Lester Sumrall

Lester Sumrall (February 15, 1913 – April 28, 1996) was an ordained minister who formed the LeSEA broadcast network.

Biography

Lester Sumrall was born to Betty and George Sumrall in New Orleans on February 15, 1913. [http://wofcfi.tripod.com/charlesjonesministries/id4.html] In 1930, he was healed of tuberculosis; it was at this point that he came to believe that he was called by God to become a preacher. He became an ordained minister in 1932.

On September 30, 1944, he married Louise Layman, and they had their first child, Frank Lester (named for his father's middle name) on December 31, 1946. On June 27, 1950 they had their second child, Phillip Stephen, and on October 17, 1953 they had a third, Peter Andrew.

Smith Wigglesworth was a mentor to Lester Sumrall. [http://www.eaglesnest.org/prophecy_smith.html] In 1957, he established the Lester Sumrall Evangelistic Association (LeSEA). In 1968, LeSEA Broadcasting’s flagship station, WHME-TV Harvest 103.1 FM. The Rev. Lester Sumrall is the "father" of Christian Television. He secured the first License for 24 hour Christian television from the FCC and launched WHMB Christian Television in Noblesville, Indiana in 1973.

On April 28, 1996 Lester Sumrall died at age 83.

Trivia

*Rod Parsley, an American minister was an assistant to Lester Sumrall. [http://www.pfo.org/parsley.htm]
*His son, Stephen Sumrall has also become a minister. [http://www.smiltd.org/]

Bibliography

*cite book |author=Lester Sumrall, |title=The Life Story of Lester Sumrall: The Man, the Ministry, the Vision |publisher=New Leaf Press (AR) |location= |year=2003 |pages= |isbn=0-89221-532-1 |oclc= |doi=

External links

* [http://www.lestersumrall.com Lester Sumrall's Website]
* [http://www.lestersumrall.org Lester Sumrall Memorial Website]
* [http://www.lesea.com/tribute/ Lester Sumrall's "Official" Website]
* [http://profile.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewprofile&friendID=151314416 Lester Sumrall's Myspace]
* [http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=sumrall&GSfn=lester&GSbyrel=in&GSdyrel=in&GSob=n&GRid=8196457& Lester Sumrall's Listing On FindAGrave.com]