ROM 2016

Towards the end of the 2016 (ROM) Renewing Our Minds Gathering in Fuzine, Croatia last August, Jack Fallow, ROM speaker and mentor wrote and shared the following poem that summarized how he experienced the 2016 ROM Gathering and its amazingly diverse community:

ROM 2016

Poems write themselves, you know

They plow out from the pen

Sometimes at ROM, the rhythm flows
And it’s happened – once again.

Fifteen countries came to talk

To share, to listen, learn

Emotions flowed, and tears did too

As we started to discern

That

Our National Love

Comes not from above

That our National Pride

Creates thoughts to divide

Yes, iconic structures

Create mental structures

That tell us we’re better than them

That we will excel

As they go to hell

Because God rings our National bell.

But – God made our world a place

For the whole human race

And here we are – Each one a star

With talent and gifts that abound

And now – as we leave – Don’t forget to believe

That these people around you,

Are part of your team, can help with your dream.

They can all sing your song, as you travel along

They are part of your team, whatever your scheme

But they are not THEY, In fact they are ‘WE’

We have no stones to throw, wherever you go, there’s an ‘US’

That you meet here at ROM, And each is an “I” as part of the ‘US’

So, when you’re alone

There’s Facebook, Skype and phone

And we shall be the bone

That straightens you back

When your will might crack.

And when you’re up high

With your head in the sky

Just continue observant

Of the call of THE SERVANT

Jack Fallow

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.

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 

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.

FORUM 2013 SPRING APPEAL

Dear Friends, 

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). Formed in November 2011 in Seattle WA, Forum is now taking the Renewing Our Minds and Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum to a new level. 

Forum builds on the fourteen years of ROM experience, as well as on the experience of Life Center International (LCI), the umbrella organization based in Fuzine, Croatia that supervised the work of ROM since 1999. The vision of Forum is, “Developing Leaders Transformed by the Person of Jesus in a Divided World”. Its mission is about advancing the Kingdom of God by nurturing international leaders of noble, forgiving, reconciled and serving hearts, and in harmony with the character of Jesus Christ. Forum pursues its mission through transformative, holistic and relational education, training and mentorship; as well as the advancement of caring and serving communities. 

Over the years the transformative impact of ROM, the heart of the Forum mission, has reached far beyond Southeast Europe (Balkans), where everything started in 1999 in response to the Balkan conflicts engulfing all former Yugoslavian countries at the time; and has since reached the Middle East, the African continent, the former Soviet Union countries, the EU, USA. For 600 young lives, from 50 countries have been directly impacted by ROM programs over the years, the experience was life defining and directing. Many ROM alumni have since emerged as leaders of substance, and are today making a difference in the political, social, humanitarian and religious arenas of their countries. 

In 2013 the Forum Board of Directors is focused on setting a firm and sustainable foundation for future growth of ROM and EDI by finalizing its organizational and serving structure and by setting realistic objectives that will lead us forward in our service. These are our primary program objectives for the current year: 

1. ROM Leadership and Reconciliation Gathering 2013: A two-week reconciliation and leadership seminar, known as ROM Gathering, in Fuzine, Croatia, July 13 – 29, 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 and leadership of integrity and service by exposing them to the teachings of Jesus. 

2. FLR Regional Leadership Summit: A two-day Southeast European Leadership Summit,      July 30 – 31, 2013, in Fuzine, Croatia. A selected group of mature and trusted leaders from the Balkans will meet for a two day planning session leading to the establishment of a team of coordinators who will throughout a year coordinate the spiritual and vocational growth of ROM alumni through coaching and mentoring. 

3. EDI Forum in Romania: Economic Diplomacy and Integrity Forum is planned for September in Cluj-Napoca, Romania.  A group of 30 young leaders form Romania will learn about Jesus principles applied to business, economics, and politics.  

4. ROM Middle-East Project: A start-up ROM Middle-East weekend seminar is planned for December 2013. With a group of ROM alumni from the Middle East, and in partnership with a local organization that focuses on reconciliation, Forum is planning to set a ground work for future ROM projects in the countries of the Middle East. 

All our programs focus on building a new generation of leaders, reconciled and transformed by the person of Jesus. Forum is a new organization, with almost 15 years of experience, and proven programs and projects (ROM, EDI). At this time when the potential for international conflicts escalates by day, and when the leadership informed by the character of Jesus is very much a lacking ingredient in today’s society, we consider our work to be of primary importance. 

The work of Forum depends on the support of churches, foundations, organizations and friends like you who appreciate the value of investing the values of Jesus’ life into the lives of the young leaders of today.  Your generous donation will help meet our objectives for 2013. 

Please, direct your donation to our partners: The Antioch Partners. 

If you are sending your donation by check write ROM or Forum on the memo line and send to:            

The Antioch Partners

7132 Portland Avenue, Suite 138

Richfield, MN   55423.

If you would like to donate online, click on DONATE NOW and fill out the form completely. IMPORTANT: On the form under "Please direct your donation to:" select "Project Support", and under "Select project of your choice" select "Forum for Leadership and Reconciliation".

We will gladly answer all your questions. Thank you for your generous donation.  You are making a difference in the world we live in. For more info write to forumforleadership@gmail.com  

We are looking forward to hearing from you soon. 

Love and blessings. 

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

Tihomir Kukolja, Renewing Our Minds, Director