Breakfast Floor Guides East CdO Chapter

BCBP Breakfast EMCEE

Quick Notes – 2009
(with excerpts taken from the 2009 Breakfast Guide)

Thank you for accepting the task of being our breakfast EMCEE. Please read-on before performing
your assigned duty.

1. Role and Responsibility of the MC (from the Breakfast Guide)

In general, the MC [controls the breakfast proceedings and] is to put people at ease, make everyone (new
comers as well as old-timers) feel welcome. The MC sets the tone of the breakfast. The tone should be manly,
open, joyful, friendly, and outward going. All pious language and religious jargon should be avoided. The way of
speaking should be natural for businessmen and professionals. Expressions like“all the brothers here,” or “we
have all experienced baptism in the Holy Spirit,” etc. should be avoided, precisely because that is strange
language to newcomers.

The MC should know what the sharing will be about. He should have a short introduction to the breakfast ready.
He should be ready to tell a good joke or use something he picked up in the news. His major role is establishing
good order, and putting all at ease.

2. Purpose of the Breakfasts. (more of this can be found in the breakfast guide)
(a) Men's breakfast – Evangelistic, caters to men for men. Invites men for Christ.
(b) Joint breakfast – Celebratory (NOT evangelistic), for special occasions, must be
sensitive to the needs of both men and women.
(c) Women's breakfast – Fellowship oriented. Not intended to evangelize other women to
the BCBP but instead, build up women to live-out their BCBP commitments. Enhance
community life.

3. Things to prepare (at least a week before the breakfast)

(a) A short introduction to the breakfast:

This should be a very short introduction, emphasizing the breakfast, but gives no emphasis to chapter or
community life. Obviously a word can be said about our vision and mission and also about our Honesty
advocacy. The MC should also mention that the BCBP is a member of the Philippine Council for the Laity
under the direction of the Episcopal Commission for the Lay Apostolate (ECLA). The Breakfast is a first
introduction to the BCBP of newcomers and we do not want to overwhelm them with details. The members
already know all about the BCBP.

It should not give any detailed presentation of the Vision and mission. It is enough to say that we want to
bring Christ into the market place and professions and win the marketplace for Christ, i.e. work for the
transformation of business in line with the values of the Gospel. There is to be no reading of the Gospel of
the day. Avoid also liturgical readings with short reflections.

(b) Get sharing manuscript from your breakfast head and get the feel on how the testimony
will go
(c) Have a good joke (clean jokes please) and some relevant items from the news (with the
intent of putting all at ease)
(d) List of guests including visiting out of town BCBP members
(e) Short extemporaneous opening, response, closing prayers (MC is now supposed to make
them unless these are previously assigned to by the breakfast head). Giving of token to

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Breakfast Floor Guides East CdO Chapter

the sharer is now optional unless with specific instructions from the breakfast head.
(f) Birthdays / Anniversaries List (members, breakfasters)
(g) Schedule of the next breakfast

4. Breakfast schedule to keep and observe:(You are to lead the breakfast proceedings so that it
will remain 'on-track')

(a) 7:00-7:30am – Registration Time.

i. Encourage everyone to mingle with guests and if possible, start eating their breakfast
meals.
ii. Remind guests and members to register
iii. Sing with the music ministry and mingle with guests ;-)

(b) 7:30-7:35 – Opening Song/Prayer

i. Opening Song
ii. Opening Prayer – short, light concise and in simple language containing the ff:
A. Thanking God for the new day and for bringing all attendees together for the
breakfast
B. Saying a blessing for the food to be served
• NOTE:
• The opening prayer should avoid mentioning first timers. It is more
appropriate to mention them in the closing prayer, because by that time
they have already been introduced. We do not pray for the sharer since he
has already been prayed for outside the venue.
• It is not ACTS
C. Brotherly greeting
• 'Hiney Mah Tov' – everyone moves around to greet each other while the song
is played
• Then, invite everyone to enjoy the breakfast (you can give out your joke here
to put people at ease)

(c) 7:35-7:45 – Partaking of the Breakfast Meal

i. Everybody eats and mingles with the newcomers and guests

(d) 7:45-8:00 – Introductions in the BCBP Breakfast

i. Background introduction of the BCBP breakfast - Use the short introduction you
have prepared in (see “Things to prepare ahead of time”)
ii. Introduction to newcomers and guests

If they [newcomers] come up to the podium to introduce themselves, the MC must make sure that a
card with the points of the introduction be already on the podium for first timers to follow. If the
instructions for the introduction are flashed on a screen, the new comers need to be positioned so that
they can actually see the screen, otherwise the instructions are useless.

It is not really necessary that everyone come up and shake the new comers’ hand after the
introductions are done. They can be acclaimed by applause. Of course, the BCBP members who sit at
the same table can welcome them when they return to their seats by shaking hands. The guiding
principle, however, is we want to do whatever serves the evangelistic purpose and make people feel
more at home and not overwhelm the newcomers.

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iii. Introduction of the Breakfast Sharer

A. No need to mention: BCLP/BCMR batch
B. Instead state:
• Affiliation: Name, business / profession / current capacity
• BCBP: chapter/outreach / current service

(e) 8:00-8:45 – The Breakfast Testimony

i. Breakfast testimonies should last only 20 mins. (the same goes for Joint sharings)

(f) 8:45-8:50 – Our Response to God's message

i. Response prayer (or response song only if an appropriate song can be selected)

The MC or someone else responds to the sharing with an appropriate short scripture verse or possibly
with an appropriate song. It is crucial that the person who gives the response has a copy of the sharing
ahead of time. The response should be short. It should not attempt to summarize the sharing and,
above all, it should not preach. Personal comments on the sharer’s life should be avoided.

(g) 8:50-9:00 – Closing

i. Expression of gratitude to the sharer (Giving of token is optional)
ii. Encouragement to newcomers
A. Encourage to come back and invite others
• The MC tells the first timers that they are always welcome at the breakfast
and they can sponsor other business men or professionals and, of course, pay
for the breakfast of those they bring.
B. Name tag color change:
• MC tells them that the color of their name tag will be changed to white after
they have attended four (4) breakfast meetings signifying that they have
become regular breakfasters.
• He calls anyone how have earned his white tag. They should be welcomed
with an applause
iii. Breakfast announcements:
A. Birthdays / Anniversaries
B. Schedule of the next breakfast (time/venue)
C. Other Events (relevant to the breakfast ONLY). Announcements should only
concern the breakfast. Internal community announcements should be given after
the breakfast if needed should be announced as “BCBP members please remain
after the breakfast”.
iv. Closing prayer (by the MC) should be short and simple includes:
A. A thank-you for the food
B. A prayer for Divine Assistance for new comers and regular members that all we
do will be for the honor and glory of God.
v. Closing Song

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Breakfast Floor Guides East CdO Chapter

5. Important Reminders
(a) Green jokes or 'laughs' at the expense of someone else NOT ALLOWED. If not sure do
not give out jokes.
(b) Be sensitive to the religious faith / beliefs of our guests
i. Avoid saying ' let us pray: In the name of the father....' and doing the sign of the
cross. Non-catholics may be sensitive or critical to this.
ii. Some guests are turned off by affirmations like (when we say): “Amen?”, “Praise the
Lord!”, “Alleluia”, “God is Good?...all the time!”
(c) Pray spontaneously in short, simple language. Avoid religious terms
(d) Encourage clapping BUT NOT raising of hands

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Breakfast Floor Guides East CdO Chapter

Annex
(Note: This is provided as reference ONLY. It should not be read in verbatim
but should be delivered in a short concise manner. Please refer to “things to prepare”)

History of the BCBP Breakfast

Sometime in July of 1980, a group of renewed Christian businessmen gathered for breakfast with the
intention of supporting each other in the practice of Christian values in the marketplace. They began to
meet every Wednesday at the Makati Sports Club to share with one another the stories of their
conversion to the Lord and also to support
one another via their experiences in the practice of Christian business values in the conduct of their
respective business endeavors and their chosen field of profession.

These handful of committed men started to invite other businessmen and professionals to share with
them their experiences in the marketplace. They soon found out that there were many in search of the
same values in the marketplace. Soon their numbers began to grow.

From this simple breakfast was born what is now the Brotherhood of Christian Businessmen and
Professionals.

At the beginning of 1988, BCBP found its way down south of the country to open new chapters in
Mindanao, with Cagayan de Oro City as its initial take off point.

To date, the BCBP can be found in 113 strategic business centers nationwide covering 37 provinces and
38 dioceses. There are 51 full chapters and 62 outreaches in the Philippines and two (2) outreaches in
California, USA. In addition, consistent with its calling to evangelize the marketplace, BCBP has opened
several corporate evangelization communities in different business establishments, Coca-Cola, Dutch
Boy, Phils., Files Systems Inc., Phinma, Mapecon Phils., MZB Mktg, Silay City Gov't., Victorias Milling Co.,
are among those which have benefited in the conduct of BCLP's and other growth programs through the
efforts of the various BCBP chapters' mission teams.

Who we are
● A Catholic renewal organization duly registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission as a non-stock,
non-profit corporation.
● Fully recognized by the Archdiocese of Manila and in all the dioceses where it operates nationwide. BCBP is a
member of the Philippine Council for the Laity under the direction of the Episcopal Commission for the Lay
Apostolate (ECLA)
● A body of Christian men and women whose upbringing, education, training and current life situations have
placed them in the midst of the marketplace.
● Bound together by their commitment to instill Christ-like values, and a purpose to make these values filter down
to the mainstream of the market culture.
● There are over a hundred BCBP chapters and outreaches located in strategic business centers in key cities and
municipalities all over the Philippines. Plus two (2) Outreaches in California, USA.

BCBP Vision
Bringing Christ into the marketplace and winning the marketplace for Christ.

BCBP Mission
We are a community of business people and professionals committed to living out Christian values and
being change agents in the marketplace.

We accomplish this through a process of on-going personal conversion, a commitment to

professional excellence, community and nation building, practice of justice and integrity, and responsible
care for all entrusted to us.

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Breakfast Floor Guides East CdO Chapter

To our guests: Please be guided

accordingly:

● Please state your name (and your

spouse too. Only one will introduce for
both)

● A brief (2 sentences or so) description

of what you do (business/profession)

● Your host

Please remain on-stage until all your

fellow guests have been introduced.

Thank you again and

welcome to the breakfast!

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