Rev. George Varughese (Shaji Karackal)
Tyler, TX: Leland Paris, a longtime Youth With A Mission (YWAM) pioneer and the founder of Global Bridges Relief, died May 20, 2026. He was 68.
Paris spent over four decades serving vulnerable children and families in impoverished and restricted nations. He launched Global Bridges Relief in 2003 to provide discreet, relationship-based aid—child sponsorship, medical outreaches, wells, education, and livelihood projects—prioritizing local leadership and long-term care over publicity.
Colleagues remember him as humble, hands-on, and strategically compassionate: a leader who trained local teams, stayed present with communities in crisis, and modeled service that preserves dignity. His legacy includes sustained local partnerships and a generation of leaders mentored through YWAM and Global Bridges.
He is survived by his wife, two children, and grandchildren. Memorial details will be released by Global Bridges Relief; the family suggests donations to the organization’s child-care and community programs in lieu of flowers.
