Johnny M. Hunt Former President of the Southern Baptist Convention

Johnny M. Hunt is an evangelical Christian pastor, author and former President of the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC). He was formerly the senior pastor of First Baptist Church Woodstock, Georgia.

Johnny was born in Lumberton , North Carolina. He is a member of the Lumbee Native American Indian tribe based in North Carolina.

His father left the family when he was just 7. Johnny became an alcoholic and gambler at a young age -dropping out of school and ‘managing’ a pool room.

In his book Out of the Poolroom he tells how he had a radical conversion to Christianity. He was mentored by several men from his home church in Wilmington, North Carolina and came to the realization that God had called him to the ministry.

He earned degrees at Gardner- Webb College (B.A)1979 and the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary (MD) 1981.

He ministered at a number of churches, including his home church of Longleaf Baptist Church in Wilmington. He became senior minister at First Baptist Church (FBC) in Woodstock Georgia (1986 -December 2019).

FBC Woodstock when he joined had about 1,000 members , It grew to more than 19,000 members during his 33 years of ministry and is now one of the largest churches in the USA.

In June 1996 he was named President of SBC Pastor’s Conference. On 11th March 1997 the Johnny Hunt Chair of Biblical Preaching was established at the Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. In June 2008 he became president of the SBC (2008-10). He has also received 3 honorary doctorates for his work in ministry.

November 2016 he celebrated his 40 years in ministry and 30 years of serving as senior pastor at FBC ,Woodstock.

He published 12 books . (see Publications)

In August 2018 he announced, with his wife Janet, he would be transitioning out of his full time pastoral position to fulfill a Senior VP ministry for the North American Mission Board.

Others That singular focus summarizes the contagious passion that Pastor Johnny has imparted to the countless lives across the globe that his preaching and shepherding have touched.

Sources used
The preaching Ministry of Johnny Hunt
wikipedia