Our History

CBMC began in the United States in 1930 as Christian Business Men’s Committee, when a small group of Christian businessmen coordinated a series of pre-Easter prayer rallies. With the Great Depression in its second year, these men saw an urgent need for spiritual revival and took it upon themselves to plan a six-week evangelistic series of meetings at the Garrick Theater in the Chicago loop area. The public response to the first gathering on January 6, 1931, was overwhelming, as more than 800 people packed into the 800-seat facility for all six sessions.  As the meetings were drawing to a close, the downtown Chicago business community wanted to continue the gatherings as more and more men were experiencing life change through their newfound relationship with Christ.  Similar groups were soon popping all over the nation: Atlanta, Washington, DC, Orange County, California, Kansas City, and many other large, medium, and small cities began staging their own version of these outreaches.  The ministry moved its Support Center from Chicago to Chattanooga in the 1970’s. As the years passed, the work spread across the United States to fulfill an insatiable need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Similar groups were soon popping all over the nation: Atlanta, Washington, DC, Orange County, California, Kansas City, and many other large, medium, and small cities began staging their own version of these outreaches.  The ministry moved its Support Center from Chicago to Chattanooga in the 1970’s. As the years passed, the work spread across the United States to fulfill an insatiable need for a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

The decade of the 70’s also saw the first release of a remarkable tool, known as Operation Timothy.   There was a felt need for a discipleship tool to help men ignite their walk with Christ.  OT was designed to be used for one-on-one applications where a mentor (whom we call a Paul, sits down with someone wishing to know more (a Timothy) and together they embark upon a transformational journey of exploring Christ’s word.

In the 1990’s, CBMC officially changed its name to Christian Business Men’s Connection, but no matter what the name, there have been tens of thousands of intentional businessmen that have made this ministry thrive. These businessmen embraced two core beliefs: share the gospel with those who don’t know the Good News and then go and make disciples: Be intentional about carrying out The Great Commission. (Matthew 28:19). 

Kansas City became one of the first cities after Chicago to have a CBMC group when the Kansas City Downtown committee began meeting just prior to World War II. Soon the group became involved with a wide variety of ministry opportunities such as a Servicemen’s Center, Prison Ministry, ministry to Future Farmers of America, as well as the continued outreach to businessmen.

In the 1960’s the Kansas City team multiplied to form suburban groups in Johnson County, KS, Independence, MO, Kansas City, KS and other areas until there were about twelve committees at the peak in 1995.

Beginning in 1973, the purpose began to be refined with an emphasis on the business community and making disciples among businessmen. Outreach meetings, city-wide leadership events such as the Mayor’s Prayer Breakfasts, retreats and conferences became the focus. This focus on evangelism and discipleship remains today.

Homer’s Coffee House opened in Overland Park in 2001 to become a physical presence and a meeting place as part of the ongoing ministry to the business community in Johnson County Kansas. Though no longer affiliated with CBMC, Homer’s continues to be a community center, lighthouse, and meeting place in the heart of Overland Park.

CBMC Kansas/Kansas City and the surrounding Central Midwest area has had four full-time directors in the past decades, Max Weaver, Jim Mathis, and now Gary Tenpenny and Sean West.