About

To touch a life is to ultimately impact another with the profound goodness of God’s truth. It is the breath of vitality that can shift a soul to new hope. An opportunity lit by the grace of God to come alongside and speak life to them and with them.

We know the impact Jesus Christ can have on a life is truly remarkable. When the love of Christ breaks through troubled hearts and lives, it can no longer remain the same. It is moved. Transformed. Restored.

At Touching Lives, we have made a deep commitment to reach the lost, the broken, the spiritually blind, and all who thirst for God's truth and goodness. We have a passion to propel new life into your faith, inspire hope for the hopeless, and to reach those who seem too far. We know that all things are possible with God, and no soul is beyond God's reach--so we press on for His Glory.

With our world changing rapidly, we are re-energized and committed to touching the lives of the lost and enriching the faith of the found.

We encourage you to join and support us in the profound joy of bringing the Gospel of Jesus Christ into the world until we meet Him face to face. Come alongside us with your prayer and financial support–providing life-changing opportunities to reach, touch, and impact the world for Jesus Christ and for the love of humanity.

Our Broadcast

Under the leadership and dynamic preaching of Dr. James Merritt, Touching Lives exists to touch the lives of the lost and enrich the faith of the found. Our goal is to present the eternal, never-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ to all who would hear and pray for the Holy Spirit to move mightily among His people.

Touching Lives is currently broadcast in all 50 states and in over 140 countries around the world. All sermons, articles, and other content is made available through various digital media formats on the web. Literally millions of people have been affected through the ministry of Touching Lives with thousands responding to the Gospel of Jesus for the very first time.

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Our Host

James Merritt is the host of Touching Lives and one of the most dynamic, Gospel-centered preachers on air today. Dr. Merritt strives each week to deliver God's truths in a clear and concise manner. His pure passion is to reach lost people all over the world with the life-changing and life-saving Gospel of Jesus Christ.

His formal education includes an undergraduate degree from Stetson University and Master of Divinity and Doctor of Philosophy degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky. His pastoral service includes pastoral positions with churches in Kentucky, Mississippi, and Georgia.

From 2000 to 2002, Dr. Merritt served as President of the Southern Baptist Convention, which is the world's largest Protestant denomination, and he has appeared on numerous television programs including Hannity and Colmes, Scarborough Country, and 60 Minutes.

Dr. Merritt has been married to his wife Teresa since 1976 and has three sons, two daughters-in-law, and five grandchildren.

Our Beliefs

About the Bible

We believe the Bible is God’s Holy Word. We believe that all 66 books of the Old and New Testaments were divinely inspired by God. Even though given through human personalities, the Bible is the perfect treasure of God. We believe the scriptures are inerrant and infallible in their original manuscript. The Bible is our full and final authority on all matters of faith and practice. The Bible has God as its author, salvation for its end and truth, without any mixture of error, for its subject matter.

God the Father providentially cares for this universe. He is all-powerful, all-knowing and all-present. God is Father and Truth to all who are His children through faith in Jesus Christ.

God the Son, Jesus Christ

Jesus Christ was the human form of God who came as a gift to mankind. We believe that Jesus was miraculously born of a virgin. He lived a life that was perfect and without sin. Through His death on the cross, He served as the atonement for our sins. He was our substitute: The One Who satisfied justice and salvation. Jesus Christ was raised bodily from the dead. He ascended personally and visibly to be with His Father. He is presently serving as our Mediator with God. Only through faith in Jesus Christ can one receive God’s salvation. Jesus Christ will, one day, return to this earth to bring human history to an end and fully complete God’s purpose for redemption.

God the Holy Spirit

The Holy Spirit is the spirit of God. The Holy Spirit breathed the Holy Scripture to holy men of God. The Holy Spirit exalts Jesus Christ. He convicts persons of sin, righteousness, and judgment. He is the only One Who conforms the believers into the likeness of Jesus Christ. He empowers the believer to live the Christ-life, to worship God, to evangelize the world, and to serve others. The Holy Spirit makes this possible by indwelling the believer permanently at the point of salvation.

About Salvation

The central purpose of God is to bring sinful persons into fellowship with Him. The only way this can be accomplished is through repentance and faith. Repentance is turning from sin and turning to Jesus Christ. Faith is trusting Jesus Christ, and Him alone, for salvation. Salvation is a personal experience with Jesus Christ. Once a person has trusted Christ, the Lord continually works out His salvation in Him by making him more like Himself. Salvation will, one day, be culminated when we are in Heaven with Christ.

Our Faith and Practice

The Bible is the final authority in all matters of faith and practice. We believe this Statement of Faith to be an accurate summary of what Scripture teaches us.

Our Financial Health

Touching Lives is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization organized in September of 1995. This ministry is part of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability and is managed by a seasoned board of directors and leadership team. Learn more.