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Why is it such a big deal that Johnny Hunt was in the SBC report? He's more than a loved pastor; he's at the center of the 'modern,' post-CR SBC.
We'll need an outside investigation of NAMB
We'll need an outside investigation of NAMB
Why was Johnny Hunt the SBC President? Hunt was a popular graduate of @SEBTS; in 2008, his nominator echoed themes we all now recognize from establishment candidates:
"I believe Southern Baptists are looking for a future that is marked by unity, not division. ... He is a leader who can forge a hopeful future that is centered around the Gospel ...."
(sound familiar?) https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/johnny-hunt-to-be-sbc-president-nominee/
(sound familiar?) https://www.baptistpress.com/resource-library/news/johnny-hunt-to-be-sbc-president-nominee/
Hunt was elected in '08, to run the '09 SBC Annual Meeting.
In the spring of '09, just before the Annual Meeting, Hunt and @DannyAkin launched a campaign to remake the SBC: "The Great Commission Resurgence." (GCR) https://www.texanonline.net/articles/news/southeasterns-akin-discusses-gcr-declarations-history-intent/
In the spring of '09, just before the Annual Meeting, Hunt and @DannyAkin launched a campaign to remake the SBC: "The Great Commission Resurgence." (GCR) https://www.texanonline.net/articles/news/southeasterns-akin-discusses-gcr-declarations-history-intent/
At *that same time,* April 2009, Hunt was praying at the grand opening of Ravi Zacharias's new Jivan Wellness Spa.
We now know Jivan was used for human trafficking in Alpharetta, Georgia, near NAMB headquarters.
We now know Jivan was used for human trafficking in Alpharetta, Georgia, near NAMB headquarters.
At the 2009 SBC, Messengers authorized Hunt to start a "Great Commission Resurgence Task Force." It contained familiar names: Hunt, Floyd, Page, Gaines, Greear, Akin, an associate at Prestonwood BC, and the then-Kathy Ferguson (now wife of current SBC President @EdLitton).
GCRTF's 2010 recommendations were controversial. And it took NAMB from an 800-pound gorilla in SBC life to a King Kong.
NAMB traditionally signed "cooperation agreements" with state conventions, setting joint priorities. GCR would let NAMB set its own priorities.
NAMB traditionally signed "cooperation agreements" with state conventions, setting joint priorities. GCR would let NAMB set its own priorities.
The change was more dramatic than most appreciated. NAMB went from distributing Cooperative Program money to something like a SBC VC fund or investment bank.
GCR would also free NAMB to work with the growing "new calvinist" movement, which was controversial in many states.
GCR would also free NAMB to work with the growing "new calvinist" movement, which was controversial in many states.
These leaders pushed GCR especially among the young pastors that admired Driscoll.
Jon Akin, son of SEBTS's Danny Akin, formed Baptist21, a "pastor led-voice" in support of GCR. B21 seems to have been funded by Hunt at first. https://baptist21.com/blog-posts/2010/b21-panel-bios-johnny-hunt-and-ronnie-floyd-2/
Jon Akin, son of SEBTS's Danny Akin, formed Baptist21, a "pastor led-voice" in support of GCR. B21 seems to have been funded by Hunt at first. https://baptist21.com/blog-posts/2010/b21-panel-bios-johnny-hunt-and-ronnie-floyd-2/
B21 often repeated Hunt/GCR talking points, especially about increasing the CP allocation to favor seminaries and NAMB.
B21 also asked young pastors to "seriously consider" taking their wives to Hunt's "Timothy + Barnabas" weekends. https://baptist21.com/blog-posts/2009/johnny-hunts-timothybarnabas-conference-2/
B21 also asked young pastors to "seriously consider" taking their wives to Hunt's "Timothy + Barnabas" weekends. https://baptist21.com/blog-posts/2009/johnny-hunts-timothybarnabas-conference-2/
Hunt's GCR push also included the 2010 SBC Pastors Conference, including speakers like:
Ravi Zacharias, CJ Mahaney, Andy Stanley, Matt Chandler, Steve Gaines, David Platt, Russell Moore, and David Uth.
The SBCPC President was Kevin Ezell.
By fall, Ezell was NAMB CEO.
Ravi Zacharias, CJ Mahaney, Andy Stanley, Matt Chandler, Steve Gaines, David Platt, Russell Moore, and David Uth.
The SBCPC President was Kevin Ezell.
By fall, Ezell was NAMB CEO.
GCR passed in 2010.
In the weeks *just after* the 2010 Convention, Hunt announced an extended leave of absence. He blamed, in part, the stress of leading the SBC and GCR.
The Guidepost report now provides an alternative explanation. http://m.bpnews.net/33492/johnny-hunt-wife-extend-leave-of-absence
In the weeks *just after* the 2010 Convention, Hunt announced an extended leave of absence. He blamed, in part, the stress of leading the SBC and GCR.
The Guidepost report now provides an alternative explanation. http://m.bpnews.net/33492/johnny-hunt-wife-extend-leave-of-absence
Since 2010, Hunt's friends have done well in the new NAMB, and their church plants have been generously funded. @willmcraney and @ReformNambNow have background about the post-GCR years at NAMB. https://reformnambnow.org/2021/06/11/the-properties/
But jump forward to the present. An Akin now runs NAMB's in-house Timothy + Barnabas ministry for Hunt. And Hunt himself was named a NAMB VP in 2019.
So we now know:
* Hunt was alleged to prey on a pastor's wife.
* His Timothy Barnabas ministry, funded by NAMB, gave him steady access to pastors and their wives in vacation spots.
* Hunt was alleged to prey on a pastor's wife.
* His Timothy Barnabas ministry, funded by NAMB, gave him steady access to pastors and their wives in vacation spots.
* NAMB itself owns houses in odd spots.
* Hunt used Zacharias's spa.
* Ezell and SEBTS worked closely with Hunt to make the modern NAMB-led SBC, and those relationships continued to the present.
* NAMB denies it ever had a reason to look into Hunt.
* Hunt used Zacharias's spa.
* Ezell and SEBTS worked closely with Hunt to make the modern NAMB-led SBC, and those relationships continued to the present.
* NAMB denies it ever had a reason to look into Hunt.
Hunt was not just any pastor.
Trustees at NAMB should be calling for an independent investigation about the allegations and whether NAMB ever looked away.
@liamsadams @bobsmietana @wartwatch @ThouArtTheMan @MinistryWatch @RobDownenChron @spulliam
Trustees at NAMB should be calling for an independent investigation about the allegations and whether NAMB ever looked away.
@liamsadams @bobsmietana @wartwatch @ThouArtTheMan @MinistryWatch @RobDownenChron @spulliam
