CBMC of Korea

Overview

CBMC of Korea is an association of Christian businesspeople and professionals. Its core ministry is for members to share the gospel with colleagues in business and workplace settings and to build up in the faith those who come to believe. The organization describes this work as fulfilling the Great Commission. It is commonly known by its English abbreviation, CBMC. The abbreviation originally stood for "Christian Business Men's Committee"; the international headquarters later changed its meaning to "Connecting Business & Marketplace to Christ."

Founding and History

CBMC International is said to have begun in 1930, during the Great Depression, when seven Christian businessmen held a prayer meeting in Chicago. Groups in various cities subsequently joined together, and the organization was formally launched in 1937. According to CBMC of Korea, CBMC International is organized in 96 countries and has its international headquarters in Tucson, Arizona.

CBMC was first introduced to Korea by Colonel Cecil Hill, who served during the Korean War as a member of the U.S. Military Advisory Group. The first chapter was founded in Daegu on September 26, 1951, and groups also formed in Gyeongju and Pohang. The movement became widely known after it was featured in the Kidok Gongbo (Christian Press) in 1952. In Busan, a group is said to have been established under the leadership of Dr. Hwang Seong-su. In 1965, chapters were also organized in Seoul and Suwon.

In 1967, a national organization uniting the regional groups was formally launched. The first National Convention was held in 1973, and the first Asian Convention took place in Seoul in 1975. In 1993, the official name was changed from "Korea Christian Business Men's Committee Central Federation (Incorporated Association)" to "Korea Christian Business Men's Committee (Incorporated Association)." Overseas Korean chapters also increased in number; in 1994, for example, the first Korean chapter in China was founded in Yanji. To mark its seventieth anniversary, the organization published A Seventy-Year History of CBMC of Korea.

Major Activities

• Chapter meetings: Members gather by chapter for prayer, Bible study, and fellowship, and they engage in evangelism among their workplace colleagues. The organization also presents the transformation of the business world through ethical management as a core ministry.
• CBMC Korea Convention: An annual gathering of members from across the country; according to press reports, about 3,000 people have attended each year. In 2017, the convention was held at the Army Training Center in Nonsan with some 5,000 participants, and its proceeds of 1.6 billion won were donated toward the construction of Yeonmudae Military Church.
• Joint undertakings: CBMC of Korea states that it contributed to the Union Easter Service at Yeouido Plaza, the creation of the Unified Hymnal, and the "United Prayer Breakfast for the Nation" (now the National Prayer Breakfast).
• Next-generation ministry: Seoul Young Adult CBMC was founded in 1979. Since 2018, the organization has promoted "startup missions," including entrepreneurship training for young adults.

Organization and Membership

CBMC of Korea is not a federation to which denominations belong but an interdenominational lay organization in which individuals hold membership. Domestic and overseas chapters operate under the central association, and there are four overseas general federations. The president of the central association is elected at the regular general assembly. At the 51st Regular General Assembly in 2018, attended by representatives of some 270 chapters, Lee Seung-yul was elected the 18th president. The official website states that about 7,500 members are active in roughly 290 domestic and 130 overseas chapters. Figures for the number of chapters and members vary depending on when the data were published.