Charles Merritt has been teaching high school students for 30 years, and if there’s one thing you’ll never call his classes, it’s boring. Born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, California, Charles is a cradle Catholic who grew up attending Catholic schools. Despite his deep roots in the faith, he admits to "taking a break" from religion at 17. But at age 30, a chance encounter with a Mother Angelica broadcast pulled him back. Her simple words, "Come home" were enough to reignite his faith and change the trajectory of his life.

Since then, Charles has been a force in the classroom—often blending humor, relatable storytelling, and the occasional blunt truth that leaves his students wide-eyed but always thinking. His teaching style is anything but conventional; one minute he's making you laugh, and the next he’s hitting you with a hard truth about life or faith that lands right where it needs to. And that’s the beauty of Charles Merritt: he’s real, he’s relevant, and he knows how to make even the most complex theological concepts feel like they belong in everyday life.

Charles attended the University of San Diego (USD), earning a degree in Business Management and Accounting (thanks to his dad’s insistence). He later earned an MBA from the University of La Verne, focusing on Business Management, Organization Design, and Development. But despite his business background, his real passion became teaching, and not just any subject—he’s taught U.S. Government, Economics, History, and Business. And while his classroom may seem like a regular high school setup, he’s also deeply involved in adult education Faith Formation, where his mastery of theology and scripture has earned him a reputation for making the Bible come alive in unexpected ways.

Charles helps teach scripture and theology at St. Bonaventure High School in Ventura, CA. Also, he hosts a weekly Sunday Gospel podcast, where he breaks down the scriptures with his signature style: humorous, blunt, and deeply insightful. He's earned numerous certificates from Dallas Theological Seminary, and his passion for making faith relevant today shines through in every lesson he teaches.

Married for 33 years, Charles lives to share the beauty and challenges of the Catholic faith, reminding everyone that, like him, you can always come home.