CFC-Youth for Christ

Infobox Organization
name = CFC-Youth for Christ


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size = 150px
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motto = Fun, Friendship, Faith, Freedom
formation = June 1993
extinction =
type = Catholic charismatic group
headquarters = 349 Ortigas Avenue, Greenhills East, Mandaluyong City, Philippines
location = coord|14.5948|N|121.0567|E
membership = approx. 200,000
language =
leader_title = Coordinators
leader_name = Rommel and Layle Ancheta, CFC-YFC International Couple Coordinators
key_people = Overseen by Couples for Christ, namely Melo Villaroman, Jr., CFC Family Ministries Head
num_staff =
budget =
website = [http://cfcyouthforchrist.net/ http://cfcyouthforchrist.net/]

CFC-Youth for Christ (CFC-YFC, known as CFC-Youth in the United States) is a Catholic youth organization. CFC-Youth for Christ is the young adult ministry of Couples for Christ (CFC) it is a Catholic evangelistic ministry to young people. The organization is aimed at Christians of any denomination aged 12-21. In addition to trying to strengthen Christian family life, CFC-YFC shares the universal CFC mission of helping the poor and oppressed.

CFC-Youth for Christ was initially established in the Philippines in 1991 as a limited pilot program under CFC, which was then only an outreach to married couples. In 1993, CFC became an independent organization and created the CFC Family Ministries, CFC-YFC among them. Actively participating in CFC's work of evangelizing families, CFC-YFC also spearheaded the initial efforts of what would become Gawad Kalinga (GK), an organization that uses a Christian approach in attempting to solve poverty in the Philippines and other countries.

CFC-Youth for Christ has about 200,000 members, of which about 150,000 are based in the Philippines. CFC-YFC can be found in parishes, high schools, colleges and universities in over 160 countries and territories throughout the world.

History

CFC-Youth for Christ began in 1991 as a pilot program of Couples for Christ, known as the Young Adults Program (YAP). It started at Los Baños, Laguna (which is why YFC in Laguna is almost a year older than YFC as a whole). YAP was a very limited program, as CFC itself was an only an outreach to married couples. YAP's limited existence continued until June 1993, when CFC separated from its original community, Ang Ligaya ng Panginoon Community. [cite book|last=Couples for Christ|title=Renewing the Face of the Earth:The Silver Book|publisher=Couples for Christ|date=2006|pages=p. 101|isbn=978-971-93571-0-0] CFC's vision of "Families in the Holy Spirit Renewing the Face of the Earth" led to the immediate establishment of the CFC Family Ministries, and CFC-YFC was formally launched. [cite book|last=Couples for Christ|title=Renewing the Face of the Earth:The Silver Book|publisher=Couples for Christ|date=2006|pages=p. 100|isbn=978-971-93571-0-0]

In 1995, CFC-Youth for Christ held a Youth Camp for the out-of-school youth of Bagong Silang, Caloocan City, one of the biggest slums in Metro Manila. These youth included juvenile gangs infamous for their violence. In an effort to rehabilitate the youth, they were introduced to theater, sports, and livelihood training, with exceptional youth being awarded with scholarships. [cite book|last=Couples for Christ|title=Renewing the Face of the Earth:The Silver Book|publisher=Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc.|date=2006|pages=p. 107|isbn=978-971-93571-0-0]

CFC-Youth for Christ continued to spread all over the Philippines as a result of CFC's reach around the country, and CFC-YFC's work with the poor. CFC-YFC's work would lead to the establishment of Serving In God's Army (SIGA), a youth development and rehabilitation program, and ultimately inspired CFC's Gawad Kalinga. [cite book|last=Couples for Christ|title=Renewing the Face of the Earth:The Silver Book|publisher=Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc.|date=2006|pages=p. 107|isbn=978-971-93571-0-0] By 2003, CFC-YFC was established in all Philippine provinces. [cite book|last=Couples for Christ|title=Renewing the Face of the Earth:The Silver Book|publisher=Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc.|date=2006|pages=p. 120|isbn=978-971-93571-0-0]

By 2005, CFC-Youth for Christ was established in more than 100 countries. [cite book|last=Couples for Christ|title=Renewing the Face of the Earth:The Silver Book|publisher=Couples for Christ|date=2006|pages=p. 120|isbn=978-971-93571-0-0] In that same year, CFC-YFC launched full-fledged evangelization and morality programs, to be implemented for CFC-YFC around the world. [cite book|last=Couples for Christ|title=Renewing the Face of the Earth:The Silver Book|publisher=Couples for Christ|date=2006|pages=p. 121|isbn=978-971-93571-0-0] In 2006, CFC-YFC celebrated its 13th anniversary.

Organization

CFC-Youth for Christ grows mainly through the establishment of the ministry in areas and parishes where CFC is already present. CFC-YFC members are organized into groups of 10 to 12 individual youth, known as Household Cells, which are led by a Household Head. Multiple households form a chapter, multiple chapters form a cluster, and a sector can be formed depending on the number of clusters in the area.

CFC-Youth for Christ is overseen by the CFC Family Ministries Director, currently Melo Villaroman, Jr. CFC-YFC is directly governed by the YFC International Council based in Manila, currently led by Rommel and Layle Ancheta, the YFC International Couple Coordinators. Locally, CFC-YFC is overseen by YFC Couple Coordinators, CFC members who have volunteered to serve in CFC-YFC. Couple Coordinators report directly to the CFC Chapter Head for CFC-YFC pastoral formation, training, and finances.

Programs

CFC-YFC Community-Based is the branch of CFC-Youth for Christ that evangelizes alongside CFC, usually based from the nearest parish that CFC is present in. This is the largest program of CFC-YFC, with the majority of YFC members in Community-Based.

CFC-YFC High School-Based"' consists of CFC-YFC high school clubs, established with the purpose of providing a Christian support environment for students. High School-Based is directly supported by CFC-YFC Community-Based.

CFC-YFC Campus-Based is the branch of CFC-YFCs in colleges and universities and works with CFC-Singles for Christ (CFC-SFC). CFC-YFC Campus-Based helps CFC-YFC members transition to CFC-SFC.

Towards Renewal In Christ (TORCH) is the support group for children of CFC Mission Core Group (MCG) members (the MCG consists of vital CFC leaders worldwide). TORCH aims to increase leadership capabilities in the CFC-YFC who are children of MCG members.

CFC-YFC Communications (YCOM) is the media arm of CFC-YFC. It evangelizes young adults and communicates ideas across the CFC-YFC ministry. YCOM also oversees formation of CFC-YFC music ministries.

CFC-YFC Serving in God's Army (SIGA) are the YFC members situated in the Gawad Kalinga Villages.

100% Pure

100% PURE was launched internationally in 2005 as CFC-YFC's full-fledged morality program which promotes the idea that being in CFC-YFC is a lifestyle that should embody Christian values. 100% Pure is based on Pope John Paul II's Theology of the Body.

The program is based on "10 Points": [cite book|last=Couples for Christ|title=Renewing the Face of the Earth:The Silver Book|publisher=Couples for Christ Global Mission Foundation, Inc.|date=2006|pages=p. 121|isbn=978-971-93571-0-0]

#Smoke Free
#0% Alcohol
#Zero Drugs
#PorNO
#No to Masturbation
#100% Pure Man/100% Pure Woman
#Real Love Waits
#Virgin & Proud
#Pro-life
#Pure Inside and Out

Ministry Transition Programs

Swinging Towards Christ (SWITCH) enables CFC-YFC members to serve in CFC-Kids for Christ program.

Crossover is a transition program for CFC-YFC members who are 21 years of age and up, particularly utilized in CFC-YFC Campus-Based. Crossover aims to help older CFC-YFC members move and adjust to being in CFC-Singles for Christ.

CFC-Youth

In 2003 CFC-YFC USA launched Go For Gold, an evangelistic mission to establish CFC-YFC in all 50 states in 1 year. In 2004, Go For Gold was completed, and CFC-Youth exists in parishes, high schools, colleges and universities in all 50 U.S. states.

Conferences

Since 1993, CFC-Youth for Christ annually gathers over 10,000 of its members and leaders from all over the Philippines and abroad at the CFC-Youth for Christ International Leaders Conference (ILC, nicknamed "I Love Christ") during the summer. At the ILC members of the worldwide youth organization gather from around the world. The three-day weekend includes talks, creative and sport competitions, contemporary worship, entertainment, a Praise Parade where youth compete for the best conference-themed presentation, a Praise Cruise, and the Praisefest, where all the youth gather in extended Catholic Christian charismatic worship.

The CFC-Youth for Christ International Leaders Conference is CFC-YFC's global conference and CFC-YFC Philippines' national conference. There are also CFC-Youth for Christ National Leaders Conferences and CFC-Youth for Christ Regional Youth Conferences held for other CFC-YFC countries around the world. All of these conferences have a common theme worldwide.

In order to unite CFC-Youth for Christ groups around the world, other conference such as the CFC-YFC Continental Leader's Forum and CFC-YFC Global Leader's Forum are held.

Notes

External links

* [http://cfcyouthforchrist.net/ Official CFC-Youth for Christ Global Website]