John Brunt began his ministry as a youth pastor in 1965 and retired in 2015 as the Senior Pastor of the Azure Hills Seventh-day Adventist Church in Grand Terrace, California, where he had served for thirteen and a half years.  In retirement he served for six years as pastor of the Edmonds, Washington Adventist Church. Most of his ministry was spent in Adventist higher education.  Before going to Azure Hills, he served at Walla Walla University for 31 years, twelve years teaching in the School of Theology, seven as the Dean of the School of Theology, and twelve as Vice President for Academic Administration. He is a graduate of La Sierra University, Andrews University, and holds a Ph.D. in New Testament Studies from Emory University. He currently serves as vice-chair of the board of La Sierra University.

His wife, Ione, passed in 2025 after sixty—one years of marriage. They have two children and three grandchildren.