The Hidden Fruits of Teaching NFP
To our past and present volunteers: thank you for 55 years of teaching and promoting NFP. Every class, presentation, or conversation you have about NFP is directly connected to God’s plan and purpose for marriage. This connection brings about the fruits of communication and cooperation as couples come to understand fertility as a shared responsibility and discover more deeply what true love means between husband and wife.
The impact of 55 years of volunteering is the unique story of how one volunteer impacts another. Every teaching couple’s witness story explains the personal impact Natural Family Planning (NFP) has had on their marriage. Most often, that story begins in the classroom of another teaching couple where they were first introduced to NFP.
Students Supported
Students arrive in an NFP classroom through marriage preparation programs that are supported and inspired by volunteers who promote NFP at conferences, pro-life events, and local parishes. This connectedness from one volunteer to another bears much fruit in marriages that continue to thrive because of the gift of learning NFP.
When a student learns NFP, the truth is no longer hidden. This can impact a couple who is learning to trust in God’s plan with an openness to life and a generous spirit when discerning children. It can also provide tools for couples struggling with infertility or trying to understand fertility issues. Many students come to class with very little knowledge of fertility. They learn how to live with God’s design and understand the shared gift of fertility within marriage. You never know the impact this knowledge can have, both now and years down the road.
Much of the fruit of teaching NFP remains hidden. A teaching couple may never know how a student’s marriage was strengthened, how a family was changed, or how that student may one day inspire another couple to learn and teach NFP. Yet God sees the fruit, even when we cannot.
Prune for Fruit
When a branch is pruned to grow more fruit, it can be difficult to understand what is being cut away. Yet pruning helps the vine become more fruitful. The same can be true in our volunteer work. Sometimes it helps us recognize what is no longer working so that new opportunities can grow.
Therefore, do not be discouraged if students are not coming to your local class. There are students who want to learn online. Do not be discouraged if you cannot commit to teaching a full NFP course. Volunteer as a mentor or teach part of a course through the new Hybrid class option. Find the way that reconnects you to your purpose of revealing the truth of fertility and God’s plan for marriage. Bringing good fruit into the world is one way we know we are being fruitful.
Purposeful Marriage
Many people think that a CCL Teaching Couple must have the perfect marriage, but it is more important to have a purposeful marriage—one in which you use your talents and the gifts God has given you to share the truth of marriage with others. You and your spouse find ways to share slides and stories throughout class and feel accomplished at the end when students thank you for your time. You make it happen no matter what your life is like outside of class.
It is through volunteers, witnessing to a marriage of love and purpose, that we can reach hearts and teach NFP in a way that applies directly to each couple.
We want to thank all teaching couples and volunteers as they continue to change lives. Thank you for 55 years of teaching, witnessing, and sharing the gift of NFP. The fruit of your service continues to grow.
Written by Bernadette Jones. Bernadette has been teaching and promoting CCL’s STM method since 2016. She is currently an FSI coach, CCL teaching couple and works with the Teaching Center. Original article can be found in Family Foundations magazine, a quarterly benefit to our benefactors and supporters.
Why is NFP so important? Take the Natural Plan course for a quick intro. Learn Natural Family Planning – as an engaged couple or as a married couple.