In Memory
Rev. Frank Lester Sumrall
December 31, 1946 ~ January 28, 2025 78 Years Old
On January 28th, 2025, at 1:20 pm, Reverend Frank Lester Sumrall peacefully entered the Presence of Jesus at his residence in Florida surrounded by family and friends.
At the time of his passing, Frank was 78 years old. He is preceded in death by his parents, Dr. Lester Frank Sumrall and Louise Sumrall, his uncle and aunt Rev. James and Leona Murphy his younger brother Peter A. Sumrall, and his first wife Carol Sumrall mother of his two children Lester and Amber Sumrall. He is survived by his second wife, Karen L. Naylor Sumrall of Lehigh Acres, Florida; his brother, Rev. Stephen (Diane) Sumrall of Saint Joseph, Michigan; his son, Lester (Sarah) Sumrall of Bristol, Indiana; his four grandchildren Zoe, Judah, Abigail, and Shiloh Sumrall; his daughter, Amber Sumrall of South Bend; and other nieces and nephews.
At the time of his passing, Frank had been serving in full time ministry for sixty years.
Frank loved to preach the Good News of Jesus Christ and His resurrection, and to see God’s grace transforming hearts and lives. Throughout his life, he worked in global evangelism, including missions, radio, and television ministry alongside his father, Dr. Lester Sumrall. He helped build the Lester Sumrall Evangelistic Association (LeSEA), LeSEA (Family) Broadcasting, and Feed The Hungry.
As the first child of missionary parents, Frank was raised in the US, the Philippines, Israel, and Hong Kong.
Frank attended Howe Military Academy in Howe, Indiana, and Canyonville Bible Academy in Canyonville, Oregon, then later graduated from Riley High School in South Bend in 1966. He went on to study Theology at Trinity Bible College in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and Elim Bible Institute in Lima, New York, in preparation for ministry.
On Memorial Day weekend of 1970, Frank married Carol M. Thirsk. Frank and Carol continued to serve at Bethel Temple (later renamed Christian Center) in South Bend, where they served along side Dr. Sumrall and the Sumrall family in various missions-related outreaches.
In the early 1970s, Frank and Carol served as missionaries in Southeast Asia, including Indonesia, Hong Kong, and The Philippines.
God had put a vision in Frank’s father’s heart to win one million souls to Christ through mass media (radio and television at that time). Frank assisted his father in fulfilling this vision by serving as one of the first on-air disc jockeys at the Christian radio station 103.1FM (Now known as Pulse FM).
For several decades, Rev. Frank Sumrall served as a local pastor at Christian Center in South Bend, alongside his father and close uncle, Rev. James Murphy. Frank loved music and singing, often leading the congregation in worship, singing, and praise. His love for God, family and friends shined through in his approachable demeanor. He often came early for worship services and left only after spending quality time connecting with people in the congregation.
During this time, he also served as a teacher at World Harvest Bible College, hosting Bible studies with students at the University of Notre Dame and Bethel College.
Frank was a member of a Christian motorcycle club known as the World Harvest Riders and served as a chaplain before various rides and rallies.
His sincere faith and easy-going personality made him fun to be around.
From the time that his father purchased WHMB Channel 40 in Indianapolis, Rev. Sumrall and his uncle, Rev. Murphy, hosted a weekly prayer meeting at the onsite chapel. This prayer meeting developed into a congregation known as Indy Christian Center where Rev. Sumrall was the Senior Pastor for several years, prior to moving to Florida.
Rev. Sumrall was invited to join the faculty of River Bible Institute in Tampa, Florida, where he shared from God’s Word and his extensive ministry experiences around the world.
He continued to travel and do ministry, both in the US and abroad. He has left an amazing legacy of faith for future generations.
Acts 17:28a, “for in Him we live and move and have our being.”
1 Thess. 4:13-18 NJKV, “But I do not want you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning those who have fallen [a]asleep, lest you sorrow as others who have no hope. For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so God will bring with Him those who [b]sleep in Jesus. For this we say to you by the word of the Lord, that we who are alive and remain until the coming of the Lord will by no means precede those who are [c]asleep. For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus, we shall always be with the Lord. Therefore comfort one another with these words.”
Friends may visit with the family from 5:00 – 8:00 pm on Friday, February 14, 2025, at Palmer Funeral Home – River Park Chapel, 2528 Mishawaka Ave., South Bend, IN 46615. Celebration of Life Services will be held at 2:00pm Saturday, February 15, 2025, at Tri Lakes Community Church, 50755 CR23, Bristol, IN 46507 (five minutes north of Exit 96-Elkhart East on the Indiana Toll Road). This service will be livestreamed on the Facebook page for Tri Lakes Community Church: https://www.facebook.com/trilakescommunitychurch.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made at Legacyoffaith.com.
Online condolences may be shared with the family at: www.palmerfuneralhomes.com.
02/08/2025 djb
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