Johnny M. Hunt (born July 17, 1952) is an American Baptist pastor and author from Lumberton, North Carolina.
He led First Baptist Church Woodstock in Georgia for 33 years and served as president of the Southern Baptist Convention from 2008 to 2010.
He was the first Native American to hold that role. Since a 2022 report accused him of sexual assault, his name has been tied to a long court fight and a disputed return to preaching.
Johnny Hunt at a Glance
| Personal | |
|---|---|
| Full name | Johnny M. Hunt |
| Born | July 17, 1952 Lumberton, North Carolina, USA |
| Age | 74 (as of September 2026) |
| Nationality | American (Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina) |
| Spouse | Janet Allen Hunt (married more than 50 years) |
| Children | Deanna Hunt Carswell and Hollie Hunt Hixson |
| Grandchildren | Four, plus two great-grandchildren |
| Home | Panama City, Florida |
| Education | |
| College | Gardner-Webb College |
| Seminary | Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary |
| Honorary doctorates | Immanuel Baptist Theological Seminary, Covington Theological Seminary, Tennessee Temple University |
| Ministry | |
| Best known as | Former pastor, First Baptist Church Woodstock, Georgia (1986 to 2019) |
| Denomination | Southern Baptist |
| SBC president | 2008 to 2010 |
| Former role | Senior Vice President, North American Mission Board (resigned May 2022) |
| Current status | Guest preacher and conference speaker, no pastorate |
| Ministry | Johnny Hunt Ministries and It’s a New Day Ministries |
| Career | |
| Books | Building Your Spiritual Resume, Impact, Unspoken and more |
| Net worth | Not publicly verified |
| Salary | Not publicly confirmed |
Early Life and Background
Where Is Johnny Hunt From?
Johnny Hunt was born in Lumberton, North Carolina. He is a member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina. He often says he grew up poor, on welfare and in government housing.
His father left the family when Johnny was seven. He dropped out of school at 16 and managed a pool room. He also struggled with drinking and gambling as a teenager.
Conversion and Education
Hunt describes a sudden conversion to Christianity in his teens. He tells that story in his testimony, Out of the Poolroom.
Men from his home church in Wilmington, North Carolina, mentored him. He came to believe God had called him to ministry.
He earned degrees from Gardner-Webb College and Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Three schools later gave him honorary doctorates. In 1997, Southeastern created the Johnny Hunt Chair of Biblical Preaching in his name.
Ministry Career
Early Churches
Hunt began in small North Carolina churches. He worked at Lavonia Baptist Church in Mooresboro (1976 to 1979) and Falls Baptist Church in Wake Forest (1979 to 1980). He then pastored Longleaf Baptist Church in Wilmington (1981 to 1986).
33 Years at First Baptist Woodstock
In 1986, Hunt became pastor of First Baptist Church Woodstock in Georgia. The church grew from about 1,000 members to more than 19,000 under him. It became one of the largest churches in the country.
In 2016, the church marked his 40 years in ministry and 30 years as its pastor. In August 2018, he told the church he would move to a national role. He left the pulpit in December 2019 after 33 years.
National Roles
Hunt was president of the SBC Pastors’ Conference in 1996. In June 2008, he took over as SBC president from Frank Page. Bryant Wright followed him in 2010.
Hunt later became senior vice president of evangelism and leadership at the North American Mission Board (NAMB). NAMB is the SBC’s church-planting and evangelism arm. He held that job until May 2022.
Other Baptist leaders of his generation include Charles Stanley and Jerry Vines, who also led the SBC. Years later, J.D. Greear became the convention’s president as well.
Johnny Hunt Sermons, Conferences and Books
Johnny Hunt Sermons
Hunt is known as a verse-by-verse preacher with a warm, plain style. He built a large following through his Sunday sermons, his ministry website and video clips.
He also hosts an annual men’s conference, which lists a 2026 event. He is a featured speaker at the Jubilee Conferences in Branson and Myrtle Beach.
Books by Johnny Hunt
- Building Your Spiritual Resume (2007)
- Building Your Leadership Resume (2009)
- The Deacon I Want to Be (2008)
- Impact: The Student Leadership Devotional (2012)
- Pathway to Discipleship (2012)
- Unspoken (2018)
- Sermon note collections on Hebrews, Philippians, James, Ecclesiastes and Psalms
Johnny Hunt’s Wife and Family
Is Johnny Hunt Still Married?
Yes. Johnny Hunt is still married to Janet Allen Hunt. She is from Wilmington, North Carolina. They have been married for more than 50 years.
Janet stood beside him when the Woodstock church heard about his move to NAMB in 2018. She also appeared with him in the video announcing his restoration in 2022.
Johnny Hunt’s Children and Grandchildren
The Hunts have two daughters, Deanna Hunt Carswell and Hollie Hunt Hixson. His conference bio lists four grandchildren, Katie, Carson, Hope and Addie, plus two great-grandchildren.
What Happened With Johnny Hunt?
Short answer: a 2022 investigation said he assaulted another pastor’s wife in 2010, he denied assault, and his career came apart. Here is the order of events.
The 2022 Guidepost Report
On May 22, 2022, Guidepost Solutions released its report on how the SBC handled abuse claims. It included an account of a July 2010 incident in a Panama City, Florida, condo.
The woman was the wife of a pastor Hunt had mentored. The two couples were vacationing at the same time.
Guidepost said its investigators found the pastor and his wife credible. It said a counseling minister and three other witnesses backed parts of their account.
It said Hunt’s statements were not credible. The report said Hunt sexually assaulted her.
Hunt has given a different version. He has called the encounter “brief, but improper” and consensual.
He denies it was abuse or assault. In a later statement he described it as “only kissing and some awkward fondling.”
Who Is Alisa Womack?
Alisa Womack is the woman at the center of the report. Guidepost did not name her, and she used the name “Jane Doe” in court. She identified herself publicly in April 2025 after a judge’s ruling.
Womack said the lawsuit dragged her in “not of my own making or desire.” She said she was subpoenaed and questioned for hours in a deposition. Her statement is covered by ChurchLeaders.
Job and Title Losses
Hunt resigned from NAMB in May 2022, just before the report came out. First Baptist Woodstock suspended him as pastor emeritus that summer. Church leaders called for counseling, accountability and restoration.
Is Johnny Hunt Still in Ministry?
Yes, but not as a pastor. In November 2022, four pastors released a video declaring Hunt restored. They were Steven Kyle, Mark Hoover, Benny Tate and Mike Whitson. Kyle said Hunt and his wife had gone through months of counseling and reflection.
SBC president Bart Barber pushed back. He said the four men did not speak for the convention. He said he would remove Hunt from ministry if he had the authority.
Hunt returned to the pulpit on January 15, 2023, at Hiland Park Baptist Church in Panama City. Kyle is the pastor there. Hunt then preached at other churches and returned to Jubilee and his own men’s conference.
Court records unsealed in 2026 include texts between Hunt and Kyle about his return. In them, Hunt suggested asking another leader to review the restoration video, according to reporting on the filings.
Johnny Hunt Lawsuit and Settlement
There has been no Johnny Hunt settlement. The case ended in court losses for Hunt. He has appealed.
What Hunt Sued Over
Hunt sued the SBC, its Executive Committee and Guidepost Solutions on March 17, 2023. He claimed the report defamed him and cost him millions. Later filings added Al Mohler, Ed Litton, Bart Barber and others. His damage claims grew to more than $105 million, per Baptist Press.
How the Case Ended
- September 2024: Mediation failed, so no deal was reached.
- March 31, 2025: Judge William Campbell ruled for Guidepost, the SBC and the Executive Committee on all claims but one. He said Guidepost had corroborated Womack’s account and Hunt named no evidence it ignored.
- August 12, 2026: Campbell dismissed the last claim, over a 2022 tweet by Bart Barber. He found Hunt was a public figure and showed no actual malice.
- August 2026: Hunt filed a notice of appeal, according to Baptist Press.
The SBC Executive Committee reported spending more than $3.1 million on legal fees tied to the Hunt case and a second suit by April 2025.
Where Is Johnny Hunt Now? Update for September 2026
Johnny Hunt lives in Panama City, Florida, and still preaches. He has no church pulpit of his own. His ministry website lists his conferences, and the 2026 Jubilee pages still list him as a speaker.
His legal fight is not over. He appealed the dismissal within days of the August 2026 ruling. No court date on the appeal has been reported.
Another SBC pastor, David Sills, has a separate defamation case against the convention that is still pending, as reported by Religion News Service.
Johnny Hunt Net Worth and Salary
No verified net worth or salary figure exists for Johnny Hunt. First Baptist Woodstock and NAMB have not published his pay. Hunt has not shared his finances.
What is known comes from a 2023 report by The Roys Report and the Trinity Foundation. It said Hunt and his wife own three homes.
Two are in Woodstock and one is a beach house in Florida, bought for $925,000 in 2020. Home values are not a net worth figure.
The same report said Johnny Hunt Ministries paid Hunt no salary in its latest available tax filing. The ministry took in more than $100,000 from product sales.
It is unclear what royalties or speaking fees Hunt receives personally.
Interesting Facts About Johnny Hunt
- He was the first Native American president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
- He ran a pool room as a teenager before he became a pastor.
- Southeastern Seminary has a preaching chair named after him.
- His church grew from about 1,000 to more than 19,000 members.
- He wrote about his own life in Out of the Poolroom.
Johnny Hunt Timeline
- 1952: Born July 17 in Lumberton, North Carolina.
- 1976: Begins ministry at Lavonia Baptist Church, Mooresboro.
- 1981 to 1986: Pastors Longleaf Baptist Church, Wilmington.
- 1986: Becomes pastor of First Baptist Church Woodstock, Georgia.
- 1996: Named president of the SBC Pastors’ Conference.
- 1997: Southeastern Seminary creates the Johnny Hunt Chair of Biblical Preaching.
- 2008: Elected president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
- 2010: Term ends. The July 2010 incident in Panama City later appears in the Guidepost report.
- 2018: Announces a move to NAMB.
- 2019: Leaves First Baptist Woodstock after 33 years.
- May 2022: Guidepost report is released and Hunt resigns from NAMB.
- Summer 2022: Woodstock suspends him as pastor emeritus.
- November 2022: Four pastors declare him restored.
- January 2023: Returns to preaching in Panama City.
- March 2023: Files suit against the SBC and Guidepost.
- March 2025: Judge rules against nearly all his claims.
- April 2025: Alisa Womack identifies herself publicly.
- August 2026: Final claim dismissed. Hunt files an appeal.
Frequently Asked Questions About Johnny Hunt
Who is Pastor Johnny Hunt?
He is an American Baptist pastor and author. He led First Baptist Church Woodstock in Georgia for 33 years. He served as SBC president from 2008 to 2010.
What happened to Johnny Hunt?
A 2022 Guidepost report said he sexually assaulted a pastor’s wife in 2010. Hunt denies assault and calls the encounter consensual. He resigned from NAMB and lost his emeritus title. His lawsuit against the SBC was dismissed.
Where is Pastor Johnny Hunt now?
He lives in Panama City, Florida. He preaches at churches and conferences and has no pastorate. He appealed his lawsuit loss in August 2026.
Is Johnny Hunt still in ministry?
Yes, as a guest preacher and conference host. Four friends declared him restored in 2022. SBC leaders said those four do not speak for the convention.
Is Johnny Hunt still married?
Yes. He is still married to Janet Allen Hunt. They have been married for more than 50 years.
Who is Johnny Hunt’s wife?
Janet Allen Hunt of Wilmington, North Carolina. They have two daughters, Deanna and Hollie.
Who is Alisa Womack?
She is the woman who told Guidepost that Hunt assaulted her in 2010. She was called Jane Doe in court and identified herself in April 2025.
What was the Johnny Hunt settlement?
There was none. Mediation failed in September 2024. A judge ruled against Hunt in March 2025 and August 2026, and he has appealed.
What is Johnny Hunt’s net worth?
No reliable number exists. He has not published his finances.
How much is Johnny Hunt worth?
Nobody can say. A 2023 report found he owned three homes, but that does not give a net worth.
What is Johnny Hunt’s salary?
It is not publicly confirmed. His ministry reported paying him no salary in the latest tax filing available in 2023.
Who is Sir John Hunt?
He was a British Army officer who led the 1953 Everest expedition. He is not the same person as Pastor Johnny Hunt.
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