Rita Vlaovic is involved in discipleship and spiritual formation at her local church in Serbia.
When did you trust Christ?
Several years ago, during a period of deep personal crisis, I found myself confronted with my own limits and vulnerability. In that moment, I experienced a clear and personal call to trust Christ. I consciously entrusted my life and my family to Him, not as an abstract idea, but as a living presence. Since that time, my faith has become an ongoing journey of walking with Jesus. I am now intentionally pursuing theological education, growing in Scripture and Christian theology, and seeking to integrate faith, learning, and daily life. What began as a moment of surrender has become a sustained commitment to follow Christ with both heart and mind.
What have been the defining moments of your Christian walk?
Several defining moments have shaped my Christian walk. The Christian community around me—pastors, professors, and fellow believers who modelled faithful discipleship and encouraged me to grow both spiritually and intellectually. Their guidance helped me see faith not as withdrawal from critical thinking, but as a call to integrate belief, reason, and humility. My academic background as a biologist and my current theological studies have become central to my Christian journey. Engaging questions at the intersection of science and faith has led me toward apologetics as a vocation. I am particularly drawn to helping students and thoughtful sceptics engage Christianity honestly, showing that Christian faith can withstand intellectual scrutiny while offering deep existential hope.
What do you hope to gain from participating?
Attending the European Leadership Forum would significantly strengthen my ministry by deepening my theological formation and sharpening my ability to engage contemporary questions of faith with clarity and humility. The Forum’s focus on integrating biblical conviction, intellectual rigor, and pastoral wisdom directly aligns with my calling in discipleship, apologetics, and teaching. The opportunity to learn from experienced leaders and to engage in peer learning within an international network would help me develop more thoughtful and effective approaches to discipleship and public engagement. I expect that the insights, resources, and relationships formed will directly shape the conferences, educational initiatives, and mentoring work I am involved in.
What is your ministry?
My current ministry is centred in my local church, where I am involved in discipleship and spiritual formation, walking alongside individuals and small groups in their growth in faith. I work closely with our pastor to organise theological and educational conferences that address contemporary questions of faith, culture, and ethics. Alongside this, I am engaged in outreach among people experiencing homelessness, seeking to express the Gospel through presence, compassion, and practical care. My ministry is shaped by the integration of theological reflection, pastoral sensitivity, and social responsibility.
What is your leadership role or what were your past leadership roles?
My leadership experience spans academic, professional, church, and community contexts. Over the years, I have held a range of leadership and coordination roles that have shaped my understanding of leadership as both responsibility and service. Professionally, I have held senior and leadership positions in public institutions and international projects, including serving as head of environmental departments at the municipal level, director of an elementary school, and consultant on national and international development and environmental initiatives. Alongside my professional work, I have remained actively engaged in academic and educational leadership through teaching, mentoring, curriculum-related work, and conference and project coordination. This experience has strengthened my capacity to communicate complex ideas clearly, facilitate learning, and support others in their professional and personal development.
Why should someone invest in your ministry?
Individuals may want to invest in my training and ministry because it stands at the intersection of rigorous academic formation, church-based discipleship, and compassionate engagement with society. My background in biology and ongoing theological education equip me to address questions of faith, science, and meaning with intellectual honesty, making Christian belief accessible to students, sceptics, and thoughtful seekers. Investment in my training has a multiplying effect: what I receive is passed on through teaching, conferences, mentoring, and discipleship within the local church and wider community. I am committed to serving with integrity, humility, and long-term faithfulness, ensuring that this investment contributes not only to my personal development but to the strengthening of others and the broader Christian witness in my context.
