Oscar Merlo | People, Biola University

Departments	Center for the Study of the Work and Ministry of the Holy Spirit Today Talbot School of Theology
Office Location	Talbot East #115
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Documents

What I Do

Responsible for providing resources for a biblical examination of the person and ongoing work of the Holy Spirit, including research, publications, conferences, events and services for students. The center is envisioned as a home for biblical scholars who wish to provide greater attention to not just a theology of the Holy Spirit but also the awakening and empowering of the Holy Spirit. Its a training ground for students and faculty who want a greater infusion of the Spirit’s enablement to be more effective in evangelism, global mission, praying for the sick, bringing deliverance to the oppressed and defeating the power of sin. Among the initiatives led by the center is a global leader-in-residence appointment for an internationally influential Christian leader, a faculty fellows research program, a biennial international student conference on spirit empowerment, a biennial symposium, monthly spirit empowerment vespers, and collaborative work with existing Biola departments.

Degrees

Ph.D., Fuller Seminary
M.A.I.C.S., Fuller Seminary
MBA, Phoenix University
B.A., University of La Verne

Member of

FirstGen Faculty and Staff

Biography

Oscar Merlo is passionate about empowering the new generations through the Holy Spirit and for illuminating the world with the gospel of Jesus Christ. He has served in executive leadership positions for profit and nonprofit multinational organizations. As a practitioner, Merlo has traveled extensively to over 35 countries in five continents and has experienced how God’s Missio-Dei is at work in diverse places such as: Cuba, Tel Aviv, Bissau, Istanbul, the mountains of the Dry Corridor in Guatemala, local communities in Los Angeles and other places in the global south. He leads global plans in Evangelism & Transformation initiatives and has participated in social justice advocacy, the Latin America Free of Corruption Initiative and coordinated global leadership training programs.

Merlo served as a co-founder of the OMEGA generation project; an initiative to mentor Latin-X millennials in the 21st century. He has developed EDEAM (School of Evangelists Alberto Mottesi) academic programs expanding to 136 international centers throughout Latin America, Africa, Europe and the Middle East.

Oscar is happily married to Lexa, and they have two daughters. He enjoys traveling and exploring the gastronomy of the world.

Affiliations

Affiliation:
AETH (Association for Hispanic Theological Education) President of the Board, Jan 2023 to present.

Former Board Member:
Hope for Fulanis Association Lisbon, Portugal
American Baptist Theological Center Pasadena
Alberto Mottesi Unvierstiy and Association Santa Ana, CA
Hispanic Theological Association Azusa, CA

Professional Membership:
Hispanic Theological Education (AETH)
Latin America Theological Fraternity (FTL)
Member of SPS (Society of Pentecostal Studies)
ETS (Evangelical Theological Society)
Every Voice (Center for Kingdom Diversity and Christian Theological Education)
American Baptist Convention and Iglesias Bautistas Americanas

Publications

The Holy Spirit and the Healing of the Body: An interdisciplinary approach to healing: Journal Spiritual Formation. (Forthcoming, 2024)
Preaching in Hispanic American Context.( B&H Forthcoming, 2025)

Book Chapter

"Anointed teaching: Collaborating with the Holy Spirit" (Ensenando con unción: colaborando con el Espiritu Santo) Robert (Bob) Pazmiño, Octavio J. Esqueda. Publicaciones Kerigma.
Chief Managing Editor, Kerygma. “Manual de Evangelización” (Evangelization Manual). Volumes: 1-12. 2010-2016. Oscar Merlo, Eduardo Font, Alberto Mottesi. Santa Ana, CA.
“Impactando las Generaciones Emergentes” (Impacting the Emerging Generations).” Vol-3. Lucas Leys, Hector Torres, Marcos Barrientos, Pedro Eustache. Kerygma 2014, Santa Ana, California.
Columnist, El Orador. “Especialidades Juveniles” (Youth Specialties). Fountain Valley, CA (2002-2009). Publish over 60 articles in the US's most distributed monthly Christian News Paper.

Presentations

Actively presented in various leadership (secular and non-profit) pastoral global conferences across five continents on a variety of themes. Have been invited as key note speaker in various international congresses across the Americas, Middle East and the US.