COUPLES FOR CHRIST

The focus of CFC and its core mission is clearly visible from ministry's name: Couples For Christ. It is really a movement intended to renew and strengthen Christian family life. It focuses on the married couple (and their children) as the basic unit in society. The need for such a movement is seen as a welcome respite in the modern world where family unit is under constant attack.

CFC ministry has proved especially effective and useful for the growth of family man. Burdened with the pressure of their jobs, married men too often leave the Christian upbringing of their children to their wives. However, according to Bible, the husband should not only be the breadwinner but also the one who brings the family to Christ and brings Christ to the family.

Normally, CFC groups are called households and consist of 4 - 7 couples. These couples meet on a weekly basis, always in an informal setting of a host couple's home. The gathering starts with a short praise and worship (singing praise songs), with thanksgiving prayer followed by petitions. After prayer time the couples can discuss different topics based on the Holly Bible, share their experience, their life struggles and can offer support to one another.

AT THE BEGINNING
CFC began in 1981 in Manila when a local Christian community tried a new approach in evangelizing 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 renewal in the power of the Holy Spirit through a series of weekly informal discussions of the gospel in a social environment.

Soon, CFC became a Christian family life renewal program made available to parishes and groups of married couples 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.

CHRISTIAN FAMILY RENEWAL
An offspring of one's personal renewal and the deepening of relationships between spouses is the call to bring Christ to the other members of the family. The CFC Family Ministries is Couples for Christ's response to building the Church of the Home. The family ministries look to the spiritual dimension of our life in the Lord. It focuses on internal formation and is designed to help us grow in holiness of life.

Individual renewal: Before one can consider the whole family, the husband and the 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 that 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 families that not only support one another but also strengthen the Church of which they are members.CFC Kids for Christ, CFC Youth for Christ, CFC Singles for Christ, CFC Handmaids of the Lord and CFC Servants of the Lord provide a support environment for every member of the family. A person moves form one ministry to the next, as his state of life changes. Thus, the whole life of a person while on this world is covered.

MEMBERSHIP
Any validly married Catholic couple can become members of CFC. Although a Catholic movement/organization, CFC remains open to having non-Catholic Christians as members. CFC draws its membership from all sectors of society, young and old, rich and poor, etc. CFC transcends all cultural, economic, educational, social and other distinctions.

To join the CFC, participants are obliged to go through an integrated Christian Life Program (CLP) course. The course offers the participants a renewed understanding of God's call to them as Christian couples. It runs for a total of 13 weekly consecutive sessions and each of the 2 ½ hour sessions come with a teaching, a group discussion, and a time for fellowship.

There are no fees or any monetary expenses required of the participants. The only investment required is their time and their openness.Interested in joining the CFC? Contact: Tomaz Hladnik at: tomaz.hladnik@gmail.com for more details.