Dr. Leland and Fran Paris Awards

Dr. Leland and Fran Paris have been trailblazers in missions for the vast majority of their lives. In 1980, they founded what is now YWAM Tyler along with a staff of approximately 200 other ministry pioneers when they purchased the 365-acre Twin Oaks Ranch near Tyler, Texas. At that time, David Wilkerson (founder of World Challenge) owned the property but sensed God wanted YWAM (Youth With A Mission) to have it. He generously sold it to them for 10 cents on the dollar. Since then, it has been the main headquarters for YWAM Tyler and the launching pad for thousands of people, young and old, to be sent into global missions.

With the goal of completing the Great Commission in his generation, Dr. Paris introduced the concept of YWAM’s Discipleship Training School (DTS) in 1974. He and Loren Cunningham (founder of YWAM), worked together on the DTS curriculum, which millions of youth around the world have experienced to date. Additionally, Dr. Paris established Hope for the Children and Global Bridges, which have distributed copious amounts of humanitarian aid internationally.