Great Commission Media Ministries (formerly IRR-TV)

Laura as a medical student before
her expulsion from the university.

 

Hannu's brother, John, dubbing the first "Super Book"
video with IRR/TV's first piece of video editing
equipment in 1987.

 

GCM Ministries studios and international headquarters,
is 150 miles from the Russian border.

1970 A Soviet medical student named Laura finds a living faith in God at a Soviet State university. She is the only student at her university who claims to believe in a God who created man. Consequently she is expelled for her faith. Her sacrifice does not pass unnoticed by God who has a plan for her life. Media would play a key role.

1976 Laura, married to Canadian citizen Hannu Haukka, obtains an exit permit and enters Christian radio ministry to the Soviet Union under the direction of Earl Poysti in Austria.

1980 Hannu and Laura are called to Finland to pioneer a Christian radio ministry from Finnish soil. A studio is built in Parola Finland. The ministry grows to include the transmission of a network of 11 international superpower radio stations.

1986 IRR/TV USA and IRR/TV Canada are founded by Great Commission-minded businessman Gordon Donaldson, Hannu Haukka and Laura Haukka. In 2010 the name IRR/TV was changed to Great Commission Media Ministries (GCM Ministries). Our new name more accurately reflects our vast scope of ministry outside of Russia proper.

1989 IRR/TV ministry moves from a little rural town to the Helsinki area. A new 1,000 m2 studio facility is built. CBN and TBN donate funds and equipment for equipping the first ever TV ministry to Russia.

1990 IRR/TV receives 1 million letters in response to Superbook a children's Bible cartoon series aired on Soviet State TV Channel One. The Moscow post office is swamped.

1991 IRR/TV opens follow up offices in Moscow, Leningrad, Kiev and Novosibirsk. Russia State TV signs contract for weekly nationwide telecasts produced by IRR/TV

1998 IRR/TV launches program production for 20 forgotten people groups in the former Soviet Union. Campus Crusade Canada and the Lethbridge Group fund the initial outreach.

1998 IRR/TV founds the ACB of Russia. The Association of Christian Broadcasters holds its first national media missions conference in Moscow.

1999 IRR/TV loses rights to use contracted office and studio space. It must vacate the building within weeks.

1999 IRR/TV established first Schools of Broadcast in Russia with Canadian based Crossroads Family of Ministries. Students from all parts of Russia and the CIS states are trained for TV and radio ministry.

2001 IRR/TV starts airing programs to Israel, China, India and 20 other countries in Asia over STAR WORLD TELEVISON.

2002 IRR/TV starts production of a Farsi version of popular television series "Thirsty Hearts" for countries in the Middle East.

2003 Powerful evangelistic mega-city campaigns begin in Russia, Central Asia and Ukraine. The purpose is to saturate each city with the Gospel for one month, one city at a time.

2005 Ministering by television expands into southeast Asia. Humanitarian aid to earthquake ravaged Indonesia and India.

2007 Mega city campaigns accelerate in Russia due to political instability.

2008 Unprecedented mega-city campaigns in Israel.

2009 14 simultaneous evangelistic city campaigns in Russia and Central Asia, also several in Israel. Training thousands of pastors and lay workers attending four Global Leadership Summits Russia and Central Asia.

2010 International Russian Radio/TV (IRR/TV, USA) changed its name to Great Commission Media Ministries (GCM Ministries, USA) to more accurately reflect our vast scope of ministry outside of Russia proper. City campaigns are planned for the following countries: Russia, Israel, Guyana, Egypt.

2011 Training of thousands of pastors and leaders in six leadership training events held in Russia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Tajikistan. Expected attendance: 4,000 Christian leaders.

The ministry of GCM Ministries is supported by individual donors, foundations and churches. GCM Ministries works in cooperation with numerous recognized international ministries.