LOVE MORESpirit-filled, grace-filled, wonderful! These were the words used by Bishop Guillermo Afable of Digos, Davao Del Sur to describe the CFC Leaders Conference held on January 10, 2015 at the Mall of Asia Arena. The venue was painted red by thousands of red-clad Couples for Christ members who attended the community’s first major global activity for 2015.

Held annually during the second week of January, the Leaders Conference is the biggest gathering of CFC mis-sionaries from all over the world. This year, the theme is LOVE MORE, inspired by John 21:15-17, setting the stage for CFC to conquer more territories and win more souls for the Lord.

Council wives Babylou Tale and Jean Uriarte led the praying of the rosary at the begin-ning of the program. To formally start the event, the Philippine National Police Academy (PNPA) marching band, playing the CFC theme, led the Parade of Flags of 120 countries and 7 territories where CFC is present.

Davis Abuel, SOLD Provincial Coordinator of Leyte, led the crowd in a powerful opening worship. To help the CFC community remember God’s faithfulness, El Gamma Penumbra performed an exceptionally moving shadow dance depicting the victories and trials of the previous years.

Session 1, entitled “Love”, was de-livered by CFC Executive Director George Campos with sharers Cynthia Campos and Rachel Arguelles who both inspired the audience with their personal love stories with the Lord.

ANCOP Scholar Eugene Rubio thanked the community for giving him the chance to have a better future through the gift of education. As a token of gratitude for the community’s generosity, he promised to do well in school and make CFC proud of him

The International Council led the com-munity in a Prayer for Empowerment, recognizing that we cannot move forward as one and we will never ac-complish anything without the grace of God.

Young couple and KFC full time pas-toral workers Chino and Chen Santos led the praise fest to formally close the sessions.

The event concluded with the highest form of worship, Holy Mass, officiated by Most Rev. Bishop Guillermo Afable, with CFC Spiritual Director Msgr. Al-len Aganon, Fr. Socrates Mesiona of the Pontifical Mission Societies, and other brother priests who have be-come partners with CFC in renewing families and building generations of Christian leaders.

Photo credits: Caloy Rubio, Eric Urbiztondo, Deo Oliveria

CFC Chairman Joe Tale gave the community’s marching orders in the second session entitled “Feed My Sheep.” Picking up from George Campos’ bold statement that to love more means we are to pray more, study more, serve more, fellowship more, and hunger more for the sacraments, Chairman Tale shared that the true measure of loving our God is to feed His sheep.

Session 2 sharer, Glen Santayana, CFC USA serving in South America, inspired the crowd to be bold enough to say yes to the Lord de-spite uncertainties, knowing fully that when God calls, He equips. Aileen Serrano, wife of the late Bob Serrano, head of the 29 AD Musicionaries, and missionary to Seychelles, moved the audience with her tribute to Bob and what she called “finishing grace” - dy-ing in faith, dying with joy, and becoming everything that God wants you to be.

CFC Chairman Joe Tale gave the community’s marching orders in the second session entitled “Feed My Sheep.” Picking up from George Campos’ bold statement that to love more means we are to pray more, study more, serve more, fellowship more, and hunger more for the sacraments, Chairman Tale shared that the true measure of loving our God is to feed His sheep.

Session 2 sharer, Glen Santayana, CFC USA serving in South America, inspired the crowd to be bold enough to say yes to the Lord de-spite uncertainties, knowing fully that when God calls, He equips. Aileen Serrano, wife of the late Bob Serrano, head of the 29 AD Musicionaries, and missionary to Seychelles, moved the audience with her tribute to Bob and what she called “finishing grace” - dy-ing in faith, dying with joy, and becoming everything that God wants you to be.