Does C12’s process of one day each month – dedicated to learning, sharpening, and refreshment – really make a difference? We recently took a look at all those who have been C12 members for 10 years or more (C12 began in 1992). With 10-14 year C12 tenures and annual sales ranging from $2-800 million, these 16 leaders have already distinguished themselves by leading long-term businesses. However, The C12 Difference shows up more impressively in a head-to-head business performance comparison against leading American ‘blue chip’ companies over this same period as captured in a study commissioned by The Business Roundtable of 1995-2005 sales and profit growth performance by 350 leadership companies. Even though C12 member companies focus on much more than just these two financial drivers of company value, they outperformed the blue chip economic benchmark quite sharply, as seen below:


During an average C12 tenure of nearly 11 years, these members saw their composite median business statistics transformed as follows:

This data provides us great encouragement and evidence that leading businesses according to timeless Biblical principles – as stewards, servant leaders and ambassadors for Christ – is quite compatible with achieving topnotch performance according to the world’s pure business metrics! But we all know that this is only a small part of the picture. Improved business performance also provides a growing platform from which C12 member companies share Christ’s love with those they serve. These C12 members reported substantial growth in salvations, sanctification and service provided to those they touch. They have enjoyed many exciting examples of God’s sovereign love flowing through them to scores of others. Two of these C12 firms (averaging just under 100 employees) each reported more than 250 known conversions over the prior decade. Many have released their employees to minister by implementing well-defined ministry project tracking and supporting scores of active on-going ministries. Since becoming C12 members, several have implemented corporate chaplaincy, on-site Christian resource libraries, various discipling offerings for stakeholders, and sharply ramped-up Kingdom financial giving!