20/05/2026
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1CdEJMHtFA/
DIVINE CONNECTION.
Howard Carter was expecting to leave for a long missionary trip to the Far East when he received an unexpected invitation to preach in Eureka Springs, Arkansas. When he inquired of the Lord, he was amazed that God actually wanted him to accept the invitation to the United States.
At the same time, led by the “coincidental” hand of God, Lester Sumrall was impressed to leave a revival he was preaching in Oklahoma and drive 150 miles to Eureka Springs, Arkansas, for a Bible conference. Unsure of why the Lord wanted him to go there, he asked his sister, Leona, to pack up their things so they could be on their way.
On the day of Lester’s arrival, Howard Carter lectured on the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit, according to 1 Corinthians 12:7–10. Lester was fascinated by the depth of Howard’s understanding of the gifts of the Spirit—he was speaking of things Lester had never considered before.
After the lecture, Lester followed the Bible teacher outside to discuss the Scripture passage with him further. To his own amazement, after just a few polite words, Lester Sumrall began to speak prophetically to Howard Carter. He talked of things he had never considered, using language that was not in his Southern vocabulary. His prophecy began like this: “Wherever you go, I will go. Over the highest mountains, over the temptuous waves of the sea into the deep valleys, into the plains....” On and on, Lester spoke the exact words of prophecy that Howard Carter had received eighteen months earlier! His statement ended with, “...and you shall be unto me as a father.” Immediately after he had finished, Lester apologized for the unusual words, especially as they had been spoken to a stranger, and began to walk away, shaking his head.
With a bemused smile, Howard invited Lester to come to his hotel room to talk for a few minutes. They were accompanied by Stanley Frodsham, a Christian editor and friend of Howard’s. In the hotel room, Howard opened his prayer journal to reveal the prophetic words recorded a year and a half earlier over three thousand miles away on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean.
Dumbfounded, Lester listened as Howard questioned him about his interest in missions. When he asked Lester which country he was most interested in, Lester replied, “All of them.”111 Lester shared his vision from eighteen months earlier and the passionate call on his life to take the gospel message to the lost around the world. Thoughtfully, Howard asked him, “Are you willing to travel with me?” When Lester agreed, Howard responded immediately, “Then you’re the one!
The prophecy had proven true. Lester was more than willing to go and thus formed a godly bond of friendship that would last for the next forty-one years.
Although they began with a simple plan that Lester would be the evangelist and Howard would be the teacher, God had so much more in store for them. He established a Paul-and-Timothy type of relationship that benefited both of them personally and spiritually throughout the rough and glorious parts of ministry alike.
- 📕God’s Generals ( Healing Evangelists )
- Spiritual Notes
![Psalm 24:7-10 AMPC[7] Lift up your heads, O you gates; and be lifted up, you age-abiding doors, that the King of glory ...](https://img3.prayers1.com/998/860/1940718589988607.jpg)
