TBM History
TBM was started as a non-profit ministry in August 2015 by David Silver in Maryland. After starting seminary part-time in 2000 at Reformed Theological Seminary (Balt-Wash), Dave came across reference books which were surveys of Old and New Testament Commentaries. An idea was sparked. Why not study books of the bible by reading 2-5 of the best commentaries/books that could be found based on recommendations by scholars (in this case Tremper Longman and D.A. Carson were the authors of these surveys). Then synthesize the material and write layman's guides on every book of the bible. Summary questions would be incorporated in the studies to encourage the student to delve into the text using an inductive method (observation, interpretation, and application). An emphasis would be placed on application to seek and pray for transformation in the lives of those studying. The leader of each study would guide interaction of the group. Through twenty-five years of experience teaching and honing with this method, TBM was started.
TBM Board
Dr. David Silver (President of TBM board) Raised a Jew, Dave became a Christian at age 19 with influence from the Navigator ministry at Lehigh University at Bethlehem, Pa. He went on to medical school at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. After graduating medical school, he married Adelaide and they had four children. He finished a residency in Internal Medicine at Presbyterian Hospital in Philadelphia in 1992. They moved to the Baltimore area, where Dave practiced Medicine for 25 years. After becoming a widower, he remarried Diana and has been living in Indiana for the last eight years. He retired from Medicine in February 2025. He has taken several classes at Reformed Theological Seminary (Balt-Wash) part-time over several years. He has experience in missions, prayer groups, small-groups and has taught Sunday school classes for over fifteen years. Having founded TBM, he is eagerly continuing his study of the bible and writing layman's guides.
Debra Pickett was born and raised in Ohio. She is a mother of two daughters and soon to be a grandmother. Debra became a Christian at an early age and loves serving God's people and praising God. Debra believes in praying every day for God's direction in life.
Todd Barrett serves on the board of Transformation Bible Ministries (“TBM”). He is active in serving his local church, Christ Community Church, Carmel, Indiana, where he is one of the ruling elders. Past roles at the church included chairing the executive pastor search committee and leading the men’s ministry. Todd is passionate about sound bible-based study and training (2 Timothy 3:16-17) and discipleship (Matthew 28:19).
Todd, currently the Chief Accounting Officer at a publicly traded industrial products company, brings to the TBM board three decades of business and financial leadership.
Todd and his wife Cindy live in Carmel and they have two children. He enjoys writing and recording music at his home studio, sea kayaking and alpine skiing.
Sei Kwak was raised an agnostic. She became a Christian in middle school, with the influence of one of her best friends, who challenged her to think about the existence of a creator. In order to prove there was no God or devil, she joined a few of her friends to play with a Ouija board. She learned demons were real and was attacked a few times by them. She realized, if there are demons, there has to be a loving God as well. The nature has indeed revealed the love of God (Psalm 19 1-4).
She married a minister before obtaining her first degree, then moved on to obtain her other degrees while raising her family and working. She practices as a Nurse Practitioner in a busy Family Medicine office in Carmel. She has experienced tremendous love from God, through the deaths, losses and suffering in her life.
She is eager to share the gospel with others, just like how her friend shared it with her.
TBM Vision
TBM’s vision is to teach books of the bible as the door is opened for us to do so. Our field is the world, and our focus is on those hungry to learn and apply His Word. May God give us the strength to finish the study guides on all the books of the bible and to make them available to anyone interested. Conferences to teach individual books or to mentor teachers in the method mentioned will be our standard way of promulgating this ministry.
Need more information, Contact TBM:
Transformation Bible Ministries
E-mail: info@TransformationBibleMinistries.org