EUROPEAN LEADERSHIP FORUM NATIONAL INITIATIVES
Since its very beginning, the European Leadership Forum has asked its participants: “What is the Lord calling you to do, and how can we help?” Over the years, we have experienced a common theme in participants’ answers with many replying that they would like to host a national evangelistic tour or bring a specific Forum speaker over to their country but were unable or unsure of how to accomplish these things.
Forum National Initiatives (FNIs) were created with the intent of making such desires realities. In 2008, the first of them were launched in the Czech Republic, Hungary,Slovakia and Spain. Their overwhelming success led to the development of additional FNIs over the next couple of years. In 2010, the Forum plans on sponsoring FNIs in each of the four original nations as well as in Bulgaria, Latvia and Romania.
We hope that you will take the time to read further and learn more about the importance of these initiatives and their impact. As you do, will you please prayerfully consider whether or not God is calling you to begin a similar work in your country?
Why Are Forum National Initiatives Important?
The European Leadership Forum is designed to be a bridge between local leaders’ needs and God’s global resources. Each year this strategy has resulted in hundreds of local seminars, conferences and speaking engagements across Europe. Even so many Forum participants feel incapable of fully accessing the Forum’s resources. Forum National Initiatives were created in response to this need.
Why Are Forum National Initiatives Important?
The goal of FNIs is to identify key partners in each country who can lead the Forum’s work in that nation. Such individuals know best national and local needs, as well as which Forum resources can best be used to meet these needs. The Forum Director and staff work directly with Forum National Leaders to develop and implement a strategy that is specifically tailored for their region.
What Have Forum National Initiatives Done So Far?
The strategies of FNIs are as varied as the needs of the countries in which they exist. In 2008, the Czech FNI sponsored an evangelistic university lecture tour for Forum Speaker Michael Ramsden. In 2009, the Romanian FNI welcomed Forum Speakers Mark and Jenny Stirling to lead a conference on discipleship. In 2010, the Spanish FNI will be holding its second apologetics conference.
Regardless of the strategy employed, the responses from event participants, Forum National Leaders and Forum Travelling Speakers are overwhelmingly positive. For instance, regarding Peter William’s 2009 visit to Latvia, Forum National Leader Alvis Sauka writes:
“This was the first interdenominational apologetic conference in our country. Many, actually almost all, pastors had to be persuaded that Peter would bring message of great value for all people: pastors themselves and common people. But after the conference even anti-intellectuals were highly satisfied… In a sense, Peter’s visit was a breakthrough for our churches and pastors…”
Other leaders report similar results.
How Can I Become Involved in a FNI In My Nation?
If you are interested in learning more about the possibility of starting a Forum National Initiative in your nation (or would like to know more about the work of the FNI which currently exists there), please contact Amy at contact(at)euroleadership(dot)org.