About Couples for Christ

History

The idea for Couples for Christ was conceptualized by Vic Gutierrez, a leader in the Ligaya ng Panginoon. LNP, as a leader in the charismatic renewal in the Philippines (it was founded on July 19, 1975, during the modern charismatic period), sought to bring Christian spirituality into men and women. In 1981, Gutierrez and the LNP leaders, observing that more women than men attend LNP prayer meetings, encouraged a group of 16 LNP wives to invite their husbands to the Life in the Spirit Seminar, LNP's entry program, which was held on January 1981. LNP initially planned to integrate the 16 couples within LNP; this plan was dropped in favor of creating an outreach program that was solely devoted to couples. As a result, on June 26 of that year, LNP organized the 16 couples into the group "Couples for Christ".

In 1983, CFC held its first formal planning session. CFC's statements of mission and philosophy were first drafted during this meeting. It was also in this year, on June 25, when the maiden issue of the Ugnayan, CFC's official newsletter, was published.

Under the guidance of LNP, CFC slowly expanded in the Philippines. While expanding within Metro Manila, CFC was also established in other parts of the Philippines; the first CFC chapter outside Metro Manila was established in Bukidnon in 1984. A year later, in 1985, the first CFC chapter outside the Philippines was established in India.

On September 18, 1985, a prophecy was revealed to Nina Ponte, wife of Rouquel Ponte, who were both serving in CFC. According to her, God has given CFC His authority and blessing to win "the world for Christ". This revelation was instrumental in inspiring CFC to pursue a "rapid, massive, and global" evangelization thrust, which was formally declared on August 1989. This thrust was cemented in 1991, during CFC's 10th year anniversary, when the current Statement of Vision "Families in the Holy Spirit Renewing the Face of the Earth" was adopted.

Unfortunately, CFC began to have conflicts with the mother community LNP. CFC members complained about LNP's stand that service in CFC was on an "available only basis", and that priority should be placed in LNP activities. Also, CFC's rapid, massive, and global evangelization thrust conflicted with LNP’s gradual, internalized approach. In the confusion that ensued, CFC leaders in LNP, led by Francisco Padilla, a member of the first 16 couples, decided to leave the mother community and dedicate their entire service in CFC.

Despite LNP's opposition, CFC separated and transformed itself from an outreach program into a new community outside of LNP. In 1993, the new community registered itself with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as "Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc.". This separation led to a level of silent hostility between both groups, which only began to heal in 2005, when the Statement of Reconciliation, Unity and Brotherhood between LNP and CFC was signed.

Immediately in 1993, the separated CFC community began to establish what is now known as the CFC Family Ministries. As an outreach program of LNP, CFC administered only to couples. (LNP had other outreach programs for singles, youth, businessmen, and widows.) The separation thus allowed CFC to expand towards serving other members of the family, particularly in the provinces where the other LNP outreach programs haven't expanded into. CFC Kids for Christ (KFC), CFC Youth for Christ (YFC), CFC Singles for Christ (SFC), and CFC Handmaids of the Lord (HOLD) were the first ministries to exist in 1993, followed by CFC Servants of the Lord (SOLD) in 1994.

In 1995, the Catholic Bishops' Conference of the Philippines approved CFC's status as a National Private Association of Lay Faithful. During that same year, CFC started a youth-oriented community development in Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, which was formed into the CFC ANCOP (ANswering the Cry Of the Poor) Foundation in 1996: the precursor of Gawad Kalinga. Notably, the first house built for the poor was built in Bagong Silang in 1999.

During the 1980s and the 1990s, the various programs that collectively became known as the CFC Social Ministries began to form. Initially referred to as the Special Ministries, they were CFC's instruments in the effort of "total human liberation".

In recognition of the social dimension of the Gospel, CFC in 2000 defined "Bringing Glad Tidings to the Poor" in its Statement of Mission. During this year, the Holy See (Vatican) recognized CFC as a Private International Association of Lay Faithful; this recognition was permanently installed in 2005.

Also in 2000, the name Gawad Kalinga (GK) was coined for CFC's work with the poor. GK gradually grew in popularity among Filipinos. In 2002, the first GK National Build was mounted in Negros Oriental province, while the first GK site outside the Philippines, in Cambodia, was created. In 2003, GK was formally registered with the SEC as Gawad Kalinga Community Development Foundation, Inc. Also in that year, the GK777 (700,000 homes in 7,000 GK sites from 2003 to 2010) campaign was launched.

CFC began strengthening its missionary activity in 2002, when it sent its first missionaries on long-term mission to southern Africa.

The CFC Seven Pillars, the collective name for CFC's programs, was completed in 2005, with the establishment of the CFC Pro-Life Ministry and the CFC Special Ministries, dedicated to "build the Church of the future".

CFC celebrated its 25th year anniversary in 2006. As of that year, the worldwide CFC community is present at around 160 countries and dependent territories.

Recently, in 2007, a series of unfortunate events led to the CFC Crisis. Citing differences in beliefs and areas of ministry concentration and focus (specifically in GK), former CFC leaders led by Francisco Padilla separated from CFC and formed the Foundation for Family and Life (FFL).