FAQs

Frequently asked Questions About C12

If you’re exploring C12 membership, you probably have questions. Here’s what Christian business leaders in El Paso, Las Cruces, and the surrounding region typically ask.

The Basics​

C12 Borderplex connects Christian CEOs and business owners across El Paso, Las Cruces, and the surrounding region through monthly, 1-day peer advisory forums. You meet with non-competing leaders who understand the weight of running a company, receive MBA-level curriculum grounded in biblical principles, and work one-on-one with an experienced Chair who’s been in the trenches of business leadership.

We’re part of the global C12 network of 4,600+ members across 5 continents, but we serve leaders right here who are navigating the unique challenges of the Borderplex market.

C12 works best for Christian CEOs, owners, and key executives who:

  • Lead established, for-profit companies
  • Employ at least 10 people
  • Generate a minimum of $2M+ in annual revenue (generally)
  • Want accountability, not just advice
  • Are committed to growth—both in business and as leaders
  • See their company as more than just an income source

If you’re a Christian leader who wants your business to thrive financially while also serving as a platform for Kingdom impact, C12 might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Both. C12 operates as a for-profit business, which means our Chairs live under the same pressure to deliver results and steward resources as you do. But the heart of C12 is “business as ministry.” We believe our company and yours belong to God—that He cares about how we treat people, make decisions, and steward profit and influence.

Forums help you build a healthy, profitable business that reflects Christ in the marketplace. Not one or the other. Both.

C12 members lead organizations across industries:

  • Construction and Trades
  • Retail and Food Service
  • Hospitality
  • Farming
  • Engineering
  • Manufacturing and Logistics
  • Healthcare
  • Professional and Financial
  • Services
  • Real Estate
  • Marketing and Media
  • Technology

The type of business matters less than the leader’s commitment to Christ, to excellence, and to building something that matters beyond revenue.

No. Members come from different church backgrounds and varying levels of biblical knowledge. The common thread is a genuine commitment to follow Christ and a willingness to grow.

C12’s doctrinal statement centers on three foundational beliefs: Jesus Christ is Lord, the whole Bible is true, and God has an eternal plan for every believer’s life—including their business. If you’re comfortable with those core tenets of faith, you’ll feel at home at the C12 table.

Curriculum and discussions are grounded in Scripture, but forums are practical, not academic. You’ll be encouraged to live out your faith more fully in your leadership. Nobody’s grading your theology.

Membership & Fit​

There’s no rigid checklist, but C12 works best when members can contribute meaningfully to peer discussions and benefit from the level of conversation happening in the room. We look for leaders who:
  • Are actively running their business (e.g. not retired)
  • Have real skin in the game—employees depending on their decisions, payroll to meet, growth to manage
  • Are coachable and willing to implement what they learn
  • Can commit to the monthly rhythm and show up consistently
  • Are ready to give counsel, not just receive it
The 10+ employees and $2M+ revenue guidelines exist because that’s typically where the complexity of leading really kicks in — and where peer counsel becomes invaluable. C12 member businesses range from $2 million to over $1 billion in annual revenue. We do work with leaders slightly below those thresholds who were clearly ready for the forum experience.If you’re wondering whether you qualify, the best approach is a conversation. We’ll help you determine if this is the right time and the right fit.

Yes. Confidentiality is foundational. Members sign a covenant agreeing to keep meeting content private. The forum must remain a safe place to discuss sensitive issues—financial challenges, personnel conflicts, family matters, spiritual struggles.

This trust allows for the honesty that creates real change.

The typical path looks like this:

  • Initial conversation – Connect with a Chair to share your story, goals, and questions
  • Guest visit – Attend a forum at no cost to experience it firsthand
  • Mutual discernment – You and the group discern together whether there’s a good fit
  • Invitation and onboarding – If there’s alignment, the Chair extends an invitation and initiate the onboarding process

 You never join blindly. You’ll have a clear sense of the value and fit before you commit.

Absolutely. When you attend as a guest, you’ll interact directly with current members, hear their stories, and ask candid questions about their experience. Ask a Chair if you’d like to speak to a member prior to guesting at a forum. Most members are very willing to share their experience. 

Format, Time, and Investment​

CEO Forums meet once a month on a set day. Each forum is a full-day experience—typically about seven hours, including lunch. The day is structured around curated content, real-time business issues, and peer counsel, with time for prayer and reflection.

A forum day usually includes:

  • Leadership and business content that’s both research-based and biblically grounded
  • Roundtable discussion on live issues members are facing
  • Accountability check-ins on previously set goals
  • Strategic planning and decision-making
  • Prayer and spiritual encouragement

Members leave with clear next steps for their business, their leadership, and often their personal or family life.

In addition to the monthly forum, each CEO/Owner Forum member meets one-on-one with the Chair in a focused coaching session—typically 60-90 minutes. This meeting is tailored to your needs:

  • Working through a complex decision or conflict
  • Reviewing financial metrics, strategy, or organizational health
  • Applying forum content to your specific situation
  • Addressing spiritual or personal leadership issues
  • Prayer and encouragement

You set the agenda. Your Chair comes alongside you as a trusted advisor and coach.

Most members invest:

  • One full day each month for the forum (generally 9am-4pm)
  • 60-90 minutes monthly for the FOCUS60 with your C12 Chair (CEO/Owner Forum members only)
  • Additional time implementing action steps and initiatives at work and at home

This is working on the business rather than just in it. Leaders often find that this structured time actually gives them more capacity and better margin over time.

C12 membership involves an registration fee and ongoing monthly dues. The exact investment varies by forum location and type. Most members view this as a strategic advisory and coaching investment—comparable to high-value consulting or executive development, often at a lower overall cost.

We have two types of forums:

  • CEO/Owners Forum – Designed for business owners and top executives (CEOs, presidents) who hold ultimate decision-making authority in their organizations. These forums bring together leaders navigating the unique pressures of final accountability.
  • Executives & Entrepreneurs Forum – Built for key executives (vice presidents, C-suite leaders, general managers) and small business entrepreneurs who want to grow in both business and faith but may not yet meet the CEO/Owner forum qualifications. This forum provides the same proven curriculum and peer counsel with an exeperience tailored to emerging leaders and growing businesses.

For specific pricing in the Borderplex region, let’s have a private conversation.

Benefits and Impact​

Members commonly report growth in several areas:

  • Leadership – Greater clarity, confidence, and skill as a CEO or owner
  • Business performance – Improved profitability, systems, and strategic discipline
  • Team health – Stronger culture, better hiring, healthier conflict
  • Margin – Better use of time, energy, and financial resources
  • Spiritual impact – A clearer sense of calling and practical ways to use business as ministry

Over time, many leaders describe their forum as an indispensable “board of advisors” for both their business and their life.

C12 assumes that God cares about all of your life, including your leadership. In forums and curriculum, you’ll explore:

  • How Scripture informs strategy, people decisions, and culture
  • Ways to care for employees, customers, and vendors beyond the transactional
  • How to design intentional ministry initiatives appropriate for your context
  • What it means to steward profit and influence for eternal impact

You’ll move from “faith-adjacent” leadership to a practical, integrated approach where Christ is central in both Sunday worship and Monday decisions.

For Active Members

Bring your current business updates, any metrics you track, and your goals or challenges for the month. Come ready to share openly and learn from your peers.
Review your goals, results, and areas where you want input. Be honest about what’s working, what’s not, and what you need prayer or advice on.
Notify your Chair as early as possible. They may offer a way to make up the session or schedule an additional check-in to keep you on track.
You can share tools or insights that help your business, but personal discussions and member stories should remain private to protect confidentiality.
Yes. Members can join regional or national C12 events where leaders gather for learning, worship, and connection

Be open. Be consistent. Follow through. Growth comes from showing up, applying what you learn, and welcoming accountability.