Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation: European Refugee Crisis

Dear Family of Friends,

The refugee crisis in Europe, not witnessed on the European continent since the years of the Second World War, has moved the ROM (Renewing our Minds) community worldwide to action of empathy and compassion. Many have been asking the question “What shall we do to help and thus demonstrate the true spirit of ROM, which is the spirit of Jesus of Nazareth?” Many have been saying over the past few days: “Give us a direction what to do and you can count on us!”

In response to a great need at this time, and being aware that time is of the essence at this moment, Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation (Forum) is now inviting all friends of ROM and friends of EDI (Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum) to join us in the 2015 ROM Community Refugee Response (RCRR) action. We are calling you to the urgent and generous sacrifice of love, compassion, giving, time and prayer as we are planning our first ROM Refugee Day of Action, in Belgrade, Serbia on Friday, 18^th September, 2015, in partnership with EUS Serbia (IFES – International Fellowship of Evangelical Students Serbia) and ADRA (Adventist Development and Relief Agency) Serbia.

This is what we would like you to do urgently, over the next several days leading to the ROM Refugee Day of Action:

Monetary Donations:

1. We would prefer monetary donations. We would use your monetary donation to purchase in Serbia the most essential items that would be of help to the refugees. In cooperation with ADRA Serbia and EUS we are putting together the list of items that are at this time essential for the survival of the refugees who are arriving by thousands each new day to Serbia. Please, send your donation immediately to one of the three bank accounts presented at the end of this letter (more might be added soon).

2. If you would prefer giving a cash donation, please consider giving your cash donation in the next few days to the RCRR Coordinator nearest to you. The list of our RCRR coordinators in different countries, and their essential contact details are presented at the end of this appeal.

3. You are welcome to invite your family members, friends and church communities to give. All cash donations need to be given to the RCRR coordinator nearest to you.

Donations of Items (Europe Only):

4. If you would like to donate an item we would encourage you to donate either a pair or more of walking shoes, or a sleeping bag. Do not donate any food or other perishable items. Those will be purchased in Belgrade a day before the ROM Refugee Day of Action. Please give your gifts of walking shoes and sleeping bags to the RCRR coordinator nearest to you by Wednesday, 16^th September 2015. If you are able to join our action but you are able to give other kinds of donations for the refugee action, please contact us first for further consultations.

Join us in Belgrade if You Can

5. The focus of our first refugee response is Belgrade, Serbia, since Serbia is witnessing the heaviest load of refugees at this time. On Friday, 18^th September our coordinators will get together in Belgrade for a day of action. Alongside our partnering organizations we will be involved in the distribution of collected and purchased donations, and make ourselves available to the refuges in the service of love and kindness.

Let us know if you are able to do any of the following: Make your car or a van available to bring the collected and donated items to Belgrade, or/and join us in Belgrade for the day of action. Please, indicate your availability to our refugee project director, Mihaela Kovacs; or Bojan Ruvarac, our key logistics coordinator; and to the coordinators nearest to you. We need this information as soon as possible in order to be able to organize your stay in Belgrade in cooperation with EUS Serbia.

Calendar

This is the calendar we will follow:

Wednesday, 9^th September: ROM Community Refugee Response (RCRR) starts.

Wednesday afternoon, 16^th September: All collections will be completed.

Thursday, 17^th September: Arrival to Belgrade.

Friday, 18^th September: Day of Action. Might also include Saturday if necessary.

Please, feel free to contact us with further questions. We are also welcoming your suggestions.

Also contact the following links for regular updates about this action: http://forumforleadership.blogspot.com and https://www.facebook.com/ambassadorsforbetterworld

“Who knows whether you have not come to this place for such a time as this”, are very well known words of the Bible. This is the time when ROM community and our friends are called to respond with loving hearts and swiftness to a great need.

Will you join us? We count on you! We are available to you to hear from you today, tomorrow and in the days immediately ahead of us. Please, consider the important contact and banking information at the end of this appeal.

Thank you and may God bless you.

Tihomir Kukolja

Renewing Our Minds, Director, tihomir07@msn.com

Mihaela Kovacs

RCRR Project Director, kmihaela_as@yahoo.com

Bojan Ruvarac

RCRR Logistics Coordinator, ruvarac@gmail.com

Justin Kagin

Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum, Director, justin.kagin@gmail.com

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International Coordinators Contact Details:

Albania: