FTH bio: Peter sumrall
Peter Sumrall
President of LeSEA Broadcasting, LeSEA Ministries and LeSEA Global
Feed the Hungry; Peter Andrew Sumrall has a rich legacy of missions and ministry.
Born on the mission field in 1953 Peter became the youngest son of world evangelists Dr. Lester Sumrall and Louise Sumrall. His parents were raising up a church in Manila, Philippines. Being the son of missionaries, Peter’s upbringing was always focused on the goal of winning lost souls for Christ. His formal education took him to schools in Manila, Hong Kong, Jerusalem and South Bend, IN.
After attending classes at Bethel College, Peter travelled in the early 1970’s with the group Living Sound throughout Asia. He returned to work full time for his father and LeSEA Ministries in 1973. Pete worked exclusively for the broadcasting division for 9 years working in almost every aspect of the business. In 1982, Peter was named general manager and in 1997 named COO of LeSEA Broadcasting.
Through the years of his leadership, LeSEA Broadcasting has grown to be able to own and operate thirteen television stations, and three FM radio stations, five high powered, international short wave radio stations, two satellite channels covering all of Africa, Asia and Europe. The flagship channel for the network is World Harvest Television (WHT) and can be seen currently on DireTV Ch 321.
In 1996, Dr. Sumrall passed away leaving the leadership of the ministry in the hands of his sons. Peter assumed the leadership of LeSEA Ministries and LeSEA Global Feed the Hungry in February of 2005.
All three ministries of LeSEA strive to fulfil Dr. Lester Sumrall’s passion of winning a millions souls to Jesus every day.
In 2005, Peter was elected to the Board of Regents of Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
LeSEA Broadcasting
LeSEA Broadcasting has a rich legacy of media ministry. We've had our feet firmly planted in media ministry for over thirty years. Dr. Lester Sumrall's legacy of missions and ministry has taught us to learn from the past while we walk in the present and focus on the future.
In 1968, Dr. Sumrall purchased LeSEA's flagship station WHME. Dr. Sumrall believed that a time would come when Christian Broadcasting would be much more difficult to air. He dreamed of bringing the message of God's love and mercy to every nation. That dream was fulfilled through the years with the purchasing of thirteen television stations, a satellite ministry, an FM radio station, and five short wave radio stations reaching over ninety percent of the world's population.
LeSEA Broadcasting has continued to strive through the years to meet the competitive challenge of the broadcasting world. Through the years, LeSEA has developed a close-knit network of business partners who share our spiritual mission and vision. This relationship has resulted in quality programming and into the expansion of the network. LeSEA Broadcasting now houses a full service travel department; a product based health system, Healthy Choices; an annual Christian music festival, The World Pulse Festival; and a television station broadcasting to the Middle East, METV.
Broadcasting to over seventy million households throughout Israel and the Middle East, METV is able to go the heart of the conflict and reach the people most difficult to reach. LeSEA is continually striving towards a balance of respect between the various cultures through a variety of programming while still maintaining its message of the Gospel.
LeSEA Broadcasting is now building the foundation for the future, digital television. In accordance with FCC regulations, LeSEA is taking the steps towards digital conversion; towards a faster more advanced world while maintaining its desire to uphold the moral principles of its founder by always adhering to the highest ethical standards. The vision of Dr. Sumrall has remained with LeSEA Broadcasting through the years and will continue to remain for years to come. "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 everyday, if we continue to carry the same vision and consecration."
Significant Moments in the History of LeSEA Broadcasting
- 1913 Birth of Lester Frank Sumrall (February 15).
- 1930 Lester Sumrall is healed of tuberculosis and is called by God to become a preacher.
- 1932 Lester Sumrall becomes an ordained minister.
- 1957 Lester Sumrall establishes the Lester Sumrall Evangelistic Association (LeSEA).
- 1968 LeSEA Broadcasting’s flagship station, WHME/ Harvest 103.1 FM, begins broadcasting as the result of the vision Lester Sumrall had that a time would come when Christian broadcasting would much more difficult to air.
- 1970 Prayerline is established to provide twenty-four hour help for people needing comfort and encouragement.
- 1972 WHMB TV 40 goes on the air in Indianapolis, Indiana.
- 1977 WHME-TV 46 goes on the air in South Bend, Indiana.
- 1985 Short-wave radio is added to LeSEA Broadcasting when World Harvest Radio (WHRI), Angel 1 signs on the air, covering Central and South America, as well as the Caribbean.
- 1985 KWHB-TV 47 goes on the air in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
- 1985 KWHE-TV 14 goes on the air in Honolulu, Hawaii.
- 1987 WHRI, Angel 2 goes on the air covering Europe, Central and South America.
- First year of LeSEA’s outdoor Christian music festival hosted by WHME-FM for free for all their listeners.
- Fire destroys LeSEA Broadcasting’s headquarters in South Bend, Indiana. Two years later the new building is completed and dedicated.
- 1990 KWHD-TV 53 goes on the air in Denver, Colorado and KWHS-TV 51 in Colorado Springs, Colorado.
- 1993 KWHR (Angel 3) goes on the air covering China and Eastern Asia.
- LeSEA’s full-service tour agency is established, LeSEA Tours.
- 1994 Making Healthy Choices is added to the LeSEA family.
- WHNO-TV 20 goes on the air in New Orleans, Louisiana.
- 1995 LeSEA Internet Services is opened from South Bend, Indiana.
- 1996 Dr. Lester Sumrall passes away at age 83 (April 28).
- 1997 KWHR (Angel 4) goes on the air covering the South Pacific.
- 1998 WHRA (Angel 5) goes on the air covering Africa and the Middle East.
- 2000 First phase of Spread the Word campaign is launched to distribute 100,000 Bibles.
- LeSEA’s Annual Christian music festival draws record numbers of 50,000+ for the first time.
- 2001 Middle East Television (METV) goes on the air covering the Middle East from Limassol, Cyprus.
- 2002 Second phase of Spread the Word campaign is launched to distribute 50,000 Bibles.
- LeSEA’s stations begin converting into a digital format regulated by the FCC.
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