We Will Keep you Informed

Refugees at the Serbian - Hungarian Border. Photo: Milos Nikolic

At this time we would direct your attention to the following pages that will focus on trying to give you daily updates about the progress of the ROM Community Refugee Response initiative pursued in partnership with EUS, Serbia (IFES Serbia). These are: Ambassadors for a BetterWorld with the focus on community and quick information; Forum for Leadership andReconciliation web/blog with the focus on informing; and ROM Response Prayer Group with the focus on prayer.

ROM Community Response Appeal Follow-up

Refugees at the Serbian - Hungarian border. Photo: Milos Nikolic

Dear Friends,

It is in a good way overwhelming and exciting to watch how this initiative that was born just over a week ago is growing fast and strong. The words of Jesus: "When I was hungry you gave me something to eat..." (Matthew 25:35) are becoming fulfilled through your actions of kindness and generosity. Many of you have at this time put aside a number of other important things to focus for a while on our action "ROM Community Refugee Response".

Since our first ROM Refugee Day of Action in Belgrade, Serbia is only one week away - Friday, 18th September, and since we are addressing the global community of our friends, and since time is of the essence, allow me to follow up on our appeal by sharing a few more hints that might be helpful as you are at this time planning to give or/and get involved:

1. For our friends in Albania, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, and UK:

Please, check the names and contact details of your national coordinators, and contact them immediately to see how to pass on your donation to them. It is important that we complete the collection of funds and items in your countries by Tuesday afternoon, 15th September so that the timely transfer of donations may be organized. If you are planning to give a monetary donation remember that no amount is too small or too big. Give what you are able to give. I like the comments of some of you who told me: "ROM has given so much to me and now is the time for me to give something back".

Also, should we need to have a vehicle available to take a group of people or/and donated items from your country to Belgrade, let us and your country coordinators know as soon as possible if you can make your car and yourself available.

2. For our Friends in Other Countries:

The time was too short to organize national coordinators in your countries. We would like you to send your donation immediately, and no later than Tuesday, 15th September, directly to any of the accounts presented at the end of the appeal letter. Please mark it as "Golden Rule Project". If you would like to use some other method of sending us your donation please consult Mihaela Kovacs, Bojan Ruvarac or me first. It is important that the monetary donation you intend to give will reach us in Belgrade by Thursday, 17th September the latest.

3. Four our Friends in the US:

We are impressed and encouraged that since we launched our appeal yesterday among our friends in the US we have already been notified about the first group of donations. Please continue sending your donations by checks or electronically to The Antioch Partners as specified at the end of the appeal letter. Your checks need to be noted as "Forum - Project Golden Rule". Since time is of the essence please send us your donation immediately, or by Tuesday, September 15 the latest. Please also, notify any of our US coordinators by an independent email as soon as you have submitted your donation. 

4. For Those Planning to Come to Belgrade and Serve the Refugees on Friday, 18th September:

We are looking for a dedicated group of friends who are passionate about helping the refugees. If you are planning to come we would need to know you are coming by Monday night, 14th September, in order to organize an accommodation for you in timely manner. We are not able to receive the last minute registrations. If you are coming we are expecting you to arrive to Belgrade on Thursday afternoon, 17th September. As soon as we know who is coming and the exact number we will send you all other arrival and accommodation information.

5. Praying for the ROM Community Refugee Response action and the Day of Action in Belgrade:

Let us also give through prayer, and thus become a big prayer team. This is an important action and our contribution to the softening of the current refugee crisis in Europe that seems to be growing by each new day. Let us pray for a bigger picture too, that the Lord may move the hearts and minds of people of the European governments to find a suitable and humane solution for the hundreds of thousands unfortunate people who are seeking a safe place where they could build their new homes. Let us pray also that the witness of Jesus may shine through our action, however modest it might be if compared with the magnitude of the challenge. And, indeed let us pray for everyone who will come to Belgrade to serve, as well as for those who are already on the streets and in the fields of Serbia, Macedonia and Hungary helping the refugees in many ways.

May I also take this opportunity to thank EUS (IFES) Serbia; Samuil Petrovski, EUS Director, and ADRA Serbia for letting us do this action if partnership with them.

Finally, join our FB ROM Response Prayer Group and see our regular updates about the refugee situations in Serbia.

Love you all. May the Lord bless you abundantly.

Tihomir Kukolja

Renewing our Minds, Director

Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation, Executive Director

+1-281-515-3707

PS: Please visit often the following pages for timely updates too:

http://forumforleadership.blogspot.com/

https://www.facebook.com/forumforleadership

https://www.facebook.com/ambassadorsforbetterworld

European Refugee Crisis – Call to Action

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

_______________________________

International Coordinators Contact Details:

Albania:

Edlira Cepani, edliracepani@yahoo.com

Zefjan Nikolla, zefjan@gmail.com

Bosnia-Herzegovina:

Nera Cosic, nera.cosic@gmail.com

Adi Tanovic, adi.tanovic@gmail.com

Minela Pervanovic, minela.pervanovic@gmail.com

Croatia:

Tena Zganec, tena.zganec8@gmail.com

Margareta Mihalic, margareta_mihalic@yahoo.com

Romania:

Mihaela Kovacs, kmihaela_as@yahoo.com

Aurora Martin, maurora.osaka@gmail.com

Adrian Moldovan, adrian_agro@yahoo.com

Serbia and Montenegro:

Samuil Petrovski, samuil.petrovski@gmail.com

Bojan Ruvarac, ruvarac@gmail.com

Marko Stupar, markostupar88@gmail.com, 

Stefan Nikolic, nstefn91@gmail.com

UK:

Heather Nicola Staff, h_n_staff@yahoo.co.uk

Ali Ussery, ussery@onetel.com

US:

Tihomir Kukolja, tihomir07@msn.com

Matt Rejmaniak, mrejmaniak@aim.com

Martha S. Weiss, ms_weiss@hotmail.com

More coordinators might be added soon. 

Telephone numbers and bank details available upon request.

ROM 2015 Photo Album

ROM 2015 Photo Album: Renewing Our Minds Gathering 2015 – ROM 2015, August 1 - 16, Fuzine, Croatia. Several outstanding features make this ROM stand out in a special way. The first one was the outstanding quality of the group. This was a very much engaging group. Our small groups demonstrated this well. Although small groups are given 1.30 hours a day on average to meet, they would all meet for two hours, even longer, eagerly discussing the daily themes and questions. The second outstanding feature was the high quality of speakers and engaging nature of presented materials from the very first day to the last. This summer almost 50% of our speaking corpus were ladies. The third outstanding feature was the quality of prayerful support witnessed every day at ROM 2015. A vibrant and sizable prayer group met every day at 7am, before all the other daily activities would start, to pray for the participants and the team, and all daily activities to follow. These few sentences and over 300 pictures presented here (out of 1600 photos) are only beginning to tell the story of ROM 2015. 

EDI 2015 Photo Album

Get a glimpse of the EDI 2015 experience as you visit this photo album

EDI 2015: Miracles in Sun-Scorched Lands

Visit the EDI 2015 Photo Album

1 Kings 17:16 For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.

At EDI (Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum) rain poured out in Fuzine, Croatia.  It poured out on the participants and the team of EDI 2015.  This was not a literal rain but a spiritual rain that God gave to all of us who attended these 11 days together this July in Fuzine, Croatia.

The current reality of our countries cannot be glossed over; all are experiencing some types of crisis.  For the majority of participants and team coming from Southeast Europe a recession with no end in sight has gripped their countries.  The happiest thoughts of the young people are to flee to a Western country (this were the actual desires of several participants when they first arrived at EDI).  Although this is not necessarily bad for them, what about the countries they would leave behind?  Will they continue to be dried up, sun-scorched lands?  Even prosperous Western countries like the US and Norway, two other countries represented this year at EDI, have their own cultural, financial and spiritual crises.  At EDI we did not gloss over these realities but neither did we let them determine our present and our future.

God impressed us during the days of EDI 2015 that we will be those who hold the rains of blessing, the joy, the flour and oil that will not run dry no matter what happens to the surrounding around us.  We are the “7000 that will not bow our knees” (1. Kings 19:18) to circumstances and the winds and ways of the world, but are emboldened by Jesus and his principles to make a difference together.  To bless our nations financially, culturally, and spiritually acting out the principles of Jesus together, determined to speak, walk, act, and love differently.

At EDI we were encouraged and taught by well selected professionals in business, economics and politics.  Robert Maricak, former CEO of General Grafik in Croatia, encouraged us to avoid corruption, to pay our taxes, be people of integrity, to be entrepreneurs and take risks.  Eimert van Middlecoop, former minister of defense in the Netherlands, taught us about the values and traditions of Jesus that can be brought into politics. Samuilo Petrovski, National Director at IFES for Serbia and Montenegro, spoke on leadership and diplomacy.  Gerti Bogdani, an Albanian politician, reiterated that we can have the miracles of peace in the midst of storms, with God fighting on our behalf.  Others that filled our jars were Jack Fallow, former CEO of UK Gasforce, who spoke about maintaining the flow in our work life and through literature from authors such as Plato and Tolstoy taught us what it means to be people of integrity. 

Experts discussed relevant issues facing our countries.  Mihaela Kovacs, Director of Fundatia Baraca Sighisoara in Romania, Margareta Mihalic, project manager at Autonomous Centre (ACT) in Croatia, and Andrey Ivanov, Head of sector, Roma and Migrants integration at European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights, taught us about the Roma situation in Europe using practical examples of reconciliation and love.  We also addressed the discrimination and empowerment of women, and the current waves of media manipulation. The later was addressed by Tihomir Kukolja, BBC trained radio broadcaster. Through it all we were given hope. 

Thanks goes to Drazen Glavas, Head of ET!K, a Croatian company committed to Education, Training and Kommunication (communication), and Camelia Popa, artist who also runs an art school in Romania.  They helped us explore our gifts and talents and we learned to write out and live our life goals as well as express who we are in art.  And through the second annual EDI creative competition, participants presented visions of change for their countries and committed to practical solutions for bringing hope to our nations.  For the team, who were previously EDI participants, EDI held its first series of advanced EDI courses where they could continue to grow through private mentoring designed especially for them.

In small groups, recreational trips to the Adriatic coast and conversations during breaks, participants and team members dialogued about our lives and cared for each other with sincerity and depth.  People were open about their difficulties as well as their joys, dreams and visions for their own lives, their communities, their countries and the world.  It was a time of refreshing and inspiration for all of us. 

By the end of this forum I felt that I had been amongst amazing men and women that will be God-made miracles in their sun-scorched lands, bringing rain where there is none.

Justin Kagin, EDI Director

We Need Your Support

Dear Family of Friends,

Thank you for your continuing prayers and support. They are 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 Fužine, Croatia, Forum Regathering in Fruška Gora near Novi Sad, Serbia, and EDI Transylvania in Sighisoara, Romania; as well as the continuation of our on-going Regional Representative support for participants across Southeast Europe (Balkans).

Although our ROM work is in its 17^th year, since we reorganized into the new Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation organization three years ago, we have witnessed a notable progress in our donor base. Because of this and thanks to your support we were able to complete the year 2014 achieving almost 100% of our set goals for the year. In 2015, with your help, we are moving forward with the following projects and programs:

1. Renewing Our Minds Gathering 2015 (ROM), leadership and reconciliation gathering in Fužine, Croatia;

2. Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum 2015 (EDI), leadership conference for business professionals in Fužine, Croatia.

3. Middle East Leadership and Reconciliation Seminar “Building Peace Through Friendship” in Jordan.

4. Economic Diplomacy and Integrity seminars in Albania and Romania.

5. Completion of the process of establishing seven to eight regional representatives in the Balkan region.

Mihaela Kovacs speaks at the 2014 Forum Regathering, Serbia

People like you understand the profound need for the transformational work in the lives of the hundreds of young leaders internationally. Thank you for partnering with us in this important ministry of reconciliation and development of leaders transformed by the person of Jesus. Our work is becoming increasingly more important and is desperately needed in a world that is becoming more and more fragile and in need of peace.

We continue to need your continued support. Help us reach our objectives for the year 2015. Your gifts and prayers are making a difference around the world.

May the Lord Jesus fill your heart and the hearts of your family with joy and abundant blessings!

Martha S. Weiss, Chairwoman, Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation

Tihomir Kukolja, Executive Director, Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation

Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum Moves to Albania

Photos: Ona Eri 

The first EDI - Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forumin Albania was a big success. Inspired by the long history of EDI Forum in Croatia and a more recent history of EDI seminars in Romania, EDI Albania went about creating a true movement of change. 

80 participants from business, economy, politics, education, law, engineering and other areas of Albanian society joined together to speak about principles of Jesus in business and economy, and how one could follow Jesus in the environment of widespread corruption.  The Forum took lasted for two and a half days in the Hotel Doro City, Tirana; from March 27^th through the 29^th.

The 2015 EDI Albania sought to encourage participants to follow Jesus closely in their businesses and professional lives. Erjona Kulla from Tirana directed EDI Albania in partnership with the Christian Young Entrepreneurs & Professionals Partnership for Integrity, ECPM – European Christian Political Movement, the Wilberforce Foundation, Sotmeria, NeJ Foundation, and the SGP Party of the Netherlands, as well as with Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation from USA.

Participants were encouraged by Jack Fallow, former CEO of UK Gas Force; Lars Rise, ex-MP of Norway; Maria van Oost, SGP General Secretary, and local speakers who gave professional advice and taught from the perspective of Jesus. Participants were eager to discuss the presentation in small groups and workshops. They discussed about how to follow Jesus outside the church walls - in their careers, politics and business. A follow-up meeting is planned for May 22, and then other follow-ups, one every three months.

Justin Kagin, EDI Forum Director

Defeating the Evil of Human Trafficking

Marko Stupar is a member of the ROM (Renewing Our Minds) core group in Southeast Europe and Forum (Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation) Regional Representative for Serbia; as well as the member of the EUS (IFES Serbia) leadership team. He is also a vocal activist against human trafficking in Serbia and the Balkans (Southeast Europe). In this interview, given to Tihomir Kukolja at the beginning of February 2015, Marko Stupar shares an informative overview of the reality of aggressive presence of human slavery and trafficking in Serbia, the Balkans and the world today. Time 10:25.

In Houston February 25

Welcome to the Presentation "Ambassadors for a Better World"

Parlor, Wednesday, February 25, 2015. Starting 6:30 pm.

Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church (MDPC), 11612 Memorial Drive, Houston, TX 77024

Stories of peacemaking, forgiveness and reconciliation from the Balkans, via Ukraine to Middle East. 

Photo:

One hundred participants from eleven countries attended the 2014 Forum Regathering in October 2014, Fruska Gora, Serbia.

Dear Friends,

Renewing Our Minds (ROM), a ministry of Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation (Forum), celebrated recently sixteen years of its service. Over the years it helped shape the lives of the hundreds of young leaders from the Balkans to Ukraine and beyond, many of whom are now serving in prominent and senior leadership positions in their countries.

In the year 2014 our ministry had its leadership and reconciliation programs in Croatia, Serbia and Romania. In 2015 we are planning to add a new project in Albania, have our second take in the Middle East, and provide a special place for a group of participants from Ukraine, Russia and Moldova. This will take place at our next Renewing Our Minds Leadership and Reconciliation Gathering in August, in Croatia. Guided by the leadership of Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation and your partnership we have been blessed with an amazing growth of our ministry over the past several years.

Come and listen to the accounts of transformation and success that only God can bring into the lives of young leaders from many countries that are involved in our programs. Hear also about the plans to reach our next landmark - twenty years of the transformational service of the Renewing Our Minds reconciliation and leadership development ministry that continues to focus faithfully on peace building, reconciliation, leadership development and following Jesus. Our vision and mission continues to grow strong: “Developing leaders transformed by the person of Jesus in a divided world.”

Our theme for the evening will be "Ambassadors for a Better World". Presenters will be: Tihomir Kukolja, Renewing Our Minds Director, and Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation, Executive Director, and MDPC missionary; Jeremiah Collins, MDPC High School Outreach Director; Matt Rejmaniak, MDPC Elder and serving on the Global Outreach Committee; and Matt Hammon, a professional musician and artist from Houston. Jeremiah, Matt and Matt have over the past few years served in the ROM facilitation teams too. 

This is an exciting time for the ministry of ROM as we try to reach young leaders of the world with the love of Jesus across various ethnic, racial and religious dividing lines. We believe you should know about it. It will be an honor to see you on Wed Feb 25, at 6:30 pm, Parlor, Memorial Presbyterian Church. Bring a friend too.

Tihomir Kukolja, Executive Director, Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation

Photos taken at the "Ambassadors for a Better World" evening, February 25, 2015 at Memorial Drive Presbyterian Church, Houston