Meeting Recap

Invocation

Joyce Reed led the invocation and pledge

Member Spotlight: Manjit Khuban

Manjit Khuban does not usually talk much about himself, but last week he gave the club a rare and personal look at his journey.

He grew up in a small village in India with a population of about 700 before coming to the United States in 1980. As a Sikh, a member of the world’s fifth-largest religion, he stood out, and the transition to life in the U.S. came with its share of challenges, from language barriers to navigating a completely new school system.

He attended Joseph Gallagher Junior High, West Tech High School, and later Cleveland State University. One of his early memories here involved getting in trouble during a fire drill, not for misbehavior, but simply because he did not yet understand the instructions.

Manjit also shared parts of his cultural background, including his arranged marriage. After a 45-minute conversation with his future wife, they were engaged, and married a year later.

He also shared photos from his younger days, including his heavy metal phase, with concerts at Blossom Music Center featuring bands such as Def Leppard, Led Zeppelin, and Cinderella.

Professionally, Manjit built a long and successful career in banking. He began with Star Bank, managing its downtown Cleveland branch. When he saw that the bank did not have a wealth management division, he made the decision to move on. He spent the next 21 years at another institution, continuing to build his expertise.

In a full-circle moment, Manjit recently returned to U.S. Bank, the successor to Star Bank, where he is helping rebuild their private wealth management division.

Good Friday Reflection with Pastor John Zahrte

Last Friday, in recognition of Good Friday, we welcomed Pastor John Zahrte of Royal Redeemer Lutheran Church.

Using familiar corporate logos as a starting point, Pastor Zahrte explored how symbols communicate meaning. From Nike to McDonald’s to Mercedes-Benz, he noted that logos are designed to instantly convey an idea or identity. He then turned to the cross, describing it as the central symbol of Christianity and pointing out how striking that is, given its original association with suffering, humiliation, and death.

He offered historical context on crucifixion under the Romans, explaining that it was intended not only as punishment, but as a public display meant to deter others. Against that backdrop, he reflected on how the cross came to represent something far different: love, sacrifice, justice, and reconciliation.

Pastor Zahrte focused on several key themes: the holiness of God, the seriousness of sin, and the cost of forgiveness. He framed these not simply as theological ideas, but as realities connected to human experience, including pain, separation, accountability, and the hope of restoration.