SEC Form 3

FORM 3

UNITED STATES SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION Washington, D.C. 20549 INITIAL STATEMENT OF BENEFICIAL OWNERSHIP OF SECURITIES Filed pursuant to Section 16(a) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 or Section 30(h) of the Investment Company Act of 1940

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1. Name and Address of Reporting Person* Stewart Michael J (Last) (First) (Middle) 200 EAST JACKSON STREET (Street) MUNCIE IN 47305 (City) (State) (Zip)	2. Date of Event Requiring Statement (Month/Day/Year) 01/29/2008	3. Issuer Name and Ticker or Trading Symbol FIRST MERCHANTS CORP [ FRME ]
		4. Relationship of Reporting Person(s) to Issuer (Check all applicable) Director 10% Owner X Officer (give title below) X Other (specify below) Executive Vice President / Chief Banking Officer	5. If Amendment, Date of Original Filed (Month/Day/Year)
			6. Individual or Joint/Group Filing (Check Applicable Line) X Form filed by One Reporting Person Form filed by More than One Reporting Person

Table I - Non-Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned
1. Title of Security (Instr. 4)	2. Amount of Securities Beneficially Owned (Instr. 4)	3. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	4. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
Common Stock	3,750	D

Table II - Derivative Securities Beneficially Owned (e.g., puts, calls, warrants, options, convertible securities)
1. Title of Derivative Security (Instr. 4)	2. Date Exercisable and Expiration Date (Month/Day/Year)		3. Title and Amount of Securities Underlying Derivative Security (Instr. 4)		4. Conversion or Exercise Price of Derivative Security	5. Ownership Form: Direct (D) or Indirect (I) (Instr. 5)	6. Nature of Indirect Beneficial Ownership (Instr. 5)
	Date Exercisable	Expiration Date	Title	Amount or Number of Shares
Employee stock option right to buy	01/29/2010	01/29/2018	Common Stock	6,000	24.55	D

Explanation of Responses:

Remarks:

Exhibit 24 Confirming Statement This statement confirms that the undersigned, Michael J. Stewart, has authorized and deignated Larry R. Helms to execute and file on the undersigned's behalf all Forms 3, 4, and 5 (including any amendments thereto) that the undersigned may be equired to file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission as a result of of the undersigned's owndership of or transactions in the securities of First Merchants Corporation. The authority of Larry R. Helms under this statement shall continue until the undersigned is no longer required to file Forms 3, 4, and 5 with regard to the undersigned's ownership of or transactions in securities of First Merchants Corporation, unless earlier revoked in writing. The undersigned acknowledges Larry R. Helmsis not assuming any of the undersigned's responsibilities to comply with Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

	Larry R. Helms (Confirming Statement on File)	01/30/2008
	** Signature of Reporting Person	Date
Reminder: Report on a separate line for each class of securities beneficially owned directly or indirectly.
* If the form is filed by more than one reporting person, see Instruction 5 (b)(v).
** Intentional misstatements or omissions of facts constitute Federal Criminal Violations See 18 U.S.C. 1001 and 15 U.S.C. 78ff(a).
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