Isaac Hunter, 36, founder and former pastor of Summit Church in Orlando, Fla., died Tuesday of an apparent suicide, according to local news reports. Hunter is the son of Joel C. Hunter, senior pastor of the 15,000-member Northland church in Florida and former member of President Barack Obama’s Advisory Council on Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.
The Orlando Sentinel, in a story about Hunter’s death published an email sent to Summit Church members Tuesday afternoon.
“We found out today that Isaac took his life,” states the email sent by Darling Murray, a coordinator at the church. “We are obviously deeply deeply devastated and saddened beyond words by this news. The tears keep coming and coming as we mourn. We are praying for his family and this congregation as we walk through this together.”
Hunter was found dead in his apartment Tuesday morning, according to church officials.
The 36-year-old father of three had been in a downward spiral after first admitting to carrying on an affair with a staff member in 2012 and then resigning. One week after his confession, his wife filed a temporary restraining order against him that accused him of physical abuse and threats with firearms while under the influence of alcohol. “I currently fear for my life and the lives of our three children,” Rhonda Hunter wrote in her order’s petition.
His wife further submitted photos of bruises on her body she said were inflected by her husband in early 2011.
Isaac Hunter filed for divorce from his wife Oct. 4.
Hunter is survived by his wife, Rhonda, and three children.
