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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Enquirers Newsletter August 2009
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friendsfirst's 19th Newsletter
Invest in yourself and your future
August, 2009 - Issue 19
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 Welcome to friendsfirst's 19th newsletter - especially if you are a new subscriber.
There are some great articles in this newsletter, some invaluable resources for you to consider whatever your situation and a great offer on membership.
We trust you'll enjoy reading it and will find useful information and food for thought.
With best wishes,
Katharine Gray - Director, and the team at friendsfirst
P.S Don't forget - we are here to help you - if you want to chat about being single and how we can help, just give us a call on 0121 427 1286. |
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friendsfirst's News
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Our summer holiday in the Isle of Wight is now fully booked and we're very pleased that we have equal numbers of men and women going this year. If you were interested but didn't get a place, please let us know and we can put you on the list for next year.
We have 5 couples getting married in September - two couples have chosen the same day. Please keep all 10 individuals in your prayers.
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You're never on the 'scrap heap' when it comes to finding love - so don't abandon hope
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For some strange reason, many people seem to believe that dating and finding new long term friendships for love, is the preserve of the young - those in their 20s or at most those in their 30s. How very wrong this belief is. We at friendsfirst know that it doesn't matter what age you are - whether you are 21 or 90 (our oldest member to date) - having a long term special companion in your life is a common human desire. Moreover, it doesn't matter if you've been married before - and are widowed, separated or divorced. This rarely changes the desire.
So knowing this, we were fascinated to read an article in The Daily Telegraph on 14th April 2009 all about it. Click here to read this lovely good news story.
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Marriage rate at lowest level since records began
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The rate of marriages in England and Wales has fallen to its lowest level since records began in 1862, provisional figures show. However it's not all bad news. Married families remain the most stable environment for raising children. Unmarried couples are six and a half times more likely than married couples to split up following the birth of a child. Click here to read the full article. Despite this, looking at our membership numbers and talking to enquirers, it would appear that marriage is still a great priority for Christians.
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What is a soul mate?
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The term soul mate is used frequently in our society today. But what does it really mean? Have you ever given it any thought - particularly if you were hoping to find one. We found a useful series of 10 explanations on the website beliefnet.com that you might enjoy. Click here to read them yourself.
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Friendship and dating resources for you
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Since we started nearly 10 years ago, friendsfirst has published 3 books and edited a further one, all of which are aimed towards our members or people who are interested in finding new friends. If you haven't heard about them before, then here is a brief summary of each of them. They have all been highly recommended by readers and I have no doubt there's one suitable for you. Click on any of the images to go to our website to purchase it. Alternatively ring us and we can send you a copy directly.
 Top tips for making new friends and enjoying successful relationships
This 32 page amusingly illustrated guide book is written specifically to ensure members get the most out of their membership with friendsfirst. It comes FREE with membership (or costs £15 plus P&P) and provides valuable advice on a whole range of topics such as:-
-putting yourself across in the best possible way
-contacting someone else for the first time
-writing good and appealing letters
-responding to other people's contact
-meeting people for the first time
-taking a friendship forward
It's an invaluable read if you are:-
-stepping out into the world of meeting new people, -beginning to date for the first time -coming back to the 'dating' scene 'the second time round' -feeling nervous and unsure how to go about it all
Marriage - Restoring our Vision
This book aims to restore our vision of God's created purpose for marriage. It allows the Bible to shed light on both our inherited cultural values and our contemporary Christian assumptions. Linking with the vows in the Marriage Service, it examines biblical principles and challenges current practice. The author also unpacks difficult issues such as cohabitation, divorce and remarriage. Entertaining, thought provoking and stimulating, this book can be read by an individual, or used with groups as a basis for a Bible study or teaching series. The ideas and images used will communicate clearly to young and old, whether single, married or divorced. For all those wanting to think about the subject, it will help them to discover God's pattern for married life.
£7.99 from BRF
 Looking for Love the second time round - a guide to making new friends and relationships for widows and widowers
£10.00 Plus P&P
This 52 page amusingly illustrated guide book is written specifically to help widows and widowers through many of the issues that they are likely to be facing. Compiled from the feedback of widows and widowers themselves, it's a sensitve and practical guide to moving on and making the most of new relationships.
It provides valuable advice on a whole range of information and topics such as:-
-Putting yourself across in the best possible way -Common issues, concerns and feelings -Finding out if you are ready for a new relationship -Getting going and moving on -Beginning to go out -Knowing what you are looking for -More common feelings at this stage -Making new friends -Finding someone special -Meeting other widows/ers -Marriage and moving in together
It's an invaluable read if you are:-
- stepping out into the world of meeting new people,
- thinking about moving on
- coming back to the 'dating' scene 'the second time round'
- feeling nervous and unsure how to go about it all
 Risking Romance Again - Dating after Divorce
£7.99 plus P&P
This book is written from a Christian perspective by the Revd David Robertson, a remarried divorce who met his second wife through friendsfirst. David, as an ordained minister in the Church of England, draws on his own experience as well as pastoral insights gleaned from others coming to terms with marital breakdown and making new relationships. Risking Romance Again will be invaluable to anyone seeking to understand the personal issues surrounding dating after divorce.
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I hope you've enjoyed reading this newsletter and have found something useful in it. If we can be of service to you in any way please don't hesitate to contact us. We look forward to hearing from you.
With best wishes
Katharine Gray friendsfirst Director
0121 427 1286
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Summer Sale
join before 28th August
and save £60
Take advantage of our summer sale and save £60 on the price of any of our four levels of membership.
All you need to do is decide which level of membership you'd like, then give us a call on 0121 427 1286 and quote 'GN19' to get your £60 saving. All our memberships last for one year and are a great way to meet like minded people who are also looking for new friends and soul mates. For more information on membership and what the different levels offer you, either click here or call our membership manager on 0121 427 1286.
Our offer is time limited so don't delay in calling us. One call and you could change your life.
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| Offer Expires: 28th August |
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| Dear Katharine, |
Hi, Welcome to our 8th Newsletter dedicated to friendsfirst members. There's lots of food for thought in this newsletter which I hope you will find useful.
Your feedback is really welcome and if you want to talk to us in person, we are only a phone call away. If you have any topic you'd like to see covered in future issues, please do let us know.
With best wishes,
Patricia
Patricia Gilliam
friendsfirst Membership Manager |
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| friendsfirst's News |
God keeps his promises
Two of our members who were married at the end of last year have written their story for us which we have put up on our website. It's quite a remarkable one of answered prayer and perseverance which I would strongly encourage you to read for yourself. Click here to read it in full.
Isle of Wight holiday
Once again our Isle of Wight holiday coming up in September has sold out. We have even numbers of men and women going so it promises to be a great success. I'm sorry if you wanted to go and weren't able to get a place - however we can put you on the list for next year if you'd like us to. Just let us know.
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Biblical Dating vs Modern Dating
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As part of our ministry to single people (and when we say single we are always thinking broadly - ie people who've never been married AND those who have been but who aren't now whether because of marriage breakdown or the death of a spouse), we spend quite a lot of time and resources trying to get important messages about singleness and single people across to church leaders across the country. We do this in a number of ways. One way is to encourage them to think about their ministry and how well single people fare within it. We're aware that many churches have teaching and resources for families or for couples, but rarely do we hear of great teaching for single people. We put resources for them to use on our website which we email them about and recently have added some excellent material by Scott Croft about how different biblical dating is from modern dating. It's quite a long piece but it really is interesting, full of Biblical references and will certainly make you think about how you go about finding a soul mate and/or how you might encourage others in their search. Click here to read the article on our website.
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What is a soul mate?
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Soul mate. It's a commonly used phrase nowadays but what does it really mean?
Like so many words, it probably means different things to different people.
We found a useful series of 10 explanations on the website beliefnet.com that you might enjoy.
Click here to read them yourself.
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Extraordinary women, Extraordinary stories
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I was reading the paper this morning and came across an article that really made me think about my life, my reactions to it and more importantly how satisfied I am with it. It's by a very popular Roman catholic priest called Ronald Rolheiser, who is a member of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, and president of the Oblate School of Theology in San Antonio, Texas.
The bit that struck me initially was the story of a women who'd lived by a certain philosophy which was that we are happy only when we are grateful for what we have because then, and only then, will what we have be enough for us. Her perennial counsel to herself and her children was: It's enough!
There is much more in the article for pondering and I recommend it to you. Click here to read it in full. And do let us know what you think of it.
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Wit and Wisdom
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"You only have five true friends and the rest is landscape." Portuguese saying
"Silent gratitude isn't very much use to anyone." Gertrude Stein
"I feel sorry for the young, but I have some consoling words for them. Don't worry - you will get older." Tim Lott
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That's all for this edition,
We look forward to speaking to you soon,
With best wishes
Patricia
Patricia Gilliam friendsfirst Membership Manager
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