What is Couples for Christ?

Couples for Christ (CFC) is a movement intended for the renewal and strengthening of Christian family life. The members have committed themselves to the Lord and to one another so that they may grow in maturity as men and women of God and fulfill their primary vocation of raising up families under the lordship of Jesus Christ and for the service of the Kingdom of God.

Couples for Christ is a work of Christ which raises up Christian couples and establishes Christian families committed to the work of evangelization, winning the world for Christ and Total Human Liberation through the power of the Holy Spirit.

It grows mainly through the establishment of localized units in different parishes.

Where and How did CFC begin?

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.

Why Such Ministry?

It is God’s plan that the family be the basic unit 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 modern world.

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.

How does CFC intend to work for Christian Family Renewal?

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.

Who can become members of CFC?

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.

How does a couple become a member of CFC?

Those who want to join CFC go through a seminar that is called the Christian Life Program (CLP).

The CLP is an integrated course intended to lead the program participants into a renewed understanding of God’s call to them as Christians. It runs for a total of 13 separate sessions, held once a week. Most sessions consist of 3 basic ingredients: teaching, group discussion, and fellowship lasting for about 2 1/2 hours. The CLP is divided into an orientation session and then 3 modules of 4 sessions each.

There are no fees or any monetary expenses required of the participants. The only investment required is their time and their openness.

The CLP has two basic purposes: evangelism and spiritual renewal. To evangelize is to take the basic message of Christianity and to proclaim it anew so that those who hear it can make a renewed commitment to the Lord in a way which will allow them to receive a fuller experience of the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

Click here for more information on the Christian Life Program.