Bio

 

Dr. Joel C. Hunter

Dr. Hunter served as senior pastor of Northland Church in Longwood, Florida for 32 years. In 2017 he transitioned from that role on a mission to “go from my best interpretation of what the Bible says to my best imitation of how Jesus lived.” In 2018, Orlando Magazine listed him as the #1 most powerful voice for philanthropy and community engagement. And 2019 was his sixth year to be highlighted as one of Orlando's "50 Most Powerful." Now, Dr. Hunter serves as Pastor of Community Benefit at ACTION CHURCH. He is the chairman, of the CENTRAL FLORIDA PLEDGE campaign. Daily, Dr. Hunter can be heard on Z88.3 radio sharing one-minute devotionals that encourage listeners “Let’s go help somebody!”

A longtime bridge-builder who seeks common ground for the common good, Dr. Hunter approaches today’s challenges in a biblical and balanced manner. Cooperation and partnership are hallmarks of his ministry. Together, he believes, we can accomplish more because of our differences than we would on our own—without giving up our unique identities. “People are missing a way to benefit from differences without compromising their beliefs”, Dr. Hunter has said. “Fear and suspicion of differences limit spiritual maturity. Both spiritual and intellectual maturity grow from differences. Contrasts can be used to accomplish kingdom purposes.”

Dr. Hunter was born and raised in Shelby, Ohio, by a mother who “taught me to always love people who were different than I was.” As a result, he became involved as a young adult in the civil rights movement at Ohio University. He came to a crisis of faith after the assassination of Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. and remembered the admonishment of his childhood pastor who said, “Nothing will ever come right in the world unless you take care of the sin in your own heart.” It was then, in the middle of the campus at Galbreath Chapel, that he knelt down and gave his life completely to Christ. A short time later he felt called into ministry.

As a pastor, he focused on the church being active outside its walls, in various kinds of compassion efforts, believing “pro-life” issues include not only protection of the vulnerable within the womb but continuing the protection of the vulnerable outside the womb. “As believers involved in compassion efforts, we have our motivation from God via His holy scriptures,” he says.

He is a nationally and internationally known advocate for the poor, for victims of human trafficking, for protecting God’s creation for the sake of victims of pollution-caused climate change, for the inclusion in church and society those families/persons dealing with disabilities, for racial equality and reconciliation, and for peace. He has been featured in a wide variety of national and international media.

Neither partisan nor politically oriented, Dr. Hunter, due to his ministry involvement in public policy, often relates to public officials in a pastoral role. He was a spiritual advisor to President Obama, writing devotions for him weekly and praying with him periodically.

Dr. Hunter married Becky, his partner in life and ministry,  in 1972. They raised three sons, have seven grandchildren and two great grandchildren.


White House Appointments:

Appointments and Awards:

  • Florida’s Faith-Based and Community-Based Advisory Council (2008–2012)

  • White House Advisory Council on Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships (2009–2016)

  • Commission on Accountability and Policy for Religious Organizations, Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) (2011-

  • Bible Society of Egypt Outreach Award (2012)

  • Bring Change Award (2019)

  • Children’s Environmental Health Network Award for Service (2014)

  • Peace and Dialogue Award, Nile Foundation (2013)

  • National Honorary Chairman, National Weekend of Prayer to End Slavery and Trafficking (2014)

  • Medal of Merit, Ohio University (2015)

  • Better Man Award, Better Man Ministries (2015)

  • Public Servant Award, Delta Sigma Theta (2016)

  • Christian HELP Founder’s Award (2017)

  • Orlando Magazine's 50 Most Powerful (2009, 2010, 2011, 2017, 2018, 2019)

  • Member of Mayor-Elect Jerry Demings’ transitional team (2018)

  • Member of Program and Education Committee onePULSE Foundation (2019 - 2023)

  • Faith-Based President Parable Foundation (2021 - 2023)

  • Leader for Central Florida Faith Community regarding Project Opioid (2019 -

  • Member of Seminole County's Sheriff Lemma's Task Force on the Opioid Crisis (2019 -

  • Chairman of the  Faith Alliance Against Human Trafficking (2019 -

  • Urban League of Central Florida Wesley Harris Faith and Service Award (2019)

  • Ambassador BPUR (2023 -

  • Dave’s House first annual Dr. Joel C Hunter Legacy Award for his humanitarian outreach dedication to end homelessness (2023)

  • WESH 2 CommUNITY Champion (October 2023)

  • Chairman of THE PLEDGE Central Florida (December 2023 -

Boards of directors:

International Forums:

Advisory boards:

Pastor:

  • Faith United Methodist Church, Pastor, Princeton, Indiana (1974 -1978)

  • Mt. Auburn United Methodist Church, Senior Pastor, Greenwood, Indiana (1978 - 1985)

  • Northland, A Church Distributed, Senior Pastor, Longwood, Florida (1985 - 2017)

  • Action Church, Pastor of Community Benefit, Winter Park, Florida (2023 -

Education:

  • Bachelor of Science in History and Government, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, 1970

  • Master of Divinity, Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1973

  • Doctor of Ministry, Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana, 1974

  • Doctor of Humanities, Belhaven University, Jackson, Mississippi, 2006

  • Doctor of Divinity, Nyack College and Alliance Theological Seminary, Nyack, New York, 2011

  • Doctor of Divinity, Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis, Indiana, 2016

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