They Were Loving Each Other Despite Their Differences

A Story of ROM

Author:

Mark Casey

Trac5 – A Bold Path to Peace

Director of Education and Programs

Speaker at Renewing Our Minds Gathering 2009

I’ve just returned from a 10-day speaking engagement in Croatia. The event is called ROM which stands for 'Renewing Our Minds.' It was a young leadership event that focuses primarily on the Balkan countries, but draws from around the world. There were 15 countries represented in the eclectic gathering representing diverse religious backgrounds ranging from Catholic, Orthodox, Evangelical, Atheist and Muslim.

I felt privileged to share with this group of sharp emerging leaders that included those who lost family members in the Balkan wars, children of elected officials and ambassadors, Palestinians, a gypsy and even a Member of Parliament for a Balkan state. Everyone who attended the gathering knew we were going to discuss reconciliation and leadership based on the example of Jesus of Nazareth. I was blown away by the interaction particularly in our small groups.

After I taught in one of the main sessions on how Jesus is represented in both the Bible and the Qur’an, it stirred up some interesting discussion. I looked across on the sofa at three women sitting side-by-side in my small group as they shared their stories. The first was a Turkish Muslim woman who had to flee Turkey because of death threats on her mother’s life after a brief political career. She lives her faith out visibly by the way she dresses and covers, and these are outward symbols of a deep conviction that she lives out daily through devotion to prayer and modesty. The next woman on the couch was an Irish Protestant who dated a Pakistani Muslim seriously for seven years before calling it off because of religious differences. She spoke graciously of the man, but felt deep in her heart that they were in very different places with their respective faiths and the relationship could not continue. The third woman was a Bosnian Christian who told the story of how she grew up in a Muslim family. At a young age she was drawn to the person of Jesus and so she began learning from an older lady who spoke beautifully of Jesus. Though her father died during the war, she told a happy story of how her whole family now follows Jesus.

Here were three different ladies from three different parts of the world who were as different as they could be, but at this moment in time as they shared their heartfelt stories they were relating to each other around the person of Jesus Christ. They did not all share the same views, but they were talking and they loved each other despite their differences. What amazing Kingdom work God allowed me to be a part of in the beautiful country of Croatia.

Mark Casey, USA, Director of Education and Programs, Trac5 – A Bold Path to Peace

EDI – ECONOMIC DIPLOMACY AND INTEGRITY FORUM THIS SUMMER

Building an Economic, Business and Political Community On the Principles of Jesus

Economic Diplomacy and Integrity (EDI) is a new initiative designed to support the development of young professionals and students in the areas of economics, business and politics which are based in the life and teachings of Jesus. We believe that the best way to fight against unhealthy rivalry among and within nations is to establish an economic and political community based on the principles of Jesus. 

EDI was established on the foundations of the 13-year peace building initiative Renewing our Minds (ROM) and later the 5 years of the Economic Diplomacy Seminar (EDS).  ROM evolved out of the need to heal relationships among ethnic groups after the wars in Southeast Europe applying Jesus’ principles as a platform for establishing friendship, forgiveness, reconciliation and lasting peace in the region.  From 2006-2011, the Economic Diplomacy Seminar (EDS) hosted over 200 participants, continuing where ROM left off, by adding economic and diplomatic principles.

This summer EDI is planning to invite 25 participants, and 15 staff and instructors for series of lectures, seminars, workshops and mentoring events.  Participants will be selected based on recognized leadership in their communities and recommendations of those involved with the program.

The program will be led by Justin Kagin, Director of Economic Diplomacy and Integrity, Leo van Doesburg, East European Representative of the European Christian Political Movement (ECPM), Tihomir Kukolja, Executive Director of the Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation (FLR) and ROM, Mihaela Kovac, Director of Baraca, and the executive team from FLR.

RDI objectives are: a) To engage young professionals and students (ages 18-35) primarily from the Balkan region; b) To facilitate the formation of new business plans and projects and assist in their implementation by developing a plan, working on logistics, and creating a network of support; c) To support professional networks by connecting current participants with former participants, and leaders in EDI and ROM; d) To practically apply the principles of Jesus through regional and community outreach of various kinds; and e) To highlight successful leaders in the region and create a space for them to share and invest themselves in a new generation of leaders.

The 2012 program content will include international speakers and seminars; small groups and mentors; workshops; field trips, and social events.

Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum 2012 will take place in Fuzine, Croatia, July 31 – August 11, 2012.

Introducing ROM - Renewing Our Minds

Since 1999, ROM has been encouraging young leaders in Southeast Europe and around the world to adopt a new paradigm – one of forgiveness, reconciliation, peacemaking and humanity, shaped in the image of God. ROM is an intentional community where loving one’s neighbor, and leadership with integrity and service are taught and practiced, and where all teaching is rooted in the person of Jesus Christ. Many who have attended ROM in the past have become leaders of influence in their own countries, or have founded new socially transformative movements and organizations.

ROM is designed as a two or three week transformational gathering to which young leaders from the polarized Balkan region are invited to learn to accept each other and develop lasting friendships, despite their religious, national and ethnic differences. Participants attending ROM often say that a time spent in an intentional community of diverse people, often previously considered enemies, is a life-defining experience. ROM has become a meeting place appreciated by Orthodox Christians, Catholics, Protestants, Muslims, agnostics and atheists. To date, hundreds of young leaders from over 50 countries have attended ROM gathering. That has inspired the creation of numerous other movements, NGOs, organizations and socially transformative groups.

In 2012, the Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation, in partnership with Life Center International, Croatia, is planning the 13^th international ROM Gathering in Fuzine, Croatia.  It is expected that about sixty young leaders from up to 20 countries will take part in a two-week journey of learning and empowerment to become effective leaders equipped to forgive, lead in the process of reconciliation, and make a difference in their communities through sacrificial service and example. The ROM Gathering 2012 has a two-fold purpose: to help build a reconciled, transformed and connected community of leaders with integrity in Southeast Europe, and to mentor young leaders beyond the Balkans in setting new leadership and reconciliation initiatives in other parts of the world. A group of twenty experienced facilitators and speakers will lead the gathering.

Since 1999, ROM’s home has been in Fuzine, Croatia, a charming and friendly town, situated among the mountain peaks, lakes, caves and breathtaking forests of Gorski Kotar, only a short distance from the Adriatic Coast. The Gorski Kotar Region in Croatia has a history of advancing peace and reconciliation. During the wars of the 1990s, Gorski Kotar was the only region in Croatia populated by Croats and Serbs, that was spared the conflict thanks to the deliberate effort of local leaders on both sides to keep the peace and maintain good relationships between the two communities.

Renewing Our Minds 2012 Gathering will take place in Fuzine, Croatia, July 14 – July 29, 2012.

International Programs in 2012

ROM - Renewing Our Minds Gathering 2012

Investing in a New Generation of Leaders

Fuzine, Croatia, July 13 – 29, 2012

Since 1999, ROM has been encouraging young leaders in Southeast Europe and around the world to adopt a new paradigm – one of forgiveness, reconciliation, peacemaking, and humanity, shaped in the image of God. ROM is an educational community where loving one’s neighbor, and integrity of leadership and service are taught and practiced, anchored in the example of Jesus Christ. This summer, 60 participants from nearly 20 countries will attend the ROM Gathering 2012; from the Balkans, Eastern Europe, Africa, the EU and the USA. Many young leaders who attended past ROM gatherings have since become leaders of influence in their own countries, or founders of new socially-engaged movements or organizations. The ROM Gathering 2012 has a two-fold purpose – to build a reconciled, transformed and connected community of leaders in Southeast Europe, and to train leaders in establishing new ROM projects in other parts of the world.

EDI - Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum 2012

Building an Economic and Business Community On the Principles of Jesus

Fuzine, Croatia, August 5 – 19, 2012

Economic Diplomacy and Integrity (EDI) Forum is a program designed to support the development of young professionals and students in the areas of economics, business and politics, based on the life and teachings of Jesus. EDI builds on the rich experience of ROM, and since 2006 has hosted over 200 participants. This summer, forty young business leaders from 15 countries will learn how to develop new business plans and projects, build professional networks, become successful leaders in their countries, and ways to practically apply the principles of Jesus to economics, business and politics. EDI Forum 2012 program will include ten professional lecturers, small groups let by experienced facilitators, workshops, field trips and more.

ROM/EDI Reunion 2012

Serving God’s Purpose in Our Generation

Ohrid, Macedonia, September 27 – October 1, 2012

The SE European ROM/EDI Reunion builds on the tradition of past ROM reunions designed to connect and engage multiple generations of ROM and EDI participants for the purpose of follow-up, and mutual sharing and learning. Since their first encounter with ROM and EDI, many alumni have become experienced leaders with influence, and they are now ready to share their experiences by encouraging and engaging others in new ways of serving their communities. This is also the time for a renewed spiritual emphasis on the person of Jesus Christ, his teachings and example. In the past, such events were held in Croatia, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Serbia, Kosovo and Macedonia. This autumn we are expecting 100 young leaders from throughout the Balkans, Eastern Europe and beyond, to come to Ohrid, Macedonia for this strategic cross-generational ROM and EDI gathering.

Follow us for more information about each of those amazing gatherings soon. For more information you may write to info@learecforum.org

Welcome to Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation

Photo: Seattle WA, January 24, 2012. Some of the members of the FRL Board of Directors and Executive Team working on the FRL incorporation documents.

A new umbrella organization, the Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation (FLR), was formed in November 2011 in the US and is now poised to take the Renewing Our Minds (ROM) and Economic Diplomacy and Integrity (EDI) to a new level. During the past several years, new regions of the world, also in great need of reconciliation and leadership with integrity, are now ready for the ROM experience. God willing, in 2013 and 2014 we are planning to initiate leadership and reconciliation projects, based upon the teachings of Jesus, in Eastern Europe beyond the Balkans, on the African continent and in the Middle East.

Thus, the Forum builds on the vision of ROM, to advance the Kingdom of God by nurturing international leaders of noble, forgiving, reconciled and serving hearts, in tune with the person of Jesus. The Forum will pursue this mission through holistic, transformative and relational education, training and mentorship; as well as the advancement of caring and serving communities. We believe that God, who has embraced the entire human family in Jesus Christ on the cross, is likewise commissioning his followers to embrace their fellow men and women, friends and enemies across ethnic, national, racial, geographical, cultural, religious and political divides.

Welcome to the blog service of Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation. Visit our blog often for more exciting news in the coming days and weeks.

Tihomir Kukolja

Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation Executive Director

Seattle WA