What is Couples for Christ?
CFC is a Christian family life renewal ministry.
- It started in June 1981 in Manila, Philippines, with 16 couples. It is highly evangelistic and growing rapidly. As per records of 2004, there are already over 20 Lakhs members in 113 Countries throughout the world and it continues to grow.
- Further, CFC has ministries for family members other than couples. Since 1993, CFC has established Kids for Christ (KFC), Youth for Christ (YFC), Singles for Christ (SFC), Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD) and Servants of the Lord (SOLD). CFC now has a “womb-to-tomb” ministry.
- All members of CFC belong to cell groups which we call “households”. At the end of this CLS, You will be assigned to a household.
The purpose of a household group is to have a smaller and more intimate environment for personal support in the Christian life, and to provide a means for encouraging and hastening growth as a Christian.
- The purpose of a household group is to have a smaller and more intimate environment for personal support in the Christian life, and to provide a means for encouraging and hastening growth as a Christian.
- Here you can share life experiences and God’s practical wisdom.
- You can be helped to overcome obstacles in the Christian life.
- You will develop real friendships and true brotherhood/sisterhood, without which our Christian life would lack joyful expression.
- A household is composed of from 4 to 7 couples and is headed by a leader couple, and is set up immediately after the CLS.
- The household meets once a week, on the same day of the week as mutually agreed on by its members.
- Less than once a week would not provide enough contact to have adequate support and encouragement in the Christian life.
- More than once a week may become a burden and may take time that is more properly allocated to work, family, personal needs or Christian service. In the household there teachings in the form of 4 special talk series called COP (community orientation program) for the new couples. Here we take an Intent letter i.e. if the couples are ready to continue in CFC.
- After the COP talks there are 6 DOP talks (Discipleship Orientation Program). After the completion of DOP. The new couples are given Commitment in CFC.
- The household meetings are held in the homes of the group members, on rotation basis from week to week. Holding the household meetings in our homes has the following values:
- Worshiping the Lord in our home makes the truth that the home is a Domestic Church a concrete reality. And God’s blessings will surely descend upon the home where God’s people can be found, worshipping Him together and growing in faith together.
- The people living with us our children, perhaps our parents, household help, the people who are closest to us will be aware of what we are involved in and what we do every week. To them we will become people who are living their Christian faith openly and powerfully.
- What we do in our home may be used by the Lord as an effective tool for evangelization, especially to our relatives, neighbors and friends.
- There are basically three ingredients in a typical household meeting: an extended period of prayer and worship, a time for sharing or discussion, and some time for fellowship.