[1]WOODSTOCK, Ga. (BP)–The surgery for Johnny Hunt for the removal of a cancerous prostate is scheduled at 11:30 a.m. Eastern time on Thursday, Jan. 7, at Northside Hospital in Atlanta, according to a spokesman for the president of the Southern Baptist Convention.
Jim Law, executive pastor of the Atlanta-area First Baptist Church in Woodstock where Hunt is pastor, notified Baptist Press of the time of the surgery to “ask Baptists everywhere to pray.”
Hunt announced Nov. 23 that he had been diagnosed with prostate cancer.
Hunt was elected SBC president during the convention’s June 2008 annual meeting in Indianapolis and re-elected at the 2009 meeting in Louisville, Ky., when he was instrumental in the formation of a 23-member Great Commission Resurgence Task Force.
The statement Hunt released at the time of his diagnosis read in part:
“As a Pastor, one thing that comes to mind is that there are far more trials and illnesses in God’s family than we are aware of. My heart goes out to all who are challenged with cancer, or whatever the illness may be. My Mother suffered with cancer and went home to be with the Lord 25 years ago next February. My Mom taught me in her challenges that the Lord had moved her from ‘Why me?’ to ‘Why not me?’ I must confess that she really did pass that along to me; therefore, my attitude today is not ‘Why me?’ but ‘Why not me?’ If anyone has been blessed by God, it is this Pastor. The Lord has been so good to me. I believe that the Lord oftentimes allows things to come into our lives, and this, in particular, has been a great reminder of my mortality, and also of a genuine faith that has brought me through everything that I have ever faced; so, the Lord has been speaking encouraging words into my heart.”
[2]Hunt added, “I have the privilege to be the Pastor of such a precious, precious fellowship. First Baptist Church Woodstock has embraced Janet and me, along with our children and grandchildren, in such an encouraging way.”
–30–
Compiled by Baptist Press editor Art Toalston.