By Megan E. Herring
Times were changing. History was being made as the nations under the grip of Communism received their freedom one by one. New opportunities awaited as the Eastern European church arose from underground to reclaim a public place in society. Leaders emerged, ready to rebuild their churches, cultures, and countries for Christ.
Leaders who had the passion but not the training.
TCM International, known more by its tag line “Taking Christ to Millions,” had served the Eastern European Christians under the leadership of Gene Dulin since the early-1960s. Mr. Dulin’s faithful leadership for over 33 years brought much needed support to Christians during times of immense difficulty. Empowered by the Holy Spirit through the practice of prayer, this small U.S. ministry found itself uniquely positioned again and again to support these persecuted believers, helping them lead and minister in secret to their people. TCM helped them fulfill the Great Commission and make disciples despite their challenging circumstances.
But times were changing. New leadership was needed for a new era—leadership that would carry a new vision for an adapted mission and a changing world yet retain TCM’s enduring focus on fulfilling the Great Commission.
Enter Tony Twist, a young pastor fresh out of doctoral studies and primed for the mission field. 1990 was a new year ushering in a new era—a year of transition for TCM and Eastern Europe. In January 1990, Mr. Dulin announced he would pass the leadership baton to Dr. Twist. One era of faithful leadership began to transition to the next.
Thirty-five years later, President Tony Twist still faithfully carries the leadership baton.
Times had changed. Eastern European Christian leaders needed and wanted training. They desired affordable, accessible, accredited, and practical training with the Great Commission as its focus. TCM International Institute was born.
Building upon the success and demand of TCM’s “Summer Seminary,” Dr. Twist created the Institute for Biblical Studies, partnering with Cincinnati Bible College and Seminary to provide accredited theological leadership training for the resurgent Eastern European and Russian church leaders. Classes were held in Austria at Haus Edelweiss and in-country throughout Eastern Europe and Russia. The first eight degrees were conferred to Eastern European leaders in 1995, and annual graduation celebrations continue to this day. TCM now trains Christian leaders for significant service in Austria and, on average, 23 other in-country locations each year.
As TCM’s needs outgrew the partnership with Cincinnati Bible College and Seminary, Dr. Twist led the Institute through state accreditation affiliation with the Higher Learning Commission based in Chicago. Through prayer and perseverance, TCM received its accredited status with HLC in 2008, with approval for distance delivery in 2013. Once again, TCM found itself uniquely positioned to help national Christian leaders obtain the training they need to fulfill the Great Commission where God has called them.
With its flexible educational model combining distance delivery and personal face-to-face mentoring, TCM’s boundaries expanded beyond its historic footprint. Eastern Europe expanded to Russia. Russia expanded to the Caucasus. The Caucasus expanded to Central Asia and Turkey. Turkey expanded to other parts of the Middle East. Then TCM was introduced to Kenya. Kenyans introduced TCM to Liberians, Zimbabweans, and Sierra Leoneans.
TCM trains formally through the accredited degree program and informally through classes and seminars for lay leaders. It trains men and women to be effective disciples and disciple-makers in their churches, cultures, and countries. It equips men and women to adapt and lead in changing times, cultures, and countries.
The records reflect that TCM has trained 11,331 leaders from 49 countries since it began keeping track. What have these leaders done with their training? They have taught God’s Word, helped the poor and vulnerable, discipled men, women, and children, started local ministries to meet the spiritual and physical needs of others, built Bible schools, led churches, equipped others, and served the Lord faithfully. Using data from a recent survey of graduates and students, the global influence of trained leaders includes:
- 439,934 people discipled
- 642,915 people baptized
- 12,464 new churches served
- 51,025 new small groups established
- 5.3 million people influenced for Christ.
Faithful leadership by two men called by God to help prepare leaders for the global Church. Mr. Dulin began the work of TCM in 1957. Dr. Twist continues the work. Sixty-eight years later, the need remains for trained disciple-making leaders around the world. As Jesus said, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few” (Matthew 9:37, English Standard Version).
In 2025, as TCM celebrates 35 years of Dr. Twist’s leadership, we look forward to training thousands more leaders for the global church. Our Engaging Every Nation Initiative plans to expand TCM’s capacity to increase the number of trained and credentialed disciple-making leaders while also deepening our efforts in current areas of service.
Times are still changing. Prayerful, faithful leaders are needed more than ever. TCM’s tools and mission have adapted to past changes, but the enduring focus today remains the same: to equip Christian leaders for significant service so that every nation will have effective leaders of disciple-making movements impacting their churches, cultures, and countries for Christ.
Dr. Megan E. Herring serves as Vice President for TCM International Institute.
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