This is What ROM is About

Since 2001 Allen Belton has been a speaker and mentor every summer at the ROM (Renewing Our Minds) Gathering which takes place in Fuzine, Croatia. Here is Allen’s brief report on the past summer ROM Gathering.

My time in Fuzine at the Renewing Our Minds Gathering 2014 was rich inspirational experience for me and everyone attending the gathering.

I would like to share one story that demonstrates that. It is about two young couples. Both couples were married just before ROM and both couples decided to come to ROM for their honeymoons. Shenaj and Erman Belegu are from Kosovo. Shenaj’s first time at ROM was in the summer of 2013 and she decided to bring her husband to the next ROM. When I asked her why they came to ROM for their honeymoon she said, “Because I don’t know of another place that has so much peace, that I can feel so comfortable and be myself. I wanted my husband to experience this place for himself.”

The other couple just married who came to ROM 2014 were Marko and Mateja Stupar, from Serbia. They have been part of ROM for a number of years. “ROM is our extended family and we wouldn’t miss it”, they said. They shared a joint wedding reception, together with Erman and Shenaj, at ROM Gathering 2014.

The remarkable thing is that not all is well between Serbia and Kosovo, and ROM is probably the only place in the recent history of Serbia and Kosovo, where one could witness two couples, one from Serbia and another one from Kosovo, celebrating their marriages together, in the same room.

This is what ROM is all about. Each person that experiences ROM is a change person. I am a changed person. ROM is a time to learn from one another, a powerful time of building relationships, learning about Jesus, a time to have our minds renewed and being challenged to home and make a difference.

As a speaker at ROM I felt that what God gave me to share with those present at the last ROM was well received, understood, appreciated with open minds and hearts. I had many one-on-one conversations, and God used me to help others see that Jesus loves them, and that in God’s eyes we are all ‘Designer Originals’.

Allen Belton, published by Balkan Task Force Newsletter, October 2014.

Human Dignity Means Responsibility

Leo van Doesburg, Director for European Affairs and Policy Advising of European Christian and Political Movement (ECPM) talks about ECPM and its views on dignity of human life, family values, gender equality, legalization of same sex marriages, euthanasia, prostitution, human trafficking, quality of life, religious freedom, difference between church and state, speaking Christina values into politics, meaning of freedom, peace building and reconciliation. Leo van Doesburg is External Affairs Manager for the European Christian Political Movement (ECPM), a European political party committed to promoting Christian Democratic values with its social expression in public life. He is actively involved in policy-making at various national and European institutions and has offered many trainings and courses on Christian Democracy, Freedom of Religion & Conscience, Family Values, Human Dignity and Peace & Reconciliation. In 2011 he was awarded the Conscience and Freedom Award for diligently promoting religious freedoms in Europe, in 2013 he was awarded in the recognition for the fight against Roma discrimination in East Europe by the International Romani Union. Leo van Doesburg and ECPM are our European partners. Time 28:08 min.

Baklava, Palacinke and Flowers

At the annual Croatian Fest on October 5^th, 2014 at the Seattle Center, the Balkan Task Force (BTF) made and sold 300 baklava, Croatian (aka Turskih) coffee, and hundreds of palacinke (Croatian pancakes).

This is the 5^th year that the BTF had the opportunity to raise funds and communicate with the public about the initiatives in Southeast Europe that it supports, and about Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation (Forum), recently formed non-profit organization involved with the Renewing Our Minds (ROM) ministry, Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum (EDI), and other reconciliation and leadership development activities in the region.

All the proceeds go to Forum and the Balkan Task Force. Generous donors provided the cost of ingredients. Many thanks go to all who helped with the baklava, palacinke making and selling.

Many thanks go to the many people who helped at the Balkan Task Force Annual Plant Sale fundraiser on June 7 in the parking lot area of the Wedgwood Presbyterian Church in Seattle. Many thanks to Smith Gardens Nursery in Bellingham for their generous donation of a truckload of beautiful plants for the sale, and to the Wedgwood Presbyterian Church for free use of their space.

Balkan Task force Newsletter, Seattle WA, October 2014.

Highlights 2014

As we are coming to the end of 2014 let’s enjoy watching these two videos highlighting the two main gatherings that took place in Fuzine, Croatia in July and August 2014, Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum (EDI) and Renewing Our Minds 2014 Leadership and Reconciliation Gathering.

Thank You for Your Partnership

Dear Friends,

We are looking back at the year 2014 with a sense of great satisfaction and gratitude. Your prayers and support is making a big difference in the quality and growth of our ministry. In 2014 we were able to go forward with four major leadership and reconciliation programs: Renewing Our Minds Gathering (ROM) and Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum (EDI) in Fuzine, Croatia; ForumRegathering on Fruska Gora near Novi Sad, Serbia; and EDI Transylvania in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.

Although our work is sixteen years old, since the time of our reorganization into a new organization, Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation at the end of 2011, we have witnessed a notable progress in the growth of our donor base. This is why we were confident to add every year a new content to our programs, especially aiming towards strengthening the follow-up and mentoring areas of our work in Southeast Europe.

In 2015 we are moving forward with the following projects and programs, with an added emphasis on the missional character of our work: Renewing Our Minds Gathering 2015 (ROM), leadership and reconciliation conference in Fuzine, Croatia; Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum 2015 (EDI), leadership conference for business professionals in Fuzine, Croatia; Middle East leadership and reconciliation seminar; Economic Diplomacy and Integrity seminars in Albania and Romania; Completing the process of establishing seven to eight regional representatives in the Balkans; Returning of Tihomir Kukolja and his family to Southeast Europe with a four-year commitment of service.

People like you, filled with a profound understanding of the need for the transforming work of Forum in the lives of the hundreds of young leaders internationally, are making our ministry possible. Thank you for partnering with us in the important ministry of reconciliation and development of leaders transformed by the person of Jesus. In the world that is becoming increasingly fragile our work is becoming increasingly important and needed.

We continue to need your support. Give us an opportunity to start the year 2015 well. Please consider giving at this time of Christmas. Your gifts and prayers are making a difference around the world. You may donate electronically by clicking on “Donate Now”.

May the Lord Jesus fill your hearts with joy at this Christmas Season.

Tihomir Kukolja, Executive Director, Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation
Martha S. Weiss, Chairwoman, Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation

Ambassadors for a Better World

Onehundred ROM and EDI alumni, together with their family members, from ten countries, celebrated together 16 years of the Renewing Our Minds (ROM) initiative and 8 years of Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum (EDI), formerly known as Economic and Diplomacy Seminar, at the 2014 Forum Regathering held on Fruška Gora near Novi Sad, Serbia, 10^th – 13^th October, 2014.

The 2014 Regathering was a time of learning, reflection and celebration of the history of ROM and EDI since 1999. In a special program reflecting on their history Stevo Dereta, the president of Life Center International in Croatia, ROM visionary and its cofounder, spoke about the early beginnings of ROM in the post-war years prior to 1999. Mihaita Lupu from Romania shared his experience of attending the ROM Gathering in 2001. Justin Kagin form USA and Milan Pavlovic from Serbia, cofounders of EDS, now EDI, talked about how ROM inspired the birth of Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum in 2006. Mihaela Kovacs from Romania, founder of EDI Transylvania, spoke about how two years ago the vision of EDI in Croatia inspired the birth of EDI Transylvania in Romania. Martha S. Weiss, the chairwoman of Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation (Forum) spoke about the origins and work of Forum, the organization that oversees and supports the activities of both, ROM and EDI since 2011. Maria van Oost, ECPM representative from The Netherlands welcomed the partnership between European Christian Political Movement (ECPM) and Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation (Forum).

Tihomir Kukolja, who has been serving the ROM initiative since the end of 2001 as its director, reflected on the early days of ROM when Vesna Tift and Drazen Glavas, its first directors, set the basic framework and strategy for ROM. He stated that reconciliation, peacemaking, leadership of service and integrity remain to be the key ingredients of ROM. “But it is the centrality of Jesus that has made ROM uniquely successful and genuinely transformative in the lives of its participants in all the years since 1999”, said Kukolja. He said also that ROM is changing too, not in its vision and spiritual focus but in its scope of services, in tune with the changing times and their challenges. He said, “We need to bare in mind that today we are beginning to receive among the ROM participants the children of those who attended ROM gatherings 15 or 16 years ago.”

The overarching theme of the Regathering was “Ambassadors for a Better World”.  Speakers and topics were well selected. They covered ethical leadership, ethics of reconciliation, integrity in economy, struggle against modern-day forms of slavery, and centrality of faith in Jesus in all spheres of leadership. Among the main speakers were Samuil Petrovski and Aleksandar Santrac from Serbia; Allen Belton, Justin Kagin and Jeremiah Collins from USA; Zefjan Nikolla from Albania; Jack Fallow and John Field from UK. The Regathering highlight was the presentation of Marko Stupar and Dobrila Pejin from Serbia, two outstanding activists involved in spreading the awareness about the evils of human trafficking in Serbia and the region.

In addition to the main annual events Renewing Our Minds Gathering (ROM) and Economic Diplomacy and integrity Forum (EDI), both held in Croatia for two weeks every summer; and recently developed project EDI Transylvania in Romania, and a new Middle East reconciliation project, every second year Forum organizes regatherings such as this one with the intention to bring together alumni that have attended its programs at different times since 1999. Some of the previous regatherings took place in Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo, Macedonia, Serbia and USA. The purpose of the entire spectrum of Forum activities, including regatherings, is recognized in its vision and mission statement: “Developing leaders transformed by the person of Jesus in a divided world.”

The 2014 Regathering was organized by Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation from Seattle, USA, in partnership with EUS – Association of Evangelical Students from Serbia, ECPM – European Christian Political Movement from The Netherlands, and LCI – Life Center International from Croatia.

As We Move into the Summer 2014

Ahead of us are two leading Forum programs in Fuzine, Croatia, EDI – Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum, 13^th – 27^th July, and ROM – Renewing our Minds Leadership and Reconciliation Gathering, 2^nd – 17^th August, 2014. Let’s be refreshed with the vision and objectives of Forum, ROM and EDI.

Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation is about advancing the Kingdom of God through development of leaders with noble, reconciled and serving characters, in tune with the teachings of and example of the person of Jesus. Forum’s mission is pursued through intentional, holistic, transformative and relational education, training, mentorship and coaching, as well as through development of serving and caring communities, and networking through strategic partnerships. Our vision is about developing leaders transformed by the person of Jesus in a divided world, and our two main initiatives are ROM – Renewing Our Minds and EDI – Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum.

Renewing Our Minds (ROM), an international reconciliation and leadership development initiative, with its roots in Southeast Europe (Balkans), has become a worldwide mission. ROM advocates forgiveness, reconciliation, peacemaking, loving one’s neighbor as oneself, integrity and leadership of service. It teaches young leaders how to embrace others and develop lasting friendships despite their religious, national and ethnic differences.  ROM is a mission that challenges paradigms and assumptions, refines the character of young leaders according to the teachings and example of the person of Jesus. For hundreds of young participants from 50 countries ROM has been life defining and life changing. Many alumni have emerged as leaders of influence, and are today making a difference in the political, social, humanitarian and religious arenas of their countries. A vision of ROM is about building communities through transformative leadership.

Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum (EDI) is built upon the leadership and peace-building principles of ROM to support the development of young professionals and students in the areas of economics, business and politics. EDI Forum believes that the best way to fight against corruption, greed and unhealthy rivalry between and within nations is to establish an economic and political community informed by the principles and character of Jesus.

Visit this place often during the summer months of 2014 for fresh updates about the progress of EDI in July and ROM in August. More to follow beyond the 2014 summer months.

Renewing Our Minds Highlights: Croatian TV Features ROM Gathering 2013

Renewing Our Minds Highlights: Croatian TV Features ROM Gathering 2013: On July 20 th and 21 st , 2013 Croatian TV (HRT) featured Renewing Our Minds Gathering 2013 in its weekly program “Spiritual Challenges...

Forum Video Update March 2014

ROM – Renewing Our Minds initiative is going strong after 15 years of its service to the young leaders of the Balkan region and the world. So are its sister initiative EDI – Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum, and our governing organization Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation. Together, for the year 2014 we have planned seven key projects that focus on reconciliation, peace building, and leadership development and mentoring – all of them firmly grounded in the teachings and example of the person of Jesus. Watch this video update to learn more.

Serving and Loving Children With Special Needs

Brett McMichael, a psychologist from New Jersey, USA and a member of the Executive Team of Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation, reflects on his life of service to children with special needs and young adults in Honduras, Romania and Croatia. Brett lived and served in Croatia for more than ten years, establishing camps for children fighting various kinds of illnesses, such as cancer, down syndrome, diabetes. Since 2004 Brett has also served as the core member of the leadership development and reconciliation initiative ROM – Renewing Our Minds that serves the entire Balkan region. Brett continues to serve with passion and compassion children with special needs and young adults despite having to face himself some health challenges in recent years. Brett shared his story at the end of ROM Gathering 2013 in Fuzine, Croatia. Time 9:23.