Merritt was born in South Carolina and grew up in Florida. He was rescued by God's saving grace in his early 20s, shortly after marrying his wife Yvette. Merritt & Yvette have three children, who are eagerly awaiting their next trip to the beach. In the 15+ years since graduating from seminary, Merritt has had the privilege of serving in student ministry, small group ministry, evangelism, and leadership development. Though he does not seem to receive much benefit from it, most mornings you can find him in the gym. His hobbies include softball, fishing, and hunting, and his "MUST READ" list for every Christian includes: The Gospel For Real Life (Jerry Bridges), and How People Change (Paul Tripp).