Ambassadors for a Better World Seattle 2016, a special program of learning, inspiration and sharing will take place at the University Presbyterian Church (UPC), Geneva B Room, Sunday, November 6, 2016, starting 11.45am.
Martha S. Weiss, Forum President; Tihomir Kukolja, ROM (Renewing Our Minds) Director; Justin Kagin, EDI (Economic Diplomacy and Integrity) Director; Allen Belton, Senior Partner, Reconciliation Ministries; Ken Kierstead, UPC Outreach Director; and Liviu Bocaniala, a well-known Romanian Christian musician will share the latest stories of grace and transformation in the lives of young leaders in Southeast Europe (Balkans) who have encountered Jesus through the ministry of Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation, and its leading projects ROM – Renewing Our Minds and EDI – Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum.
The special highlight of the program will be the sharing of transformational stories of refugees who took part in ROM and EDI gatherings in the summer of 2016. Having a group of refuges integrated in our 2016 summer projects was a mutual blessing to the refugees and everyone attending our leadership gatherings.
A special treat of the program will be the music interpreted by Liviu Bocaniala from Romania. Liviu will share some of his music and music of his close friends involved in the ministry of ROM and EDI over the past years.
We are looking forward to seeing you at UPC, Geneva B Room, Sunday, November 6, 2016, at 11.45am. Invite you friends. Your RSVP will help us to plan the evening even better.
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.
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 27th through the 29th.
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.
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
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, 10th – 13th
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.
Ahead
of us are two leading Forum programs in Fuzine, Croatia, EDI – Economic Diplomacy
and Integrity Forum, 13th – 27th July, and ROM – Renewing
our Minds Leadership and Reconciliation Gathering, 2nd – 17th
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.
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.
