About Couples For Christ
Couples for Christ (CFC) is
a movement intended for the renewal and strengthening of Christian family
life. It is an association of Christian couples who have committed
themselves to the Lord and to one another, so that they may grow into
maturity as men and women of God. In so doing they fulfill their primary vocation of
raising up their families under the lordship of Jesus Christ and for the
service of the Kingdom of God.
The Couples for Christ
ministry aims to raise up Christian couples and establish Christian
families committed to the work of evangelization,( winning the world for
Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit). It grows mainly through the
establishment of localized units in different parishes.
For more information about us, click on the questions listed below.
Where and how did Couples for Christ begin?
Why is such a ministry necessary?
How does CFC intend to work for Christian Family
Renewal?
What is the nature of the Christian Life Program?
Are there any costs involved?
What happens after the Christian Life Program?
What is the nature of this Household?
Is Couples For Christ Recognized by the Catholic
Church?
Not Just For Couples But For Everyone
Where and how did Couples for Christ begin?
Couples for Christ (CFC) began in 1981 in Manila in the
Philippines, when a local
Christian community tried out a new approach in evangelising married couples.
The method used consisted of bringing together a small group of prospective
couples in a private home. There they were brought to a living relationship with
Jesus Christ and to a renewal of the power of the Holy Spirit through a series
of weekly informal discussions of the gospel in a social setting.
Soon CFC became a Christian family life renewal program made
available to parishes and groups of married couples and individuals who wished
to live out their Christian life in an active, supportive relationship with one
another.
Through the years CFC has blossomed into a worldwide ministry,
becoming a major force for the renewal of Christian family life and also of the
Church.
It is God's plan that the family be the basic unit of society,
such that the condition of families determines the condition of society. However
there are many forces in the world today that would wittingly or unwittingly,
destroy the very foundations of the family. CFC wants to rise in defense of the
family which is God's work. CFC wants to bring God's strength and light to those
who are struggling to be truly Christian families in the modem world.
CFC intends to carry out its work by focusing on three
specific objectives:
•Individual Renewal. Before one can even consider the whole
family, the husband and wife first need to renew their commitment to God. CFC
takes the basic message of Christianity and proclaims it anew so that those who
hear it can make a renewed commitment to God in a way which will allow them to
receive a fuller experience of the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.
•Family Renewal. As couples renew their commitment to God
they also renew their commitment to one another and to their Christian family
life. Gradually, the new life that they find in the Lord filters down to all
their family relationships.
•Church Renewal. As individual families are renewed, they
form a network of equally committed Christian families which not only support
one another but also strengthen the Church of which they are members.
Those who are interested in this Christian Family Renewal
attend a seminar which is called a Christian Life Program (CLP).
The CLP is an integrated course leading into a renewed
understanding of God's call to Christians. Most sessions consist of talks, group
discussions and some time for fellowship among the participants and members.
The different topics discussed in the talks are as follows:-
• God's Love
• Who is Jesus Christ
• What it means to be a Christian
• Repentance and faith
• The Christian ideal: Loving God
• Loving your neighbour
• The Christian Family
• Life in the Holy Spirit
• Receiving the power of the Holy Spirit
• Growing in the Spirit
• The life and mission of CFC
• Transformation in Christ
(and dedication)
There are no fees or any monetary expenses required of
participants. The only investment required is their time and their openness.
What happens after the Christian Life Program?
After the CLP those who finish are invited to join CFC. When
they do, they are made part of a small cell group called a Household. The
Household is composed of about 6 to 7 couples or 10 to 14 individuals who meet
weekly for mutual support and encouragement in the Christian Life under the
direction of a Household leader.
The purpose of the Household group is to build an environment
for the support of the Christian life of couples, and to provide a means for
encouraging and hastening spiritual growth. It provides friendship and
brotherhood. It helps people overcome obstacles to growth in the Christian life.
YES. CFC is a Roman Catholic organisation but
is open to membership by Christians of other denominations. CFC is a servant and
lay partner of the Church in the work of renewal, and has a number of bishops as
its spiritual directors. Furthermore, CFC is present and operates in many
different parishes and dioceses, fully recognised by and operating under the
authority of the parish priests and bishops.
CFC is a "womb to tomb" ministry. It has grown
beyond a couples ministry to one which caters for every member of the family or
stage of life. These other "Family ministries" include: Kids For
Christ (KFC); Youth For Christ (YFC); Singles For Christ (SFC); Handmaids of the
Lord (HOLD) and Servants of the Lord (SOLD).
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