A Forum is a small group of business and professional leaders meeting monthly to address their business and other issues from a biblical perspective.  They operate somewhat like a Christian Board of Advisors.

Godly counsel, spiritual growth, mutual support, accountability, prayer and confidentiality are the key benefits.  In addition, valuable business training, tools and resources are made available to help make Forum members’ businesses all that God intends.

A Forum can be most helpful in sorting through difficult business situations and decisions from a biblical perspective.  Having the support, accountability and prayer of the other group members is invaluable in this process.  Also, personal, family and spiritual issues are addressed.  Bottom line, it’s about helping you glorify God and helping your business become all that God intends it to be.

Yes, it the same as CBMCUSA: For all men in our movement to experience: the power of One God, the value of one man, the leverage of one team - resulting in spiritual reproduction among businessmen throughout the world. FORUMS also has a particular Focus statement that is: Business owners and professionals, lit up by Christ, glorifying God in their life, business and workplace.

Yes, in order for members to be teamed up together with other Christians and to offer Godly counsel, support, prayer and accountability, members must be Christians.

There is no specific time commitment.  Members are asked to review their involvement on an annual basis.

A typical Forum has 5-8 members.  This small group format is designed to help encourage deep, long-term relationships.  It also allows for maximum participation during the meeting.

A Forum group meets monthly, like a board, for 5 hours, say 12pm to 5pm, on a fixed date (e.g. the last Tuesday of the month).  The group determines the meeting date and time. 

The agenda is set in advance like a board meeting.  Each member, on a rotating basis, has an opportunity to “host” the meeting.  The meeting is usually held at the host’s place of business, and the hosts are allowed the lion’s share (usually 2 hours) of the meeting for their issues. The meeting starts with prayer and a business related devotional.  Then, the host’s issues are discussed. Afterwards there is a roundtable during which the moderator reviews notes from the previous meeting related to each of the members’ issues and action steps and discusses any new issues.  Each member has about 15 to 20 minutes.  After each member presents their issues another member is asked to pray for that member.  The meeting is concluded with administrative business and a closing prayer.

Each group has a moderator who has been trained to facilitate the meeting.  He also take notes and help the host prepare for upcoming host issues.  The moderator is responsible to keep meetings on track and to create an environment that fosters openness and transparency.  This guidance allows the members to get the most from their time together.

Upon joining a Forum, each member agrees to
1) Honor God in their business and personal life,
2) Be accountable to the Forum group,
3) Be involved in the dialogue and in other members’ lives,
4) Financially support the CBMC Forum ministry,
5) Attend faithfully and be on time for the meetings and
6) Maintain strict confidentiality.

Yes, a minimum monthly donation of $150.00 is requested from those companies that are profitable enough to afford it.  When members become very profitable they may choose to give even more so that more may benefit from the FORUMS ministry.

Forum candidates are grouped based on criteria such as geographic location, business type, size, and personal chemistry. Having competitors in the same group is avoided unless agreed upon by both parties.

Candidates are asked to prayerfully consider with their spouse whether God is calling them to be a part of a group.

Forums started in 1987 in Chicago as part of the CBMC ministry.  The first group formed after attending a Larry Burkett authored “Business by the Book Seminar.”  They were challenged to apply the biblical principles they had learned.  Over the next few years, groups developed in several cities.  In 1998, CBMC rolled out FORUMS nationally by providing standardized materials, tools and resources.  Today there are more than 600 members in 90 FORUMS in 36 cities across the U.S.  There are also FORUMS in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and Africa.

Here are a few selected scriptures; Godly counsel is a major theme of the book of Proverbs.

1.   9:8-9  A wise man welcomes instruction
2. 10:17   Heed instruction
3. 11:14   Lack of guidance causes failure, many advisors make victory sure  
4. 12:15   A wise man listens to advice
5. 13:18   Poverty results from ignoring good advice
6. 15:12   A scoffer will not go to the wise
7. 15:22   Plans fail for lack of counsel
8. 16:3     Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.
9. 19:20   Listen to advice…and you will be wise
10. 19:27   Stop listening to instruction, and you will stray from knowledge
11. 20:18   Make plans by seeking advice
12. 24:6     …for victory you need many advisors
13. 27:17   As iron sharpens iron, so one man sharpens another
14. 28:26   Trusting oneself is foolish, but those who walk in wisdom are safe

The first step is to attend a no-cost, no-obligation informational meeting. After hearing the details of how a Forum works and having an opportunity to get your questions answered, you may complete the Forum application.  You will then be invited to attend a meeting of a Forum group to observe first hand what actually occurs.  After attending that meeting, you will be given an opportunity to pray and consider God’s calling to determine if a Forum is right for you.

You can attend a no-cost, no-obligation informational meeting. You can also review the Forum brochure.

Due to the confidential nature of a Forum, guests are allowed only if they are prospective members of a group and sign a confidentiality agreement.

Yes, several different groups and group formats are available.  Some are modeled after secular groups like TEC and YPO (Young President’s Organization) but with a Christian flavor.  The CBMC Forum model has been developed, tested and refined over many years. The Forum model provides a high quality Christian small group environment for business leaders. The effectiveness of CBMC FORUMS is evidenced by the number of “satisfied customers” around the world.

Yes, contacts and testimonials are available upon request.