In this episode, Marc Alfano interviews Evangelist Merlin Calero about his journey from business to full time ministry, his testimony of redemption, and the call to unity in the church. Merlin shares how obedience and serving under anointed leaders opened doors he could not have opened himself, how to flow with the Holy Spirit, and how kingdom business can fund the harvest and reach nations.

KEY TOPICS

- Merlin's testimony, coming from a non Christian background

- The transition from business to full time ministry

- Unity in the church and the work of evangelism

- The Holy Spirit and prayer in personal transformation

- Sowing seeds and walking by faith in ministry

- The prodigal son and the unconditional love of God

- Spiritual encounters and the fire of God

- Guidance and confirmation through prophetic words

- Impartation and serving seasoned leaders

- Kingdom business as a tool to fund the harvest

- Prophetic insight on revival and global outreach

"Son, I never turned my back on you"

"Your gift will make room for you"

"He paid the price for your sins"

CHAPTERS

00:00 Introduction and Marc Alfano's return after the robbery in Rome

02:02 Why the 7K Revelation Podcast and its biblical foundation

02:56 Starting the podcast with a simple step of faith

03:53 Lifting up other ministries and testimonies

04:44 The power of testimony in spiritual warfare

05:12 Division in the modern church and the need for unity

06:59 Billy Graham's example of unity in evangelism

07:37 Introducing Merlin Calero

09:35 Coming to the United States from El Salvador

10:36 Early life, family, and spiritual awakening

14:23 The restaurant business and early success

16:18 Rock bottom and an encounter with the love of God

18:11 The prodigal son and the unconditional love of God

19:35 Returning to church and the call into ministry

21:38 Overcoming cultural and personal challenges in faith

23:50 Raising children in faith and the power of example

24:41 Guidance for parents raising children in the fire of God

27:02 Love, correction, and personal relationship

28:14 The age of accountability

28:47 The Holy Spirit and the gift of tongues

33:50 An encounter with the fire of God and soul winning

36:14 The impact of evangelism and the fire of the Holy Spirit

38:08 Feeding on faith messages and growing spiritually

38:38 The call to lay hands on the sick and cast out devils

40:28 Confirmation through prophetic words

44:23 Merlin shares his faith and his family's transition

45:06 Leaving Virginia for Bible school

45:49 A three year process of obedience

46:44 The Guatemala internship and soul winning

47:11 Traveling with Pastor Rodney and impacting nations

48:41 Supernatural connections and favor

49:27 Interpreting under the anointing and flowing with the Holy Spirit

52:19 Preaching in Italy and the power of impartation

53:46 Impartation and serving in ministry

55:54 Ongoing refilling and recharging in ministry

56:32 The restaurant business and kingdom stewardship

01:00:45 Divine guidance in business and transformation

01:01:43 Launching the Florida restaurant and the favor of God

01:05:09 Business as a pulpit for ministry

01:05:53 Ministering in multiple countries and future plans

01:10:19 Revival in Venezuela and the prophetic outlook

01:11:49 The urgency of the end time gospel

01:12:56 Technology and AI in global evangelism

01:14:19 Connecting with Merlin's ministry

01:15:02 How to receive salvation and the power of prayer

01:16:53 An invitation to give your life to Jesus

01:17:52 Encouragement for new believers and those returning

01:18:50 Closing remarks and blessing

CONNECT WITH MERLIN CALERO

Website: https://merlincalero.com/

Awakening Now Ministries: https://awakeningnowministries.com

In this episode, Rev. Marc Alfano sits down with Coach Joe Kennedy and his wife

Denise, the couple whose fight for a fifteen second prayer at the fifty yard line

went all the way to the Supreme Court. Joe shares his journey from atheism to

faith, what it cost the family to refuse to stop praying, and why he would do it

all again. Denise brings the side of the story most people never hear, what those

years did to a marriage and a community. Together they call the church to

boldness, unity, and a renewed stand for religious freedom in America.

Key Topics:

- Coach Kennedy's legal battle for prayer in schools

- The importance of unity in the church and society

- The role of personal testimony in spiritual freedom

- The historical context of separation of church and state

- The impact of COVID-19 lockdowns on religious liberties

- The biblical foundation of American rights and freedoms

- Standing for faith in public spaces

- The generational influence of faith-based actions

"A fifteen second prayer changed the nation"

Chapters:

00:00 Introduction and Podcast Background

01:23 The Origin of the 'Seven Thousand' Revelation

02:19 Unity in the Bible and Modern Church Divisions

03:16 The Power of Testimony and Overcoming in Revelation

04:08 Meet Coach Joe Kennedy and Denise

05:11 Joe Kennedy's Journey from Atheism to Faith

06:20 Denise's Childhood Faith and Life Transformation

07:13 Living in Washington State and Faith in Sports

08:02 Praying on the Football Field: The Beginning

09:01 The Dispute Over Prayer and First Amendment Rights

11:36 Standing Up Against the School District

12:40 The Impact on Family and Marriage

16:51 COVID-19 Lockdowns and Faith Under Pressure

18:40 The Spirit of Fear and American Liberty

21:20 Community Support and Public Backlash

23:45 The Power of Faith and Perseverance

27:14 Would You Do It Again? The Power of Obedience

28:40 Legal Victory and Broader Religious Freedoms

33:48 The Future of America and Faith Revival

37:01 The Role of the Church in Society

42:37 The Decline and Rise of American Values

47:00 The Power of Ordinary People in History

53:48 The Importance of Family and Next Generation

01:00:59 Sharing Faith Through Ministry and Media

01:07:40 Closing Remarks and Resources

Guest Links:

Coach Joe Kennedy - https://coachjoekennedy.com

The Average Joe Movie - https://averagejoemovie.com

Resources:

Daily Sword Book - https://alfanoministries.com/daily-sword

Museum of the Bible - https://museumofthebible.org

2 Timothy 4:7 - https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+4%3A7

"There's 7,000 others who haven't bowed the knee to Baal"

Website: https://alfanoministries.com

summary

In this episode, Marc Alfano interviews Werner Swart about his journey of faith, ministry, and the strategic role of marketplace evangelism in global missions. They explore how unity, testimony, and international mobility are transforming the spread of the gospel. This episode features Werner Swart sharing insights on church planting, cross-cultural ministry, and marketplace evangelism across Latin America and Europe. Discover how strategic partnerships, entrepreneurship, and faith can transform communities and nations.

keywords

faith, ministry, marketplace evangelism, global missions, testimony, unity in the church, international ministry, spiritual inheritance, church planting, cultural impact church planting, marketplace evangelism, cross-cultural ministry, Latin America, Europe, entrepreneurship, faith, church growth, missions, Uruguay, Argentina, Uruguay, spiritual revival

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Purpose of the Podcast

03:49 The Importance of Testimonies

05:01 Werner's Early Faith Journey

09:04 Navigating Faith in Adolescence

12:40 The Call to Ministry

21:43 Marketplace Ministry and Community Engagement

30:39 Reaching the Lost: Beyond Borders

35:37 The Global Church: A Hub for Nations

41:00 Mobilizing for the Gospel: Opportunities in Crisis

45:10 Unity in Diversity: The Interdenominational Church

52:46 Planting Churches: A Vision for Argentina and Beyond

54:01 Building the Kingdom of God

57:00 Marketplace Evangelism and Business Leadership

01:00:07 Empowering Entrepreneurship and Job Creation

01:04:19 Wealth Creation and Ministry Impact

01:06:08 The Role of Government in Transformation

01:09:50 Cross-Cultural Ministry and Global Opportunities

01:15:39 Invitation to Faith and Personal Transformation

01:19:34 The Importance of Mentorship in Ministry