St Paul's, Chatswood is equipping men with the skills to be authentic men at work and home through their workplace ministry Connected! Business Ministries (CBM).

Established in 2007, CBM is led by Armen Nalbandian, who meets with Christians in their workplaces for prayer meetings and Bible studies, as well as promoting and running programs and events that connect with men and women in the workplace.

Winning at Work and at Home is the latest and most effective program that Mr Nalbandian is currently using to connect with men in the workplace.

"Many men lack the right skills to be men at work and at home because their dads were absent, distant or un-involved and many men don't have a support structure of friends or community," he explains.

"Winning at Work and Home provides a door of opportunity to be relevant to working men. It addresses their felt needs and brings Jesus into their lives. It's a big hit with men because of the immediate results it has had in their lives."

Bank manager and Riverwood Baptist Church member John Au is one man who can testify to the course's results, having attended the 16-week breakfast-time meetings in the first half of 2008.

"I had a communication problem with my wife and children and thought there may be something I could pick up from this program," he says.

"The program helped me realise I had not treated my wife in an "understanding way' as 1 Peter 3:7 teaches. From that moment on I've worked on witnessing for Christ in my home."

John has since invited a friend to the group and both are participating in the second semester program. The Sutherland Shire resident is now so committed to the ministry that he wakes at 5am every Friday morn-ing to be in Chatswood by 7am to facilitate a discussion group.

"I am passionate about what I do because I believe it is God's work that I am involved in," he says.

In first semester this year, 20 men attended. This semester about 40 men are attending.

Mr Nalbandian says he has seen real changes in the lives of participants.

"I've seen men whose marriages have been saved from the brink of divorce. I've seen fathers and children brought closer together. Some men have been challenged to think beyond their mundane careers, seek ad-venture and purpose and leave a legacy after they pass away," he says.

PHOTOS: Scott Webster