On Nov. 16, individuals came from the Buckeye State of Ohio, the Blue Grass State of Kentucky and the nation’s capital, Washington, D.C., all to celebrate the 25th pastoral anniversary of Pastor James Hunt and First lady Sheila Johnson-Hunt of First Baptist Church of Penn Hills.
On this evening they also celebrated the 20th Anniversary of the Western Penn Hills Community Action Inc.
The recognitions for the Hunts were plentiful. Proclamations from Allegheny County, Penn Hills, the City of Pittsburgh and the Senate of Pennsylvania were acknowledged.
There were a plethora of ministers and reverends on the program, and all respected their allotted time limit to speak.
The Hunts were recognized by their longtime friend and mentor Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Winsett, former president of the PA Baptist State Convention and pastor emeritus of Ebenezer Baptist Church. Both Rev. James E. Hunt and Rev. Dr. Sheila Hunt were licensed and ordained by the Ebenezer Baptist Church of Pittsburgh, Pa., under the leadership of Rev. Winsett.
Judge E. Annette McGee of Dayton, Ohio, spoke about her lifelong friendship with Sheila, they go back to when they were very young girls.
Reverend Stan Holbrook spoke about Rev. James Hunt, the community organizer. Twenty years ago the Hunts introduced WPHCA a 501.C3 non-profit organization that works in the communities to develop men, women and youth to be productive citizens within the community.
Reverend Barbara Gunn spoke about the close relationship that the Hunts share; it’s a true love story.
Their sons, Julian and Justin Hunt, organized the beautiful event. It was heartwarming to hear two young men speak about their parents and how they were raising them to be strong young men and husbands.
The Hunts were the final pair to take the podium. They thanked their friends, family and special co- sponsors: Highmark, JP Myers & Associates and the Metro Urban Institute of the Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
The Hunts hold the distinction of being pioneers, as the first clergy couple in a Baptist Church, in Pittsburgh area of the Allegheny Union Baptist Association, where the pastor’s wife was an ordained minister.
At the end of the evening there was still time to dance to the sounds of Deejay Mac. The Hunts were the first couple to grace the dance floor.
