June 07, 2026 •

State of the County -Reflecting Back, Looking Forward

Dr. Joel C. Hunter was honored to offer the Invocation for the State of the County annual address delivered by the Mayor of Orange County to the Board of County Commissioners and the public, outlining the County’s fiscal and operational health.

Orange County Mayor Jerry L. Demings delivered his final State of the County address on Friday, June 5, 2026, in the Linda W. Chapin Theater at the Orange County Convention Center.

During the presentation, the Mayor reflected on the county's accomplishments and challenges during his two terms. Looking forward, he emphasized a continued commitment to a culture of excellence and innovation.

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About Joel C. Hunter

Dr. Joel C. Hunter is the Pastor of Community Benefit at Action Church, a multi-site congregation based in Winter Park and his one-minute daily devotionals can be heard worldwide on Z88 radio. He is the Chairman of the Central Florida Pledge campaign; a call to action for residents of Central Florida who are tired of hateful discourse and want to create a safe and inclusive community for all. The pledge asks residents to commit to treating all people with kindness and respect, especially those with whom they disagree. To learn more: https://www.centralfloridapledge.com/

He is a nationally and internationally known advocate for the poor, the marginalized, and those dealing with disabilities. He served a three-year term as the Chairman of Central Florida’s Commission on Homelessness. And, after 32 years as the senior pastor of Longwood, Florida’s Northland Church’s congregation of 20,000, he spent five years leading a non-profit in networking with churches and local charities to locate available resources and benefit the struggling in our community. Orlando Magazine highlighted his efforts naming him as the #1 most powerful voice for philanthropy and community engagement. And listed him among “Orlando’s 50 Most Powerful” six years in a row.

Approaching today’s challenges in a biblical and balanced manner, Dr. Hunter is neither partisan nor politically oriented, but often relates to public officials in a pastoral role; he served as a spiritual advisor to President Obama during his eight years in office.

Dr. Hunter has served in leadership roles of the World Evangelical Alliance, serving more than 600 million evangelicals, and the National Association of Evangelicals, serving more than 40 denominations and thousands of churches.

Married in 1972 to his wife, Becky, he is the father of three sons, grandfather of seven, and great-grandfather of two.

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UPCOMING - AND YOU ARE INVITED!

Sunday, July 5 at 10 AM - Dr. Hunter will be preaching at Grace Convenant Presbyterian Church (1655 Peel Avenue, Orlando, FL 32806)

Faith in the Public Square Video Series

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State of the County -Reflecting Back, Looking Forward

About Joel C. Hunter

Faith in the Public Square Video Series

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