“Mr. Cunningham, you’re as pretty as a princess,” said three-year-old Brianna, during the video shown at the Thanksgiving Love Feast for Loren and Darlene. The preschool children stole the show with their heartfelt greetings to the Cunninghams. Dancers, along with Radiant Kids, the children’s ministry of YWAM Tyler, raised flags from around the world as they sang “We Speak to Nations.”

Nearly 600 current staff, families and students attended the Sunday night feast. It was the first event of a joy-filled celebration. Founders of Mercy Ships, Don and Deyon Stephens were among some of the guests honored. Jim and Janice Rogers and other early YWAM pioneers such as Larry Allen, Woody Woodward, Bonnie Moore, Herb & Sue Haines, Mark & Mary Brock, Jeff Johnston, Jim & Barb Kilkenny, Bev Kline and Doreen Hague were also present. Most of these people are still with YWAM today.

Leland Paris presented Loren and Darlene with a copy of the very first DTS curriculum created by Leland and Loren in 1974. They bantered back and forth as cousins do, about the early pioneering days of ministry. Mentioning the first time Loren preached a sermon, which happened to be in Leland’s father’s church, Leland said, “When Loren preached his first sermon at 13-years-old, it was 10 minutes long. Since then he’s lost the gift of brevity.”

On Monday a showcase of pioneering days and fresh vision was on display. The theme was to Celebrate, Commemorate, and Consecrate. Gratefulness to God was very evident. First Jeff Rogers of YWAM Woodcrest and then YWAM Tyler founders Leland and Fran Paris shared how God has used both ministries for His glory and the expansion of His Kingdom.

God has led YWAM Woodcrest to minister throughout the years primarily using tools of communication. Janice Rogers has helped to write Loren’s books. Is That Really You God? is now available in 118 languages. Hundreds of writers have been trained in the School of Writing and related workshops, while multiple ministries have been served through communication tools and technology.

Leland and Fran Paris hosted a time of reporting what God has done during their 40-year history in YWAM. Numerous people who have pioneered ministries under their leadership also gave testimonies. YWAM Tyler was described as “A Discipling Center that Pioneers.” Thousands of people have been trained at this base.

It was reported that more than 60 bases have been pioneered from YWAM Tyler. Several of these are urban bases, focused on the American cities of Dallas, New Orleans, Houston and Chicago. An Urban DTS has also been started this year in New Orleans.

Major ministries such as Teachers for the Nations, School of the Bible, Living Alternatives, Strategic Frontiers, One Story and MercyWorks have been multiplied all over the world and sent scores of workers to many nations.

Leland spearheaded an international prayer day in 1974 called “If My People.” People gathered all over the world at national and state capitols to pray. In Germany alone, 5,000 prayer groups prayed. Leland felt the prayers of the Germans led the way to the collapse of communism, as well as the Berlin Wall. Loren commented that this was the first international prayer day recorded, and it resulted in ongoing prayer ministries. He also said he felt this initiative helped lay foundations for the modern day prayer movement.

At the close of our time together, the new base directors of YWAM Tyler, Chris and Debbie Lascelles led a time of Consecration. It was a heartfelt but sobering time of looking to the task ahead and committing to finish the race no matter what the cost. A Jubilee Proclamation was made declaring a release to YWAM lands and its inhabitants in light of this Jubilee year. As part of this, all staff members partook in communion together and prayerfully signed the Jubilee Covenant, committing again to see the Great Commission completed and God’s purposes fulfilled.

_{Photography by: Callie Finney & Trey Dillon}