‘Tens of Thousands’ Saved During International Meetings
Dr. Pete Sulak in January 2013 at a children’s home in Kismathpur, India, supported by his nonprofit, Matthew 10 International Ministries.
Since 2006, Pete Sulak, a chiropractor and self-described charismatic Christian, has taken his message of healing of body and soul far from his Knoxville office.
In December, Sulak plans to travel 8,400 miles to Andhra Pradesh, a southern state in India, through a nonprofit he founded called Matthew 10 International Ministries. He said he takes no salary from the ministry.
“I preach a simple message,” said Sulak. “God created a perfect world, sin destroyed it. Jesus fixed it, and you can receive it.”
Sulak said he will preach in English with a translator to Telagu, the local dialect.
“At a recent festival, I preached 300,000 people in four nights, and the largest crowd was 130,000 people,” said Sulak. “We were able to see tens of thousands of people give their lives to Christ. We've been able to plant 15 new churches, and many of the existing ones will grow.”
In the Knoxville, Tennessee area, Matthew 10 International Ministries sponsors local Christian movies, Sulak said.
“We do that just to be a blessing to the community,” said Sulak. “We pay for it, provide free food for everybody and invite our patients and people around the community to come. I usually present the gospel at the end.” Their next sponsored movie is “The Remaining,” at West Town Mall on Sept. 4.
Overseas, Sulak partners with Manna Group of Ministries in India, which runs 42 children's homes. Matthew 10 finances about 150 of the 5,000 children they house, Sulak said. He expects to see the children in December on his next visit. “They call me daddy, and I don't deserve that at all,” he said.
“Dr. Pete Sulak has preached in nine festivals as well as assisting in support for children homes that we run,” said Manna Group chairman, the Rev. Sudarshan Jyoti Komanapalli. “He has also assisted in building of a children’s home, and in some remodeling projects in some of our homes. He has also introduced us to others who have donated to our work.”
Sulak said he never thought he’d be a chiropractor, or a preacher, growing up in Minnesota.
“I was going to be a coach like my dad and grandfather. But once I started dating, I realized I needed to make more money, honestly. We had a family friend who was a chiropractor and offered to pay my expenses if I’d go into business with him.”
Sulak graduated from Northwestern Health Science University in Bloomington, Minn., and had an internship in Morristown, Tenn.
"I was expecting to go back to Minnesota, but the door closed there, which we thought was strange. So we began to look around here. And on the last day we were driving from Maryville to Oak Ridge, took a wrong exit in Farragut and said, ?This is it.' "
Sulak said he knocked on 11,000 doors, 10 hours a day for four months to drum up business in 2002 in West Knoxville. “That’s hard for an introvert. People see me on stage, and don’t believe it. They don't realize my wife's the fun one. I’m shy.”
Sulak’s wife, Stephanie, stays home with their four sons, ranging from ages 5 to 15. The whole Sulak family followed “Dr. Pete,” as he calls himself, to Knoxville. His mother and sister work in his office, and his brother is a chiropractor in North Knoxville. “My dad helps drive the kids around,” he said.
Although he grew up in a Christian home, Sulak said it was a mission trip to Africa in 2004 that changed his life. “I received the baptism of the Holy Spirit. My prayers changed because I had an encounter with the Lord, and realized my life was not my own, and I’m meant to share the Gospel.”
He has no formal training in preaching. “No, I just love Jesus,” he said. “I’m just a chiropractor in Knoxville, Tennessee. My Jesus didn't come to condemn the world, but to save it.”
Sulak prays with his patients, but said any healing or saving of souls is not his own doing.
Originally posted at Knox News, by Rebecca D. Williams.
