CFC MILESTONES | 1996
Inspired by the sprouting community development work in Bagong Silang and determined to build a strong program for youth rehabilitation and development, CFC Angkop Foundation was established. The foundation would be later renamed A Network of the Church and the Poor (ANCOP). At present, it is now Answering the Cry of the Poor. The initial Special Ministries eventually evolved to the Social Ministries of CFC. On July 8, 1996, CFC was granted recognition by the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of the Philippines (CBCP) as a National Private Association of the Lay Faithful, a clear affirmation to the community’s commitment to truly be, “”a light to the nations.””
CFC MILESTONES | 1997
CFC established its ministries to reach out to the poor. The Prison Ministry, later renamed Isaiah 61:1, provided comfort to those behind bars. FEED offered vital information and guidance on basic family concerns such as family planning and pro-life advocacy. The Teodora Ministry helped empower women.
Later on, other ministries were established: the GIVE Care Health Foundation (formerly Give Kare Health Foundation), which provides healthcare, preventive medicine, and community empowerment; St. Thomas More and Associates (STMA), the community’s arm in defending the dignity and rights of the human person; the Armed Services Ministry, later renamed the Sword of Gideon and then the Order of St. Michael, serving as a united body of committed Christians in the armed forces; the Tekton Guild, focused on poverty alleviation; CFC Cooperatives, which provide training in microfinance services; and the Oikos Society, established to protect, conserve, and manage ecological balance and the environment.
CFC MILESTONES | 1998
In 1998, the first year when themes were discerned and used, the theme was “Lead… by the Power of the Holy Spirit” (Romans 15: 18 – 19). This theme would serve as an outpouring of grace among the members, empowering all to love, to praise, and to proclaim Christ everywhere, through the Holy Spirit’s grace.
CFC MILESTONES | 1999
CFC’s theme for the year was “Go and bear fruit that will remain” (John 15:16). This theme intensified the community’s missionary zeal and contributed to the rapid growth that CFC experienced in the succeeding years.
The construction of the Angkop Training Center and Youth Village was completed and became fully operational. It served as the hub for Angkop’s programs: SIBOL, SAGIP, and SIGA (the youth education programs for Kids for Christ, Youth for Christ, and out-of-school youth, respectively), as well as SIKAP, its livelihood program. The CFC Angkop Foundation also built its first shelter in Bagong Silang for Php 20,000. This marked the beginning of CFC’s involvement in shelter and community development initiatives.
In November 1999, CFC launched the In His Steps TV show on IBC Channel 13, a half-hour program that combined documentary and talk show formats.
CFC MILESTONES | 2000
“Bring glad tidings to the Poor” (Luke 4: 18) was the theme of CFC. This was indeed a prophetic message because this was when God’s grace saw the community focusing on the work with the poor. In the year 2000, another milestone unfolded: the Vatican formally recognized Couples for Christ as a private international association of the faithful and approved its amended statutes. This recognition was granted ad experimentum—on a five-year trial basis—after which the Vatican would evaluate whether the recognition should be made permanent.
Stay tuned each day as we continue to share our story—our history, growth, and God’s faithfulness—as we journey toward our 45th year as one family.
#CFCJourneyTo45#CFCOneFamily#Happy45YearsCFC
Reference: 
Journey of Family Evangelizers – Moved by the Holy Spirit (Volume 1)
