Entrepreneur Cum Pastor In the Marketplace
By Steve Oh
“I see my mission in this business is to advance the Kingdom of God. I believe I am only a steward whom God has placed in this business to intentionally impact the marketplace by integrating biblical principles into every aspect of my business practice.” Cindy Chong
I first met Cindy Chong, a vibrant and affable woman, at a hospital in Malaysia. It was peak business hour. My close friend Dato’ Peter Ng, Founder of the UCSI University group, had asked me to go with him to meet Cindy and pray for someone. I like to pray for the sick, so I tagged along.
With a disarming smile, Cindy greeted us, and after the quick introduction, we trotted to the patient’s ward. Silently, I admired this businesswoman who had taken time off her busy schedule to pray for a stranger, a friend’s relative.
Dual role
Cindy, a business software entrepreneur, is a living witness who successfully combines work and faith in the marketplace. She exemplifies the ‘priesthood of all believers, which Martin Luther propounds – every believer in whatever job also does the work of a priest. She is a spiritual dynamo, dignified, capable and most importantly, accessible and willing to help those in need. She willingly takes time off from work to minister, doing the work of a pastor.
Indifference and fear of offence are usually two major reasons why many do not witness for Christ in the marketplace. It takes courage and consecration for a Christian to be proactive in a foreboding setting where religion is a sensitive topic. Jesus’ disciples prayed for boldness. Every Christ- disciple should pray for boldness to witness for Christ at work or play.
Being a pivotal leader in the Business & Professional Ministry in Kuala Lumpur, founded by former Tupperware boss David Wong and now helmed by Dato Peter Ng, Cindy offers much pastoral care to the women and children at B & P church as well as outside its walls.
Childhood
If you meet Cindy today, you would not have guessed she was born into a poor family in Kuala Lumpur and later grew up in Seremban. But the entrepreneurial spirit in her even at a young age was unmistakable. Recounting her childhood, she said, “When we were young, our parents were quite poor – we stayed in a wooden house next to my Mum’s parents. I believe I took after my Mum, who is strong and entrepreneurial. When I was about five years old, I started collecting aluminium tin foils in rubbish dumps to sell to get some extra pocket money. I also remember riding a bicycle to sell Chinese cakes around my area.”
Career
Cindy studied at San Francisco State University, California and graduated with two degrees, a B.A. in Finance and a M.Sc. majoring in IT and Accounting. The latter being later attainment after working for several years.
Her formal tertiary education equipped her for the challenge of running her own software business
the Dbix group – comprising two companies – Dbix Systems Sdn Bhd (www.dbix.com.my) and Horecabid Sdn. Bhd. (www.horecabid.com) In the tough technology business dominated by males, Cindy provides not only customised software services but has created several off-the-shelf products such as AI Chat Bots, Machine Learning Solutions and Vendor Management & Procurement Software to help a range of businesses. She once ventured into farming in Gopeng. It was a minor business detour that enriched her resume, but now she focuses on her forte – software products. Her list of achievements includes the development of multiple IP products without external funding, obtaining MDEC government grants for innovative technology, and servicing a host of national, regional and multinational clients. Her companies are at the forefront of Malaysia’s technological advances and help businesses be more efficient and profitable through critical software strategies.
Family
With 48 employees and 25 outsourced to clients, Cindy still manages to care for her two teenage children, Sarah, 18 and David, 16, a loving husband and needs of others. She watches ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ and listens to music to relax. According to a mutual friend, Ethan Hong, a business client who later became a family friend, ‘ Cindy is the closest to his ideal of a Christian’.
Cindy is aided by her husband of 26 years, a technological ‘whizz kid’ in developing new software and Artificial Intelligence (AI) applications. Loon Wing Yuen, or simply ‘Wing’, once led the Innovation Labs for a major Malaysian bank. He is involved in a Fintech start-up and helps Cindy part-time. They not only provide businesses with software solutions but, as a team, help others find life’s answer in Jesus Christ.
In fact, Wing was instrumental in Cindy’s conversion. In her own words, “Wing, my boyfriend then told me that if we do get married, I have to become a Christian first. I was upset initially because I felt that he should love me for what I am. However, God had plans for me. In one of the church meetings which I went along with Wing, I heard a Bible verse from the Pastor, which touched my heart. The verse was Ephesians 5:25 “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her”. Wow! Christ died for the church – hence, our husbands must also be like Christ to “die” for their wives! This is such a wonderful gift that God gives to women. I believe that God was speaking to me at that time, although I was not aware of it. I accepted Christ not long after that.”
Combining business and ministry
Cindy says, “I believe in integrating God’s principles in our business and trusting God for the outcome. This has helped me overcome many business challenges, and that in itself has been a great testimony of God working in our business.”
“My business has a great impact on my Christian Ministry. I always share God’s miracles and goodness in our business. We deal with many customers who need to know more about our Heavenly Father. Some of the customers have now become fervent believers through our prayers and witness. It is amazing how God works when we start praying and acting to share Christ whenever an opportunity arises. There have also been many occasions God used this business to provide jobs to single mums who are hurting and need a refuge where they can work to earn a decent income. It has given me the opportunity to share with them that God, their Heavenly Father loves them.”
Her tips for those in the marketplace
With excitement in her voice, she postulates, “Imagine 500 entrepreneurs who will operate with integrity and good business ethics; we will prove to our employees and customers that business can be profitable when done in God’s way.”
Her advice: Focus on your core business and strengths, get good counsel from Christian leaders and pray for God’s wisdom; don’t be hasty, integrate God’s principles in all aspects of your business, practise transparency, pay your suppliers on time, don’t over-borrow, treat your employees like family by caring for them and understand their needs, join a group of like-minded Christian CEOs network to get sound advice.
Steve Oh observes, “Knowing someone like Cindy who lives out her faith, I feel encouraged and sharpened, as iron sharpens iron. A person like her reflects Christ by her character, words and deeds. She should challenge all of us to do this in the marketplace.”
About the writer
Steve Oh has known Cindy and Wing for many years and are in regular touch through the Business & Professional Ministry, hosting fifty of the B & P ministry folks at his home in Perth two years ago. Steve wrote the novel Tiger King of the Golden Jungle. He describes himself simply as ‘a sinner saved by Christ’, living by the motto ‘He must increase, I must decrease.”
