Romanian Delegation Attends Emerging Leaders Initiative
Twenty-six young Romanian leaders, from eight states, and twelve different churches, came together in Cleveland, Tennessee recently to gather for the kick-off of the Church of God Romanian Territory (RTO) Emerging Leaders Initiative. For many, this was their first time to visit the headquarters city of the Church of God.
Prior to the official start of the ELI leadership summit, the students toured Lee University, Pentecostal Theological Seminary, and the Church of God International Offices. This gave them a broader and yet more specific view of the Church of God.
RTO Administrative Bishop Tony Lane, far right, joins the group of Romanian leaders for the recent leadership summit (click on photo to enlarge).
The purpose of ELI is to identify, develop, train, encourage, and empower young leaders in the Romanian Church of God churches. This initiative is all about providing the development of young Romanian leaders through helping them discover their gifts, talents and abilities and how they fit in the building of the kingdom of God.
“Many of these young leaders are first generation Romanian Americans,” stated Dr. Tony P. Lane, administrative bishop, Church of God Romanian Territory. “They have been born into homes of parents who were born and raised in Romania. Some were born in Romania, but came to America at a very young age and have been raised in the American culture. The presence of multi-generations in one church provides its own uniqueness, but it is even more complex when it is multi-culture as well.”
The weekend was built around the book Forward -7 Distinguishing Marks for Future Leaders, by Ronnie Floyd. They were sent this book several weeks prior to the summit and asked to read it. Each session centered on one of the chapters and the issues addressed in that chapter. Open dialogue allowed the ELI students to express themselves and their challenges freely. There was exchange of ideas and mutual consideration of one another.
Dr. Louis Morgan facilitated discussion on the how various styles of leadership were instrumental in the early days of the Church of God history. Richie Hughes, 6th generation Church of God member, taught the students about choices that must be made in leadership in order to move forward to where God is leading.
At the conclusion of the gathering, the students were challenged to sign a commitment to 12 months of study, networking, development through video conferences, reading of leadership resources and books, and prayer. They received five books dealing with different aspects of leadership, which they will be asked to read and discuss via the Internet. They will be sent five more books on leadership topics over the course of the next year, all at no charge.
During the summit, the hotel and meals were provided for the delegates at no charge. This was made possible through the RTO Gideon’s 300 program, as well as some partners with the RTO.
“It is the goal of the Church of God Romanian Territory to invest in the lives of young and emerging Romanian leaders who will take the helm of leadership,” Lane stated. “We must prepare them now and incorporate them into the leadership challenge.”
The Church of God Romanian Territory includes a membership of over 6,600 members, in churches located in 18 different states in the US.
