“I won’t be satisfied unless I win a million souls for Jesus everyday” – Dr. Lester Sumrall
Few evangelists have seen as much of the world as Lester Sumrall witnessed – and witnessed to. Lester Sumrall was one of the most colorful preachers of the 20th century.
Beginning as a fiery young preacher during the depression and ending with the foundation of a global ministry in 1987 aimed at wiping out hunger in Third World countries: his life story inspires as well as it teaches. Lester Sumrall was a man who threw himself at the feet of Jesus Christ, possessing a zealousness and long-term commitment that still amazes even those who knew him.
Lester Sumrall (1913-1996) was a world-renowned pastor and evangelist, entering full-time service for God after experiencing what he recalls as the most dramatic and significant thing that ever happened to him. At the age of 17, as he lay on a deathbed suffering from tuberculosis, he received a vision. Suspended in midair to the right of his bed was a casket; on his left was a large open Bible. He heard these words: “Lester Sumrall, which of these will you choose tonight?” He made his decision – he would preach the Gospel as long as he lived. When Lester Sumrall awoke the next morning, he was completely healed and served the Lord for sixty-five years.
Lester Sumrall traveled the world ministering in 110 countries, including Soviet Siberia, Russia, Tibet, and China. During his life he penned over 130 books. His evangelistic association (LeSEA – Lester Sumrall Evangelistic Ministries headquartered in South Bend, Indiana), is still actively spreading God’s Word. LeSEA ministries include such outreaches as the World Harvest Bible College, a teaching tape ministry, and numerous publications. Lester Sumrall also founded LeSEA Broadcasting, which owns and operates 13 Christian television stations, three FM radio stations, five international shortwave radio stations, and two
Satellite channels covering the entire continents of Africa, Asia & Europe. LeSEA Broadcasting reaches 90 percent of the world’s population with the special purpose of bringing those millions of souls to heaven.
Lester Sumrall’s goal was to win 1 million souls for the Kingdom of God every day.
God draws patterns for lives of men and women to instruct and direct them. He
creates a special design for each rational being who is
destined to live on this planet. If the individual wisely
follows this divine blueprint, he will build a strong,
successful, and happy character. Take time to analyze the
life of a good man, and see that it was not achieved by
accident or good fortune, but was a life in submission to
the will of God.
The Making of a Champion
Lester Frank Sumrall was born to Betty and George Sumrall of
New Orleans on February 15, 1913.
“My mother had decided, even before I was born, that I was
going to be a preacher. She had prayed for me fervently
while I was in her womb – back when I couldn’t do anything
about it, except kick a little! I was born at home, child
number six and completely unplanned.”
“My mother was a gentle, kind, and godly woman. I loved her
and wanted to please her, but I didn’t want to be like her
because that meant I had to be good. On the other hand, if I
followed in my father’s footsteps, I could be my own boss
and do whatever I pleased. While the inner battle raged, I
dug in my heels, determined to be like my own daddy.”
Courage to Conquer
Fortunately, God had other plans for Lester Sumrall. At the
age of 17, he lay dying of tuberculosis without hope of
recovery – at least according to his doctors. It was at this
time that God gave him a choice of either preaching the
Gospel or dying an untimely death. He chose to serve God.
Leaving his home in Panama City, Fla., he became a “brush
arbor” preacher in the backwoods of Florida, Tennessee, and
Arkansas.
“The first 18 months away from home as a young preacher-boy
were my introduction to the school of evangelism. I didn’t
look much like a preacher in my 92 pounds of city-boy
finery, but I did manage to convince farmers along the way
to open up their schoolhouses and let us hold revival
services.
“At times I was brash, abrupt, and negative. Often the
people simply laughed at me, which irritated me to no end.
One night I was so dejected that I didn’t even try to take
up an offering, and I didn’t ask anyone if they wanted to be
saved either. The next morning the host-farmer said, ‘Young
man, if you don’t work, you don’t eat. If you plan to stay
here any longer, you can feed the hogs.’ Then he shoved two
big pails of slop into my hands.
“’Feed the Hogs?!’ As I carried those heavy buckets, the
foul-smelling slop washed over onto my clothes and into my
shoes. After that I was really able to identify with the
story of the Prodigal Son. I lay down in the middle of the
corn field not caring if my clothes were getting dirty and
cried out, ‘Oh, Lord, maybe I should go home and die!’ But
the Lord calmed me saying, ‘If you will be faithful to Me,
Lester, in these little things, I will give you much greater
things.’”
Lester stayed with the “country folk” long enough to see
them come around and respond to the move of the Holy Spirit.
It was also during this time that God showed him, through a
vision, the next step he was to take. The vision revealed
multitudes, men and women of various nationalities, going to
hell – and their blood was on the young preacher’s hands.
This vision, in much the same way as the first, took
Lester’s life in an entirely new direction.
Faith Can Change Your World
On December 18, 1931, the night of my second vision, far
away in London, England, Howard Carter was praying. He was
so moved by what he sensed God telling him that he wrote the
words of the message down: ‘I have found a companion for
thee; I have called a worker to stand beside thee... He is
called and chosen and shalt join thee. Behold he cometh; he
cometh from afar. He cometh to help thee to carry thy burden
and be a strength at thy side, and thou shalt find pleasure
in his service and shalt delight in his fellowship.’”
Lester Sumrall was that companion. What ensued was a
relationship not unlike that of Paul and Timothy’s and a
ministry that changed the course of the world. Together, the
two men forged new territory in the arena of spiritual
warfare as they cast out devils, won new converts,
established churches, and instructed men and women of God
from Australia to England. After growing in the grace and
knowledge of God, and meeting pioneers of faith such as
Smith Wigglesworth, World War II separated Lester from his
friends in England. Fortunately, the war also served to
unite him to a woman with whom he would spend the majority
of his years.
God’s Blueprint For a Happy Home
“On my way home by train, I stopped for Gospel meetings in
British Columbia, speaking in the towns of Terrace, Smithers,
and Prince George. In each, I kept hearing about this lovely
Louise Layman, that pretty, young missionary from Argentina
– and the rich blessing that she had been wherever she went.
“I became even more curious to meet her. She sounded like
quite an intrepid missionary. What kind of courage had
brought a young woman up into Canada during the winter?
Normally, only zealous male missionaries brought the Gospel
here. “I wondered if I would ever get to meet her.”
Lester would indeed have the opportunity to meet “Miss
Louisa” at – in the most appropriate of places – a wedding
ceremony in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Their eyes met, they
smiled at each other, and the rest... is history.
Lester Sumrall and Louise Layman were married on September
30, 1944. Taking the “unconventional” route to honeymooning,
the newlyweds began a 50,000-mile missionary tour and life
together that spanned over 49 years. Throughout the course
of their marriage they ministered and lived in various
foreign locales and, as Lester Sumrall so often and proudly
stated, “never had a quarrel.” God, rewarding Lester’s
faithfulness, blessed he and Louise with three industrious
sons (Frank, Stephen, and Peter) and 11 grandchildren, all
of whom have witnessed the goodness that one man’s life can
bring.
World Harvest
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 100 books and study guides, 13
television stations, two satellite ministry, three FM radio
stations, five shortwave stations reaching over 90 percent
of the world’s population, and a quarterly magazine. Perhaps
the crowning glory of Lester Sumrall’s work is his ongoing
ministry to feed desperately poor families within the Body
of Christ. Established in 1987,
LeSEA Global Feed the
Hungry® has given millions of pounds in food and supplies
valued at millions of dollars to countless believers around
the globe. And again, as Lester Sumrall so often said, “This
is just the beginning. There are greater blessings ahead!”
Lester Sumrall Legacy
I am assured that this ministry will continue in the second
generation, and I pray in the third as well, if Jesus
tarries. We will experience success in our efforts to reach
those million souls for Christ, if we continue to carry the
same vision and consecration.
Men who do not make provision for successors in business or
ministry often leave behind problems that someone else has
to clear up. Either that, or they leave no business or
ministry at all. I feel that God will give a smooth
transition for my successors, as I have provided them with
an organization that can expand and grow. Instead of a mess,
I will leave behind a well-organized, expertly managed
evangelistic ministry. My sons will not have to struggle to
match my accomplishments in the ministry either. They have
developed a working relationship together that will far
exceed anything I could accomplish alone.
"I can imagine my sons facing some dilemma in the ministry
and asking one another, ‘What would Dad have done in this
situation?’ I wish I could leave behind all the answers, but
I cannot. In fact, that will not be necessary. I know the
Holy Spirit is already guiding my sons as He has guided me.
They will always have Him to turn to whenever they are not
sure of the way. Good-bye, planet Earth! It’s been nice
knowing you.” – Lester Sumrall
This article used with permission from LeSEA Global Feed
The Hungry, an organization founded by Dr. Lester Sumrall in
1987. They can be reached at
www.feedthehungry.org.
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