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Fresno, Calif.
Boschman resigns


Ed Boschman has resigned as executive director of Mission USA, effective Nov. 30. Mission USA, the church growth and renewal ministry of the US MB Conference, announced Boschman’s resignation Oct. 1.

“Mission USA was a vision of the US Conference that was born out of a consensus of leaders who endorsed a belief that evangelism through renewal of existing churches and through church planting should become the major focus of the conference,” says Steve Reimer, Mission USA board chair. “Ed Boschman, as the first executive director of Mission USA, moved this vision from a dream to a reality.”

Boschman accepted the call to serve as the first Mission USA executive director in 1996, two years after the agency was formed. He and his wife Carol relocated to Phoenix, Ariz., the site chosen as Mission USA headquarters. In addition to providing leadership to the fledgling evangelism ministry at the national level, the Boschmans also helped plant Copper Hills Community Church, the first church plant sponsored by Mission USA, in partnership with the Pacific District Conference.

Boschman brought to his position extensive pastoral and church planting experience. As the church planting pastor at Laurelglen Bible Church in Bakersfield, Calif., he started with a small core and built it into a growing, healthy church that is now one of the largest in the US Conference. In Kelowna, B.C., he led Willow Park Church through a renewal process that included not only significant numerical growth, but also involved giving birth to another church.

During his tenure with Mission USA, Boschman provided leadership in developing strategies and policies; developed partnerships with district church planting and renewal boards, local churches and individuals; generated about two-thirds of Mission USA’s budget through fundraising; and initiated new programs in leadership development through internships. Under Boschman’s leadership, Mission USA participated in the planting of several new churches, six of which are still functioning, with a combined average attendance of nearly 1000. Nine renewal projects were developed in existing churches, and over 50 churches participated in a refocusing evaluation (the Natural Church Development program also used by the Canadian MB Conference). Eighteen individuals were funded as interns, most of whom are either in ministry or in ministry track programs.

Chuck Buller, the first chair of Mission USA, says. “Mission USA would not have accomplished what it has if Ed had not filled the role of executive director.” Current chair Steve Reimer says, “Perhaps Ed and Carol’s greatest quality was their uncompromising love for lost people and their desire to bring people into the Kingdom of God. The Mission USA theme, ‘to be all things to all people in order to win some’ was a perfect fit for Ed and Carol.”

 – from a Mission USA news release

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Last modified January 9, 2002.

© 2002 Mennonite Brethren Herald.
Published by the Canadian Conference of MB Churches.
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