The Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and Professionals (BCBP) is renowned for its focus on strong, Christ-centered leadership. Their just concluded regional back-to-back seminar and workshop on May 18, 2024 billed as, “Leaders Targeting” and “Ready Now, Ready Later” ¹takes inspiration from two key figures of the Bible: Saint Peter and Saint Luke. While seemingly different, both saints offer valuable lessons for aspiring BCBP leaders.

Saint Peter: The Rock with Cracks

Saint Peter, known as Christ’s “rock,” embodies unwavering courage. He readily confessed Jesus as the Messiah and even walked on water at Jesus’ command. However, Peter’s impulsiveness led him to deny Jesus three times in a moment of fear (Matthew 26:33-75).

This human failing underscores a critical aspect of BCBP leadership: Leaders are not expected to be perfect. The vital thing is the ability to learn, repent, and get back on track with renewed commitment. Like Peter, who rose above his denial to become a pillar of the early Church, BCBP leaders must demonstrate resilience and a willingness to learn from their mistakes.

Saint Luke: The Doctor who Saw Beyond the Body

Saint Luke, a physician by profession, presents another facet of leadership. His experience treating the sick and afflicted instilled a deep empathy for the struggles of ordinary people. This is reflected in his Gospel, which highlights Jesus’ compassion for the marginalized.

Similarly, BCBP leaders should possess an understanding of the challenges faced by their members. This knowledge allows them to guide with empathy and practicality. A doctor doesn’t just diagnose, they provide solutions – just as BCBP leaders navigate challenges and offer practical solutions to empower their members.

The BCBP Leadership Journey

The selection process for BCBP leadership is not a casual nor easy one. Identifying the right individuals requires careful evaluation based on established criteria. This ensures that those chosen possess the qualities needed to guide effectively, like Peter’s courage and Luke’s empathy.

The “Leaders Targeting” and “Ready Now, Ready Later” twin seminars equip individuals with the tools and understanding to discern whether they are genuinely “Ready Now” or might benefit from further development to become a “Ready Later” leader.

This introspective process fosters a culture of responsible leadership within the BCBP without losing sight of the three high impact strategies of Leadership, Mission Work and Pastoral Care.

By studying the strengths and weaknesses of Saint Peter and Saint Luke, BCBP leaders gain valuable insights.

Leaders are not infallible, but through courage, self-awareness, empathy and, a realization that their mission in BCBP is a shared one between BCBP leaders and God, they can guide their teams toward a Christ-centered future.

1. This twin workshop-seminars were conducted by bros. Roy Calleja and Al Mamonong at the AV More Pharma conference room in Iloilo city on May 18,2024 ↩︎

AUTHOR’S NOTE:

Written with contributions from Mark Narandan. Photographs kindly provided by Dr. Vim Samonte and Felix Jismundo and published herein with permission. All rights are reserved.