We are often asked how successful friendsfirst is?
If you judge success by the number of marriages we've had then we are very successful. And if you add in the numbers of people making new friends (which is what some people join for) then it's even better
For more details of couples stories
> click here
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Enhance your social skills!
Would you like to be better at meeting people, feel more confident and do it more often? We've teamed up with The Dating Doctor giving you preferential rates on a whole range of his services.
For more details.
> click here
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Members Newsletter January 2010
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friendsfirst's 10th Members Newsletter
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO US January, 2010 - Issue 10
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| Dear Katharine, |
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Welcome to our 10th Newsletter, dedicated to our friendsfirst members (past and present).
This is special newsletter as it's also our 10th birthday, hence why it's coming from me this time rather than Patricia - our membership manager.
With best wishes,
Katharine
Katharine Gray
friendsfirst Director |
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| friendsfirst's News |
Our 10th year anniversary
It's a complete co-incidence that our 10th newsletter is being sent as we celebrate our 10th birthday. It is amazing to think that friendsfirst is now 10 years old. It's been a fabulous 10 years and we've come a long way from when we first opened for business in January 1999. I was working full time then for a sports organisation and started friendsfirst as a hobby for the evenings! Little did I know that it would grow into something so significant, be able to employ staff and change so many people's lives. There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that the whole project was directed by God and has been a great blessing from Him.
I think the main thing that characterizes the 10 years has been our fantastic staff. A few members may remember Alan who ran the show when I was working full time; perhaps more will remember Wayne who worked with us in Birmingham before we moved into a proper office! And then having moved we were so lucky to find Patricia who most of you will know now. I have no doubt that it's the staff that have made the organisation what it is - we have always put great emphasis on being available to our members and doing all that we can to make sure each membership is a success.
And then of course all the positive feedback has kept us going. We still whoop with joy when people ring us up to tell us they have got or are getting married. There's no 'job satisfaction' in the world like it I don't think - and of course the bigger we get, the more often it happens. Hallelujah.
We've seen the 'dating' industry change massively in the 10 years we've been going - not least as the internet has grown and internet dating sites and social networking sites have become extremely popular. However, very early on we decided not to go down this route because we know that our business is 100% people focused and that having someone to talk to, to be encouraged by (and sometimes pushed by!) makes all the difference. It's the personal touch that no amount of technology can replace. Perhaps I got this attitude from my elderly father who was a single handed practice GP. He had a remarkable relationship with each of his 3000 patients, and even now after 18 years of retirement, so many of them stop and talk to him and bend over backwards to help him when they can. I don't think modern GP's find this - and it's all because of the personal service he dedicatedly gave them.
I'm sure this personal service is why our business has continued to grow year on year and why many of our members either renew their membership with us or come back after a break.
Since we began, 4 other similar Christian organisations have approached us to take over their members as they decided to close down. Three of these we've helped - in ensuring their members are still provided with their service. We have been greatly heartened every time to discover that our membership list has been far greater - and perhaps this too accounts for our success, in that our members have more choice.
And now for some facts and figures. In an average month we now provide around 3500 individual matches - this compares with 222 in our very first month 10 years ago. We've provided over 160,000 in total - really quite mind boggling when you think of it.
We are not complacent though. Although we have had hundreds of people get married and so much great feedback about new friendship and relationships being made, of course not everyone finds what they are looking for. And although we heartily believe they could - there is still more work to be done in suppporting and encouraging members to reach out in boldness to take hold of their futures.
We have exciting plans for the future - but one thing remains - and that's our commitment above all to our members - to encouraging and helping them to find what they are looking for - whether that's new friends or someone special. And we prayerfully hope that God will continue to use us, and bless us, that we might be a blessing to others.
We would dearly appreciate your prayers for us and that, above all, would be a wonderful birthday present to us. |
A truly national service
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Our website is constantly evolving and being updated. It's come a very long way from the first efforts of 2000. It now contains just about everything (and more) anyone could possibly want to know about us. We've recently added a whole section on where members live and it's quite remarkable seeing how much of the country we cover. Click here to see for yourselves - and if your area/town isn't mentioned (which I'm confident is unlikely) then please let us know.
More importantly, this is a great resource to use for any friends or relatives who might be interested in joining. If they are concerned whether we'll have members in their area, click on this part of our website to reassure them that we do. |
Christian Events
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Some years back we spent a good 18 months running events - you can find most of the details on our website - and some of you will remember meeting Wayne and Krizti through our events. Although they were generally very successful and great fun, we realised it wasn't our forte, which is why we decided to focus more on the personal contact side of our business.
However recently Network Christians have decided to do the opposite. They've been running a small 'dating' section as well as an events branch to their organisation and have decided now to focus on running events which they do really well. As a result we've agreed to promote their events on our website - which you'll now see is populated with lots of great varied events across the country. So please do have a look - click here to go there now - and if you are interested, get in touch with them. Please mention you heard about them and their events through us - and as a bonus, if you do, you'll get £5 off your ticket price. |
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So please raise your glasses and toast our 10th year birthday and wish us well for the next 10! We trust that if you are a current member we will be able to faithfull serve you and bring you great blessings. And if you're a past member, know that you are still in our thoughts.
As ever we look forward to speaking to you soon,
With best wishes
Katharine
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0121 427 1286 
