Hunt was born in Lumberton, North Carolina and is a member of the Lumbee Native American Indian tribe based in North Carolina.

He is married to Janet Allen Hunt of Wilmington, North Carolina. They have two daughters: Deanna Hunt Carswell and Hollie Hunt Hixson. They also have three granddaughters: Katie Hunter Carswell, Hope Hixson, Addie Hixson and one grandson, Carson John Carswell.

Hunt has held ministry positions at Lavonia Baptist Church, Mooresboro, North Carolina (July 1976—August 1979), Falls Baptist Church in Wake Forest, North Carolina (1979—1980), Longleaf Baptist Church, Wilmington, North Carolina (May 1981—December 1, 1986), and at his present church, the First Baptist Church in Woodstock, Georgia, from 1986 to the present.

In June 2008, Hunt was elected President of the Southern Baptist Convention.