The Legacy of Lester Sumrall Comes to Life in New Film

February 2015 commemorates 102 years of Dr. Lester Sumrall’s life and legacy, and now an inspiring new documentary film about the life of Dr. Sumrall by his grandson, Lester Sumrall, is in production.

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.

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.”

He went on to say, “If you are reading this, I know that you are a person that appreciates the power of media to spread the good news of Christ around the world.

“The Message hasn’t changed, but as technology develops new tools become available. From magazines, transistor radios and television to the Internet and now mobile-friendly digital platforms, changes continue to unfold. Throughout the years there have been various pioneers who wanted to reach the masses and utilized media for the advancement of God’s kingdom.

“One of those pioneers was my grandfather, Dr. Lester Sumrall. He was one of the first to own and operate a full-power 24-hour-a-day Christian Broadcasting Station, WHMB in Indianapolis, Indiana.”

Communication through media wasn’t a new thing to Dr. Sumrall when he opened WHMB in 1972, because he’d used shortwave radio as early as 1943. He also used local television from the late 1940s onward. In 1963 he started WHME, a local FM station in South Bend, Indiana.

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.

“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.

“Throughout those faith-filled years he was an inspiration to many around the world. So many lives were touched; only heaven will know the full scope of influence his life and ministry had on the world.

“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. My journey took me to Hong Kong, China, the Philippines, Israel, England, Sweden and all across North America to interview some of his friends and peers.”

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.

“He was very excited about the project and its potential to share his story with a new generation,” he stated.

“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. But in 2010 when my mother suddenly passed away at 62 years of age, I realized how short life really is and I decided to get to work on this project.

“Throughout the process of making this film, I’ve come to realize the significance of this film, not only as a testimony of what God accomplished through Dr. Sumrall’s ministry, but also to inspire a new generation to pursue their God-given purpose and destiny.”

“Currently, the film is in its final phase of editing, and we’re raising $60,000 to professionally finish the project.

“To celebrate his life and legacy we are asking those who were touched by his life and ministry to join us in finishing the Fearless Faith Film Project by making a donation. 

“If you participate in our crowd-funding campaign you’ll also receive some special insider perks. Proceeds from the film will go to global relief efforts through Lester Sumrall International. For more information, go to lestersumrall.com.  

About Lester Sumrall

Lester Sumrall is a third-generation minister and visionary. For almost 20 years he has shared a message of destiny, purpose and hope in 40 countries of the world. In the early 1990s, Lester gave up a college basketball scholarship to obey God’s call on his life, a journey which took him to Scandinavia where he attended Word of Life Bible Institute.

Upon graduation, Lester traveled alongside his grandfather, Dr. Lester Sumrall, doing ministry and relief work around the world. Soon after, he earned a degree from Oral Roberts University School of Business.

In 1997, he founded Lester Sumrall International, and has since continued in the legacy passed to him of ministry, media and missions. Lester Sumrall is currently based in Indiana where he lives with his wife and children.