It was October 4th 2011 when JWsurvey published its first ever blog post – a simple “Welcome” page put up by our webmaster, John Hoyle.
Since then we have gone on to amass 100 posts/articles, 340 subscribers, and over 4,000 comments. And over the last month we received over 52,000 unique visits – our busiest spell ever!
Of course, the main purpose of this website is not the articles (as much as I enjoy writing them!) – but the global survey. The survey is our way of “giving a voice to the silent majority” of thinking Witnesses who are otherwise deprived of the opportunity to share any dissenting opinions – and this too is steadily gathering momentum.
Our first 2011 survey gathered 1,118 votes. The follow-up in 2012 amassed 1,488 votes. And so far the 2013 survey is on over 1,260 votes with just under three months still to go!
As we pass this important milestone, thoughts are already turning to the next two years and beyond. How can we improve this website, and attract even more voters and readers?
One way is by connecting more with our visitors, and giving them ways to get involved. With this in mind I have set up a new “Get Involved” page (on the top menu), which spells out a number of areas in which we welcome and appreciate your help.
For example, we have published two PDF flyers that can be downloaded, printed and distributed. One flyer entitled “10 Questions For Jehovah’s Witnesses To Consider” is written exclusively with JW readers in mind. The other, “Why Jehovah’s Witnesses Need Your Help,” is intended to help raise awareness of the harm being caused by Watchtower among non-JWs. Both flyers point the reader to this website and JWfacts.com for further information.
We are also exploring ways of improving JWsurvey by allowing people to fund this website and its activities. A financial plan has been drawn up that identifies key areas where investment is welcome. I’m delighted to confirm that two of these areas have already received funding! This means that we now have our domain registration and hosting paid for the next 3 years, and we are investing in a new SurveyMonkey.com package to host the 2014 global survey. These are important improvements that would not have been possible without the generosity of our readers.
Less important funding priorities include (1) investment in equipment and software for producing better quality videos, and (2) investment in paid adverts on Facebook and Google to attract more Witness readers. But with a brand new survey to look forward to in 2014 and our website costs paid for the next three years, I am more than content with the improvements made thus far.
Before this article becomes too self-congratulatory and solipsistic, I had better leave it there! Suffice it to say we are extremely grateful to all our readers and supporters for helping us get to where we are over such a relatively short period – and we will continue to strive to make this website and its content worthy of your attention.
Gee, I wonder what Cedars looks like when he gets excited?
Just a quick thank you note from Candace and I letting you know how much we appreciate all you have done to help us expose the Watchtower’s pedophile and bad child abuse policy. Like Candace said during her panel discussion at the RNA conference, it is you the journalists and media that help get the story out there to the public for all abuse victims regardless of what religion victims suffered child abuse in. Looking forward to seeing what you have in store for your readers in the months and years ahead.
Congratulation Cedars from Spain!
Thank you very much for this site.
Congratulations !
There are many JWs awakening to TTATT , thanks to the efforts of courageous persons like you.
Please keep up the good work. ..
Congratulations, Cedars! This is great news. I am confident we will contribute to the end to the damaging beliefs and practices of the Watchtower organization very soon by our continuously exposing their flawed policies to the public.
Keep up the good work. I’m sure you’ll get even more interest as there are additional lawsuits filed and more former Witnesses gaining the courage to participate and even start their own sites and blogs. I noticed recently that the Wikipedia page for Witnesses includes additional info under the “controversy” section, so there is more truth being revealed every day. TEAM CANDACE!
Čestitam mnogima si pomogao da razmisljaju logično. I da počnu razmišljati svojom od boga danom savjesti.
Thank you Cedars. Much love.
Thanks for all your awesome research and hard work.
I have already printed several copies of your flyers. Do you have any pointers, for getting a JW to accept the question page? I live 3 miles from the local assembly hall, and would love to get these into any open hands this weekend for the special meeting.
Hey Faithful Witness, that was quick! I would play things by ear when offering to JWs. Definitely don’t offer the flyer to pairs of JWs because they are more likely to reject it – but a JW on his own, preferably out of eyesight of others, might be tempted. You could also consider leaving copies on car windshields provided it isn’t illegal to do so where you live.
Possible intro… “You probably don’t have any doubts about Watchtower, but many do. This leaflet explains why – here’s your copy.” If anyone has any other suggested intros, feel free to post these in the comments!!
Happy Birthday !!!
Congrats to you and I look forward to many more years for you. Thank You for providing a balanced view without bitterness with only a attempt at helping JW’S see more clearly. I had read the last chapter of Raymond Franz book “In search of Christian Freedom” and I thought of you and how you are not bitter after the fact but just want to sincerely help honest hearted individual type thinking people. Its all about progression and leaving the past behind. Why would anyone want to waste anymore time that was lost to such a over controlling religion. Instead defend what the bible says and leave it at that. After all isn’t Gods word the ultimate authority!! Good Luck and go celebrate with a nice dinner.
Really, a very good site for all.
From France too
Neka se zna ISTINA, pa makar kakva ona bila. Pozdrav
iz Zagreba – Croatia
Valeu Cedars sempre acompanhando aqui do Brasil!
Your efforts are appreciated
Christian Sparlock Freedom (Facebook)
Thank You Cedars , this is a great website, I appreciate your work.
Cedars,
You were instrumental in helping our family. I stumbled across your site around 9 months ago when I understand you found a way to place it next to jw.org. It was a fabulous idea thank you very much.
However, about getting involved and donating, personally I want to help your family as much as you have helped mine, but we have been hurt and abused by an organisation for many years. Hence trusting others, disclosing our identity can be a challenge for some.
My daughter did come on your site and read an article, she is sceptical about your motives at the moment and doesn’t want to help out. I am so sorry Cedars, maybe in time she will read more and find your articles as credible as I do.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! oooopps we don’t celebrate birthdays :-(
What a milestone and the great accomplishments you have done toward JWs with the surveys and well balanced articles.
Thank you so much for your efforts and sacrifices.
Jamie
cedars,
Is there any way to view all of a users posts here? would be a great feature to add.
Just a sugg, of course.