Filipino Expats Community of Thailand Online - Couples for Christ (CFC) Thailand

Couples for Christ (CFC) Thailand

Tuesday, 27 March 2007

Couples for Christ (CFC) is a lay organization recognized by the Church. CFC addresses the very core of human society, the family. Its mission is to bring families back to the plan of God, strengthen Christian family life and renew spiritually all members of the family, both the young and old. CFC recognizes that there are many forces in the world today that would, wittingly or unwittingly, destroy the very foundations of the family and CFC wants to rise in defense of the family. CFC wants to bring God's strength and light to those who are struggling to be truly Christian families in the modern world.

CFC started small: just sixteen couples in 1981 in Manila, Philippines. As of end of 2006, CFC has over 1 million active members in over 158 countries. In Thailand, CFC is considered one of the most dynamic and fast growing Christian communities. Beginning with just sixteen couples in 1989,

CFC Thailand has now grown to over 1,500 members, most of them are Thai people from the northeast dioceses of Ubon Rachatani and Tharae-Nongsaeng. There are about 500 members in Bangkok and nearby areas, including the Asian Institute of Technology campus, Rangsit, Pattaya City and Bangsaen Municipality. CFC conducts regular retreats and seminars on Christian family life for its members and cooperates with the Catholic Church and other church organizations in organizing spiritual activities. The community has also organized charitable activities for the benefit of AIDs patients and orphan children and has supported the construction of a new church and multi-purpose building in the village of Banchard, Khon Kaen.

CFC has also its Family Ministries: Kids for Christ, Youth for Christ, Singles for Christ, Handmaids of the Lord, and Servants of the Lord. Thus everyone is welcome to join the community. The work of the Family Ministries is CFC's work of building the Church of the Home. God has also moved CFC to a greater awareness of and involvement in the social dimension of the Church's mission. One of the most important is CFC's work for the poor and socially disadvantaged. The work of the Social Ministries is CFC's work of building the Church of the Poor.

Little grade school children from six-twelve years old join Kids for Christ (KFC), high school youth and college students (about 13-21 years old) join Youth for Christ (YFC). Unmarried young men and women (21-35 years old) join Singles for Christ (SFC). Widows and single women (35 years old up) are with the Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD) and widowers and single men (aged 35 years old up) belong to the Servants of the Lord (SOLD).

Any married Catholic couple may become members of CFC. 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.

Those who want to join CFC go through a seminar which is called a Christian Life Program (CLP), which is an integrated course leading into a renewed understanding of God's call to us as Christian couples. The different topics of the talks are as follows:

1.        God's Love
2.        Who is Jesus Christ?
3.        What it means to be a Christian
4.        Repentance and Faith
5.        The Christian Ideal : Loving God
6.        Loving your Neighbour
7.        The Christian Family
8.        Life in the Holy Spirit
9.        Receiving the Power of the Holy Spirit
10.        Growing in the Spirit
11.        The Life and Mission of the Couples for Christ
12.        Transformation in Christ (and Dedication)

There are no fees or any monetary expenses required of participants. The only investment required is their time, openness, and a little effort to participate.

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 from 5 to 7 couples who meet weekly to build an environment for the support of the Christian life of couples, and to provide a means for encouraging and strengthening spiritual growth. The household meeting is held in the homes of the group members on rotation basis. A typical meeting would involve some time for prayers, a time for sharing or discussion, and finally some time for fellowship. It would normally last about 2.5 hours.

Finishing the CLP is just the beginning of a long process of growth and transformation in Christ. As such, CFC provides a continuing program of formation, which includes a graduated series of teachings, recollections, retreats, etc.

In the past few years, CFC has more consciously recognized its potential to contribute to the cause of Christian unity. Thus CFC is now bringing its family life renewal ministry in various Christian churches as well as in other religious groups, including Buddhists.

For more information, please visit CFC Thailand web site at http://cfcthai.net or call Mr. Jimmy and Naty Lozare by Tel: 08 184 08933 or Edgar and Moonyeen Dante by Tel: 09 831 8200 or 02 524 6256 or Email This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

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