Guide Note

Johnny Hunt is the President of the Southern Baptist Convention, the largest Protestant denomination in the United States. He is believed to be the first Native American leader of the politically and socially powerful organization.

Fast Facts

1. Leader: Southern Baptist Convention (SBC)
2. Size of denomination: 16.2 million
3. Born: ca. 1953
4. Raised: Wilmington, North Carolina
5. Pastor: First Baptist Woodstock, Woodstock, Georgia
6. Member of the Lumbee Tribe
7. Elected leader of SBC on June 10, 2008
8. Succeeded Rev. Frank Page in leadership post
9. Opposed to legalized abortion and gay rights

Hunt grew up in Wilmington, North Carolina and spent most of his teenage years playing pool. After finding religion in the early 1970s, Hunt began preaching. In 1986, he became the Pastor of the First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Georgia and membership grew under his leadership. On June 10, 2008, Hunt was elected the leader of the Southern Baptist Convention by 53% of the organization's vote.