we also can become the answer to someone else’s prayer. “If you help the poor, you are lending to the Lord – and He will repay you!” (Proverbs 19:17).
    4. Let us act with diligence and responsibility in our work. When facing economic pressure or uncertainty, we may be tempted to take shortcuts – cheating, avoiding responsibilities, or getting involved in dishonest practices to achieve quick results. However, the Bible encourages us to work with integrity and dedication, knowing steady and honest effort is a primary means through which God provides. “A hard worker has plenty of food, but a person who chases fantasies ends up in poverty”(Proverbs 28:19). Abandoning diligence to pursue the illusion of an easy solution can lead to painful consequences. On the other hand, when we work with responsibility, punctuality, and excellence, we honor God and open the door for Him to present us with new opportunities.

    May God’s promises to supply every one of your needs fill you with peace and security. Remember the Bible’s exhortation: “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, ‘Never will I fail you. Never will I abandon you’” (Hebrews 13:5).

    Yessica Moreno is a mentor to women in CBMC Mexico. She is the administrator of Emaús Comunicaciones, a business dedicated to publishing and professional training based on biblical principles. She has been married for three decades to Edgar Medina, Director of CBMC Mexico. Together, they have two young adult children.

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1. How do you typically respond when confronting a financial crisis, whether in the workplace or in your home?
    2. When expenses exceed income, how easy is it to rely on credit to make up the difference? Why is reducing expenditures often regarded as a last resort?
    3. What in your opinion is the difference between a ‘need’ and a ‘want’? When someone says, “I need a new car” or “I need a new TV,” how would you evaluate whether it is really a need, or simply a want? Can you think of a biblical principle regarding how God provides for our needs – as opposed to fulfilling our wants?
    4. It is suggested that even when our financial situations are challenging, we still should consider the needs of other people and to respond with generosity. Do you agree with this? Why or why not? 

    NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: 1 Chronicles 29:11-13; Proverbs 11:24-25, 13:11, 15:16, 21:13, 30:8-9; Matthew 6:19-21,30-34

    Challenge for This Week
    Few things in our lives and our work are as sensitive and volatile as our finances. We worry when we feel we do not have enough, and we worry if we have enough but are fearful about losing it. This week might be a good time to re-evaluate your attitudes and actions regarding your finances, especially in terms of your relationship with God.

    This could generate an excellent and enlightening discussion with a trusted friend, mentor, advisor, or small group in which you are a part. Consider how you can help one another gain a clearer biblical perspective on our money – especially in times of crisis.

    Matt Trayler

  • Being Repurposed, Not Replaced

    Being Repurposed, Not Replaced

    For many of us in the marketplace, our work – what we do – is a large part of our identity. What impact should it have then when striving to incorporate faith into how we carry out our vocational responsibilities? We find the best example in how Jesus Christ addressed this when choosing His closest followers.

    When Jesus called Peter and Andrew, He did not strip them of their identities. “And He said to them, ‘Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men’” (Matthew 4:19). Jesus did not say, “Forget everything you know.” Instead, He spoke into their vocation as fishermen and redefined it: “Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men.” In essence, He was saying: Everything you’ve been shaped by – your skills, your instincts, your daily grind – I can use that. But now, for something eternal.

    Jesus did not replace their identity; He repurposed it. And this is precisely how He calls us today. We often assume that following Jesus means walking away from the career, the training, the story we have lived up to this point – as if being His disciple requires starting from scratch. But that is not the Gospel. The call of Christ is not to abandon our past, our skills, our experience, but to surrender them. It is not about becoming someone else – it is about letting Him redeem who we already are.

    God has sovereignly authored your experiences, your gifts, your network, your education, and even your struggles. To discard them would not only be wasteful – it would be unfaithful. It would imply that God has not been at work all along preparing you for usefulness in His Kingdom. But He has been at work. Always.

    I witnessed this firsthand during my time with the United States Secret Service. The mission was demanding: to secure environments, protect lives, anticipate threats. I took that mission seriously. But I began to realize that God had not called me out of that mission to serve Him – He had called me to filter it through my faith.

    One day, deep in the Cambodian jungle, we were preparing for a visit by the First Lady, the President’s wife. It was an advance site. But God had other plans. That day became the starting point of forming a Gospel-centered relationship with another agent from New York. That conversation, born out of professional proximity, turned into years of mentoring, prayer, and discipleship – until the Lord ultimately called my friend and fellow agent to his eternal home. The whole thing unfolded not in spite of my profession, but precisely through it.

    This is how Jesus Christ works. He does not waste a moment of your story. The very things you thought were secular, irrelevant, or “just your job,” might in fact be the very instruments through which He calls others to Himself. So don’t think the invitation to follow Jesus means leaving everything familiar behind. It means placing everything you are and everything you have been given into His hands – and trusting Him to repurpose it for His glory.

    You were gifted for a reason. You have been placed where you are on purpose. To separate your calling from your context is to misunderstand both. The call of Christ is not to discard your story; it is to declare a new purpose over it: Same hands. Same instincts. But…New mission. New Master.

    © 2025. C.C. Simpson is dedicated to fostering a bold and triumphant Christian faith within the global marketplace, driven by a deep conviction in the Gospel’s transformative power. Before becoming President of CBMC International, Chris dedicated 28 years to a distinguished career in the public sector – as a Commanding Officer in the U.S. Marine Corps; and serving in the U. S. Secret Service, responsible for protecting seven American presidents and leading elite teams in complex, high-stakes international missions. With his wife Ana, a native of Nicaragua, Chris resides in Boca Raton, Florida. 

    Reflection/Discussion Questions

    1. In what ways has your career prepared you for Kingdom impact—perhaps without you realizing it at the time?

    Follow-up: How might your current skills, relationships, or position be uniquely positioned for Gospel influence right now?

    2. Jesus repurposed the disciples’ vocation rather than replacing it. How might this challenge our assumptions about what it means to “serve God” in the marketplace?

    Follow-up: Have you ever felt pressure to separate your faith from your work? Why do you think that divide exists?

    3. Reflecting on your own story, where do you see signs that God has been at work “redeeming, not discarding” your past?

    Follow-up: What part of your professional journey do you now view differently because of your faith?

    4. What would it practically look like to “filter your mission through your faith” in your industry or company?

    NOTE: If you have a Bible and would like to read more, consider the following passages: Genesis 50:20; Romans 12:1-2; 1 Corinthians 7:17; Ephesians 2:10; Colossians 3:23-24

    Challenge for This Week
    Are there conversations to be had, decisions to be made, or relationships to be established or strengthened this week through which you can intentionally start to live out these truths? That God does not want to replace your identity, or re-place you somewhere else, but to repurpose who you are, what you do, and where you are to be actively engaged in His Kingdom work?

    If you know of someone who seems to have a good understanding of what it means live out his or her faith in the workplace, you might want to set a time to meet and talk about what they have learned.

    Matt Trayler

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