But when his grandfather died, his uncles conspired to hide the will and seize control of LeSEA, Lester L. Sumrall alleged. 2022 Family Broadcasting Corporation. In 1996, he was installed as president of LeSEA when his father and the founder of the company passed away. 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. Charisma News - Informing believers with news from a Spirit-filled perspective, Lester Sumrall's Grandson: A Spiritual Battle Rages for LeSEA Ministries, Click here to subscribe to the Charisma News newsletter. Uniform Disclosure Statement. Lester married Florence Margret Louise Sumrall (born Layman). 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. 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. FMC is a satellite and cable network featuring classic movies the whole family can enjoy. [1] Founded by Lester Sumrall in 1972, Family Broadcasting Corporation is headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, and broadcasts Christian and family programming. The interactive website contains over a thousand videos, more than one hundred books and study guides, hundreds of photographs, and a biographical timeline. Click here to subscribe to the Charisma News newsletter. All books and written materials on the website are available to read and download at no cost. Food has always been a go-to for people in mourning. Please open it and confirm your subscription. The station was sold to the Christian Television Network in April 2018. DISH", "Family Entertainment Television Live Stream - Watch Shows Online - DIRECTV", "FETV TV Channel on DISH Network - GoDish.com", "AT&T U-verse TV Channel Guide & Lineup - Find Your Favorite Shows", "FETV Sets Ratings Record With 'Perry Mason' - TVNewsCheck.com", "Family Entertainment Television Launches Family Movie Classics Channel on Dish", "Family Movie Classics Added to Frndly TV Channel Lineup", "Local Television Market Universe Estimates". In addition, the website provides a photographic timeline of the faith-filled life of Dr. Sumrall, taking visitors through his childhood, missionary work around the world, the founding of a multimedia organization and much more. So many lives were touched; only heaven will know the full scope of influence his life and ministry had on the world. He died of a heart attackon Saturday. "Currently, the film is in its final phase of editing, and we're raising $60,000 to professionally finish the project. The broadcast was handled through the equipment at Christian Center Church in South Bend. . Middle East Television was acquired from CBN in July 2001. 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. See what opportunities we have open. Upon returning from a preaching trip and seeing the devastation of his stations, Lester stated: We are not quitters. I worked with him a long time ago - at HISD. KWHE signed on the air in 1986 and serves all of the Hawaiian islands on Oceanic Cable Channel 11, Oahu on KWHE-TV 14, and The Big Island on KWHD-TV 14. His mother was a strong Christian, but his father was lukewarm in his faith. To contact us or to submit an article, click here. The family wishes to thank Felicia, Debra, and Stuart who watched over Les as guardian angels in his final days. Prophetic messages from respected leaders & news of how God is moving throughout the world. Family Broadcasting Corporation, formerly known as LeSEA Broadcasting, is an American Christian television network. The station is carried on Oceanic Cable channel 11 and on Hawaiian Telcom channel 14. "This website ensures that future generations and people of all nations will have complete access to these timeless materials.". WHMB- TV 40 is now the oldest, consecutively running, Christian television station in the United States and was able to celebrate its 50th year of broadcasting in November of 2022. In 1957 Lester Sumrall, with the help and support of his family and friends, founded LeSEA (Lester Sumrall Evangelistic Association), a ministry which has subsequently given birth to well over one hundred books and study guides, eleven television stations, a satellite ministry, three FM radio stations, five shortwave stations reaching over ninety percent of the worlds population, and a quarterly magazine. The channel is focused on providing entertainment to its audience through quality TV shows and movies that provide real family entertainment. Sorry to hear that he passed, he was my favorite coach at Marshall. Les was a loving father to Randy, Jess, Kerry, Danny, Kevin, Christian, Eric, Jared, Daren, and their spouses. We'll help you find the right words to comfort your family member or loved one during this difficult time. In 1982, Sumrall was promoted to general manager of the network, which at the time consisted of two television stations and one FM radio station. "One of those pioneers was my grandfather, Dr. Lester Sumrall. Today, KWHB can be viewed on over 84 cable stations in Oklahoma, serving a potential audience of over 1.5 million people. [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. Unless you are experienced as an estate executor, you probably should hire an attorney. The station has attracted a loyal and enthusiastic audience and is active in the local Indianapolis church community and events. You should receieve a confirmation email shortly. History. In 1987, at the age of 74, Dr Sumrall founded LeSEA Global Feed The . He was 62 years old. Fearless Faith is an inspiring upcoming documentary about the life and times of Dr. Lester Sumrall. "Since that time, life got busy, I attended and graduated from ORU, got married, we had 3 beautiful children and the film project got put on the shelf. All Rights Reserved. Furthermore, Lester claims controversy embroils LeSEA. We use our 40 years of Israel travel knowledge to create an experience you will always remember. In addition, he wrote over 130 books. This website is truly a labor of love and will be a blessing to those looking to deepen their faith in Jesus Christ.". Expand the Memories and Condolences form. Lester Sumrall explains, "Three months before his passing in 1996, my grandfather and I began working on a film that would highlight his legacy of ministry, media and relief work that had spanned 66 years in 119 countries.". 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 His evangelistic association, LeSEA, headquartered in South Bend, Indiana, is . 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. Harvest 103.1 FM, or WHME (FM), began broadcasting in 1968. 530 E Ireland RoadSouth Bend,Indiana46614, (888) 832-6384donorcare@feedthehungry.org, MissionImpactLeadership & StaffFinancial AccountabilityProgramsPartners Privacy Policy, LeSEA Global Feed The Hungry, Inc is a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.Donations and contributions are tax deductible as allowed by law. [18], Last edited on 19 February 2023, at 21:24, https://familybroadcastingcorporation.com/, "LeSEA Broadcasting Corp - TVNewsCheck.com", "LeSEA President Peter Sumrall dies at 62", "FETV Sets Ratings Record With 'Perry Mason' - TV News Check", "World Harvest Television Live Stream - Watch Shows Online - DIRECTV", "World Harvest Television Channel Information - DIRECTV vs. We are more than conquerors through Christ! When tragedy struck, Lester discovered he, his family and the staff had the strength needed to overcome adversity. WHMB reaches the entire Indianapolis, Indiana television market covering over one million households.[14]. (The Sumrall family has . The ministry has now grown into a mammoth broadcasting empire with11 television stations, a satellite ministry, three FM radio stations, five shortwave stations and a quarterly magazine. Drew has been a part of the FBC family his entire life. Click here to subscribe to the Charisma News newsletter. Answer the prayer of those who cry, Lord give us this day our daily bread. Family Broadcasting Corporation was started in 1957. Upon graduation, Lester travelled alongside his grandfather, Dr. Lester Sumrall, doing ministry and relief work around the world. 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. Never miss a big news story again. If God is for us, who can be against us? WHME delivers viewing audiences the highest quality of family-friendly programming with a blend of religion, high school and college athletics and worry free entertainment. Lester Sumrall recalled: Since becoming President and CEO of Family Broadcasting Corporation. God gave Dr. Lester Sumrall a vision to reach the untold billions yet untold, and empower believers like you to grow in your spiritual walk. This relationship is not possible based on lifespan dates. The Spread the Word campaign was launched in 2000 with the goal of giving a Bible to any individual who requested one. With the purchase of WHME-TV, studio facilities were now available within a few minutes of Christian Center Church making it easier for the ever-busy Lester Sumrall to produce his programs. He was born the sixth child of what would eventually be a family of . The company reaches an estimated1 billionshortwave radio receivers worldwide. After five years of complications and red tape, WHME-FM began broadcasting in 1968. Family Broadcasting Corporation, formerly known as LeSEA Broadcasting, is an American Christian television network. Done! The late Lester Sumrall stepped into a pulpit for the first time when he was 17. For convenience and ease of use, the website pairs the video teaching series with the corresponding book and study guides. The network features classic movies. Called Fearless Faith - A Journey, A Discovery, An . He was one of the most colourful preachers of the 20th century. Sumrall remained married to his wife until his death in 1996. Please open it and confirm your subscription. In addition to FETV, a second national entertainment channel was launched by FBC in 2021 called Family Movie Classics. Soon after, he earned a degree from Oral Roberts Universitys School of Business. Lester Sumrall is a third-generation minister and visionary. . His mother was a Christian, she dedicated the child to God before he was born and prayed that he would become a preacher. Together, they were blessed with three children: Frank Lester (born 1946), Phillip Stephen (1950), and Peter Andrew (1953-2015). Listen Live: Harvest FM broadcast radio offers a mix of interactive talk, Bible teaching programs and a light mix of inspirational music, 24 hours a day. "LeSEA continues to remain true to its founding principles, the evidence of which is our television and radio signals broadcast across America and around the world," Drew tellsCharisma News. The LeSEA founders namesake said his grandfather designated him a successor, and that he has a document to prove it. "If you participate in our crowd-funding campaign you'll also receive some special insider perks. LeSEA Tours believes that traveling to Israel is an opportunity of a lifetime. Spread the Word has the audacious goal of sending a Bible to every single person that needs one, the world over. Please open it and confirm your subscription. Lester Sumrall, with the help and support of his family, and many friends, founded LeSEA (Lester Sumrall Evangelistic Association) in 1957: A ministry which has subsequently given birth to well over one hundred books and study guides, eleven television stations, a satellite ministry, an FM radio station, three short-wave radio stations reaching over ninety percent of the world's . WHKE signed on June 1988 and was owned by LeSea. Andrew Drew Sumrall said Lester L. Sumralls claims are baseless. Les was a loving father to Randy, Jess, Kerry, Danny, Kevin, Christian, Eric, Jared, Daren, and their spouses. He established Feed the Hungry in 1987. 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