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.

OUR FOCUS AT THIS TIME

Renewing our Minds (ROM) initiative is an international movement of young leaders, with the roots in Southeast Europe (Balkans), that teaches young leaders how to embrace each other and develop lasting friendships despite their religious, national and ethnic differences. For the past fourteen years ROM has been encouraging young Balkan leaders to adopt a new paradigm – one of forgiveness, reconciliation, peacemaking, humanity created in the image of God, loving one’s neighbor as oneself, and leadership of integrity

There are four areas of a continuing strength and vibrancy of the Renewing Our Minds initiative. ROM is foremost a mission that challenges paradigms and assumptions, and refines the characters of young leaders. Then, it is a place where forgiveness and reconciliation are demonstrated realities. Moreover, ROM is a community in progress where loving one’s neighbor and leadership of serving are taught and practiced. Furthermore, it is the environment where all teaching ingredients are anchored in the teachings, example and following of the person of Jesus. All of those together form the life defining impact of the ROM mission.

Our focus at this time is on the 2013 Renewing Our Minds Gathering, a two-week leadership and reconciliation seminar in Fuzine, Croatia, 13^th – 28^th July, 2013. A selected group of fifty young leaders, from 15 countries, representing diverse religious and ethnic backgrounds will attend. Objective: To teach young leaders about forgiveness, reconciliation, understanding of the current issues, and leadership of integrity and service by exposing them to the teachings of Jesus.

Will you partner with us by helping our mission today? Please donate by clicking on the “Donate Now” button. Fill out the form completely. IMPORTANT: On the form under “Please direct my donation to:” select “Project Support”, and under “Select project of your choice” select “Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation”. Thank You!

Forum – Transforming Leaders in a Divided World

One and a half years ago Renewing Our Minds (ROM) and Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum (EDI) formed a new organization, Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation (Forum).  Forum is now taking the Renewing Our Minds and Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum to a new level. It builds on the fourteen years of ROM experience. Martha S. Weiss, Chairwoman of Forum talks about her experience with ROM and some of the reasons Forum came into existence to support the future growth of ROM and EDI. Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation is about developing leaders transformed by the person of Jesus in a divided world. 

ROM 2012 FESTIVAL OF FRIENDS

Close to one hundred young adults, leaders from over ten countries, gathered together for several days in Ohrid, Macedonia to talk about leadership of service and integrity, peacemaking, reconciliation, and building of serving communities – and all of those from the perspective of following the person of Jesus. Watch this video postcard featuring moments captured at the ROM Regathering 2012 in Ohrid, Macedonia, Sep 26 - Oct 1, 2012. Photos included by Jeremiah Collins, Donald Grabovari, Zeljko Rajkov and Tihomir Kukolja.