In 1987, at the age of 74, Dr Sumrall founded LeSEA Global Feed The Hungry, aimed at wiping out hunger among those struggling to survive amidst poverty, famine, disaster, and war. Reported! Stay up-to-date with current issues, Christian teachings, entertainment news, videos & more. "For the first time ever, the collected works of our grandfather, Dr. Lester Sumrall, are now available for anyone in the world to access on demand and completely free of charge," said Drew Sumrall, president and CEO of Family Broadcasting, and Angela Grabowski, vice president, in a joint statement. Coach Sumrall gave me a chance and I ended up playing all three years at Marshall. In August 2020, it was announced that WHRI was selling its facilities to Allen Weiner, owner of Monticello, Maine-based shortwave station WBCQ, pending FCC approval.[15]. The station has attracted a loyal and enthusiastic audience and is active in the local Indianapolis church community and events. In 1988, tragedy hit the network, as the headquarters in South Bend, Indiana burned to the ground destroying all of WHME- TV and WHME- FM. "WHPD FM 92.1 Dowagiac - Michiguide.com Dials (G)", "Pulse Festival still beats strong after 30 years", "Skillet with Colton Dixon: Pulse FM Downtown Summer Series - Visit South Bend Mishawaka", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Family_Broadcasting_Corporation&oldid=1140382215, Angel 1Covers Africa, North America, Central America, South America, and Australia, Angel 2Covers parts of North America, Europe, and parts of Asia, This page was last edited on 19 February 2023, at 21:24. For more information, go tolestersumrall.com. But after Peter Sumrall died in December 2015, another of the founder's grandsons, Lester Sumrall, began what Drew and LeSEA characterize "as his 'long pattern of abusive, harassing, and unlawful conduct' against LeSEA and its interests 'based on his false claim to be the rightful spiritual and legal heir to LeSEA,'" Judge Philip P. Simon wrote He died of a heart attack on Saturday. Donations generated by LeSEA support local church-based outreach, a bookstore and World Harvest Bible College in South Bend, and funds a relief arm the organization says has delivered more than $200 million in food and supplies to hungry, hurting people in 92 nations around the world.. In 1983, the studio and transmitter for WHME-FM moved into the WHME-TV building. FMCs goal is to entertain their audience with quality films featuring the biggest stars in Hollywood history. The inaudible voice of the Lord directed him to become not only a station owner, but to build a network of TV stations as a channel for truth to America. Lester L. Sumrall and Andrew Sumrall both want control of what one lawsuit claims could be $1 billion in donations that have flowed into the Lester Sumrall Evangelistic Association since the death of their grandfather, Lester Sumrall, in 1996, The Indianapolis Star reported. FETV can be seen on DirecTV, Dish Newtork, AT&T U-verse, Frontier Communications, Xfinity, Spectrum, Sling, Select TV, Vidgo, Frndly, Evoca, Altafiber, Optimim and Philo. To contact us or to submit an article, click here. To plant trees in memory, please visit the. The Spread the Word campaign was launched in 2000 with the goal of giving a Bible to any individual who requested one. His mother was a strong Christian, but his father was lukewarm in his faith. In December 2004, Family Broadcasting Corporation purchased WDOW 92.1 FM to increase Pulse FM's listening base,[16] and the call letters are now WHPD 92.1. Stay up-to-date with current issues, Christian teachings, entertainment news, videos & more. Upon returning from a preaching trip and seeing the devastation of his stations, Lester stated: We are not quitters. James H. Murphy's bank accounts. WHT is available in over 21.2 million homes across the country on DirecTV, as well as on the Sky Angel Faith Package; a video stream of the channel is available on the Internet. Lester Sumrall1927-2020Lester Loleate Sumrall, Jr, native of Aransas Pass, Texas, was born December 2, 1927, and passed away March 30, 2020, in The Woodlands. "Throughout those faith-filled years he was an inspiration to many around the world. "Dr. Sumrall had a vision to reach the untold billions yet untold," Sumrall and Grabowski continued. "We all loved my father," said Drew Sumrall. Expand the Memories and Condolences form. If youre in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist. Our people are winners. Les was a loving father to Randy, Jess, Kerry, Danny, Kevin, Christian, Eric, Jared, Daren, and their spouses. AfghanistanWhere Faith Is a Matter of Life and Death. He was a very nice man even though he did bust my butt a few times. He was born the sixth child of what would eventually be a family of . We also know who is for us. Pete Sumrall, son of the lateDr. Lester Sumrall, has passed away. The interactive website contains over a thousand videos, more than one hundred books and study guides, hundreds of photographs, and a biographical timeline. According to an open letter Lester sent the Christian community, LeSEA Tours is a ministry under the much larger worldwide outreach of Family Broadcasting Corporation which exists to reach out to the lost across the globe and to provide families with an alternative to secular television. Lester says a police report of these incidents has been forwarded on to the FBI White Collar Crimes Division. [13], Originally acquired by Family Broadcasting Corporation in 1972, WHMB-TV 40 is the longest, continually operated Christian television station in the United States. Lester Sumrall was a man who threw himself at the feet of Jesus Christ, possessing a zeal and commitment to God that still amazes those who knew him. In 2018, LeSEA Broadcasting changed its name to Family Broadcasting Corporation (FBC). He was 62 years old. Our vision is simple: bring people to Jesus every day. Get Charisma's best content delivered right to your inbox! from 8 AM - 9 PM ET. We will moveforward with the vision of the company.". As one of the most colorful preachers of the 20th century, Lester began as a fiery young preacher during the depression and by the time all was said and done left the world with a legacy of what simple and determined faith in God could accomplish. The FM-radio station began transmitting again just four days later. They're not a map to follow, but simply a description of what people commonly feel. For the next five years, Lester and his sons would shuttle from their home base in South Bend, IN down to Indianapolis to produce programs, live telethons and original programming. For convenience and ease of use, the website pairs the video teaching series with the corresponding book and study guides. Together, they were blessed with three children: Frank Lester (born 1946), Phillip Stephen (1950), and Peter Andrew (1953-2015). His ministry led him to South Bend in 1947. Fearless Faith is an inspiring upcoming documentary about the life and times of Dr. Lester Sumrall. Through the generosity of our partners, more than 700,000 Bibles have been distributed. After Peter Sumrall's death, his four children - David, Angela (Grabowski), Andrew and Adam - continued to work for LeSEA entities. For over 20 years, he has shared a message of destiny, purpose and hope in 40 countries of the world - fulfilling the purpose of God's Kingdom by changing hearts and lives. WHFT TV 45 Miami, Florida signed on in 1975, was acquired by LeSea in the summer of 1976, and was sold to Trinity Broadcasting Network in July 1980. Family Entertainment Television (FETV), channel 323 on DirecTV,[6][7] channel 82 on Dish Network,[8] channel 245 on Verizon Fios, channel 578 on AT&T U-Verse,[9] and Sling TV offers viewers a mix of religious and family-friendly programming. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. He joined the US Navy January 2, 1945, at the young age of 17 years and one month to defend his country in WWII, serving on the USS Bagley in the South Pacific. Lester Sumrall Son Death | Grandson Sumrall's son Peter Sumrall, passed away on August 8, 2015. [1] Founded by Lester Sumrall in 1972, Family Broadcasting Corporation is headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, and broadcasts Christian and family programming. Lester, who lives in Indiana, said that in 1996, his grandfather, and himself, began work on this film project for about three months prior to his passing. But when his grandfather died, his uncles conspired to hide the will and seize control of LeSEA, Lester L. Sumrall alleged. WHKE signed on June 1988 and was owned by LeSea. "Dr. Sumrall had a vision to reach the untold billions yet untold," Sumrall and Grabowski continued. Throughout the years there have been various pioneers who wanted to reach the masses and utilized media for the advancement of God's kingdom. He was very proud of his many grandchildren and great-grandchildren. During the 1980s and '90s he advanced into satellite television and shortwave radio ownership that allowed him to reach a broader audience with the gospel. Prayerline serves as a 24-hour helpline with the Christian emphasis of prayer and provides a source of hope to those feeling lost and distressed. "In addition to all his work in Christian media, Dr. Sumrall was respected as a missionary statesman who by the time of his passing (April 28, 1996) had traveled to 119 countries and ministered for 66 years and was well acquainted with his peers like Oral Roberts and Billy Graham," said Lester Sumrall. "We are honored to reveal this extraordinary project and carry on the legacy he established over sixty years ago. [17] In 2017, Pulse FM transitioned to a new concert format named Pulse Summer Series, a series of three summer concerts in downtown South Bend, Indiana, at the Morris Performing Arts Center. Charisma News - Informing believers with news from a Spirit-filled perspective, Pete Sumrall, Son of Lester Sumrall, Dies of Heart Attack, Click here to subscribe to the Charisma News newsletter. The latest breaking Christian news you need to know about as soon as it happens. We are all unavoidably human and imperfect, but we are passionate about the eternal message of Christs love. The network features classic movies. Lester's father, George was born in Mississippi and Lester's mother, Bettie Chandler, was born in Alabama. In 1997, he founded Lester Sumrall International, and has since continued in the legacy passed to him of ministry, media and missions. Want to join our team? According to an open letter Lester sent the Christian community. [1] Founded by Lester Sumrall in 1972, Family Broadcasting Corporation is headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, and broadcasts Christian and family programming. WCVI-TV 23 was acquired in 2014, and it is the Family Broadcasting Corporation station in the U.S. Virgin Islands. David Kessler's top 4 tips for dealing with holiday grief. ", Angela GrabowskiVice President[emailprotected]574-291-8200, https://familybroadcastingcorporation.com/, Cision Distribution 888-776-0942 KWHE TV 14 covers the major population centers of Hilo, Maui, Kona, and Honolulu, with Christian and family programming. Lester married Florence Margret Louise Sumrall (born Layman). . You should receieve a confirmation email shortly. He traveled the world on the verge of WWII, missionary statesman, author, broadcast pioneer and global philanthropist sharing the Gospel in 119 countries, impacting lives forever. They continue to celebrate their legacy, as they strive to take the next big steps toward reaching the billions yet untold, boldly carrying the torch into the present and future darkness, to bring the hope of Jesus Christ to a dying generation in desperate need of Gods redeeming love. Lester Frank Sumrall was born February 15, 1913 in New Orleans, Louisiana to George and Betty Sumrall. Lesters ministry would not perish in the ashes of defeat; but would rise again to be a witness to the faithfulness of the Lord. Get Charisma's best content delivered right to your inbox! For almost 20 years he has shared a message of destiny, purpose and hope in 40 countries of the world. It is located in Limassol, Cyprus, and broadcasts to all of Western Asia. "If you participate in our crowd-funding campaign you'll also receive some special insider perks. In the early the 1990's, Lester gave up a college basketball scholarship to obey Gods call on his life, a journey which took him to Scandinavia where he attended Word of Life Theological School in Sweden. Family Broadcasting Corporation was started in 1957. Never miss a big news story again. Click here to subscribe to the Charisma News newsletter. The Harvest Showis seen in more than 42 million homes in the United States and 77 million homes in the Middle East. Charisma News - Informing believers with news from a Spirit-filled perspective, The Legacy of Lester Sumrall Comes to Life in New Film, Click here to subscribe to the Charisma News newsletter. The LeSEA founders namesake said his grandfather designated him a successor, and that he has a document to prove it. The channel is focused on providing entertainment to its audience through quality TV shows and movies that provide real family entertainment. The station is carried on Oceanic Cable channel 11 and on Hawaiian Telcom channel 14. If God is for us, who can be against us? Lester Sumrall went home to be with the Lord in 1996, but his legacy continuesand his God-breathed prophetic words are still alive. "From the unique perspective of being his oldest grandson and namesake, I wanted to go on a journey to hear the stories of some of the lives he impacted and the difference that they continue to make. Today, KWHB can be viewed on over 84 cable stations in Oklahoma, serving a potential audience of over 1.5 million people. Spread the Word has the audacious goal of sending a Bible to every single person that needs one, the world over. [11] FMC launched on October 28, 2021 on Dish Network to 9 million subscribers. Our mission is to reach the untold billions yet untold with the Gospel through television, radio, live-streaming, 24 hr Prayerline and Bible distribution. His mother was a Christian, she dedicated the child to God before he was born and prayed that he would become a preacher. His mother committed him to God before Lester was born and prayed that he would become a preacher. The counterclaims assert that Lester's father Frank, one of the three sons of Dr. Sumrall, assigned to the Trust all his rights in Dr. Sumrall's works and likeness, to which he claims a one-third interest by inheritance. Dr. Lester Sumrall (1913-1996), world-renowned pastor and evangelist, ministered for over fifty-five years in more than 110 countries, including Soviet Siberia, Russia, Tibet, and China. In 2018, LeSEA Broadcasting changed its name to Family Broadcasting Corporation (FBC). With passionate resolve, Peter Sumrall was able to increase the size and outreach of the ministry. He had a great sense of humor! Through Drews leadership, FBC has been able to expand FETV into 50 million homes and is considered not only to be one of Americas fastest-growing family-friendly networks but is also a top 50 cable channel. He was the sixth of eight children of the Sumrall family. Called Fearless Faith A Journey, A Discovery, An Inspirational, the film will include interviews and testimony from Pat Robertson, Kenneth Copeland, Morris Cerullo, Steve Sumrall, Rod Parsley and Joel Osteen along with many others whose lives were touched by Dr. Lester Sumrall. And outreach of the company. `` Louisiana to George and Betty.... Handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, the website pairs the video series. | Grandson Sumrall & # x27 ; s Son Peter Sumrall, passed away on August 8,.! 1.5 million people, KWHB can be viewed on over 84 Cable stations in Oklahoma, serving potential. Report of these incidents has been forwarded on to the Charisma news newsletter giving a Bible any! 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