Minister to the last, the lost, and the least at Donovan Prison

• Ocean View Church
• Contact: 2460 Palm Ave., San Diego 619-424-7870 www.oceanviewchurch.com
• Membership: 1,400
• Pastor: Steve Boschen
• Age: 50
• Born: Springfield, MO
• Formation: Drury University, Springfield, MO
• Years Ordained: 12

San Diego Reader: What is the mission of your church?

Pastor Steve Boschen: Ocean View Church exists to glorify God by helping people find and fully follow Jesus. We have so many mission taglines that it really depends from one month to the next, but we always say, “OVC is the place to be because we care.” We’re the family place in the South Bay. We support 70 mission works around the world. We say we’re a “glocal” ministry – that is, we are serving locally but with a global mindset. We take seven to nine mission trips a year. We took 300 people on mission trips two years ago, and last year we took 200 people on mission trips. Most of those mission trips are to Mexico, because we’re so close. We’re also the largest distribution center for Feeding San Diego in the South Bay. Last weekend, we fed 1600 people and distributed 30,000 pounds of food with 30 pallets of food.

SDR: Where is the strangest place you found God?

PB: We do something called Kairos Prison Ministry here in our church, and we have about 30 guys involved in going to the prison on any given week. My personal moment with the Lord was sitting with 60 men in Donovan Prison, doing a four-day conference. I found myself sitting next to six felons, two of whom were murderers, and I was hearing their stories personally. In a moment of worship, as we were singing as a collective group of believers, I sensed God asking this question: “Would you be here if this man had murdered your son?” In a minute, much like a reflex in the knee when it’s tapped by a doctor, I immediately said, “No, I wouldn’t.” Then I heard the Lord say, “I’m glad I’m not you, because it’s your sin that put my son on the cross – and I’m still there for you.” That brought me to my knees. That was three years ago, and since that time I faithfully go back to Donovan with a group of men to minister to the last, the lost, and the least of these.

SDR: Where do you go when you die?

PB: We’re all equally born sinners, but there is a saving grace in Christ and the plan of salvation is through Jesus. Whenever people, instead of working hard to clean themelves up, fall to their knees and cry out to God to save them, he does. My security for eternity is sealed and the peace of God that surpasses all understanding is available on a daily basis. It is true for everyone and available for everyone, and that’s why the word “gospel” means “good news.” The most gracious people in the world should be Christians, because we know how much it took for God to provide hope and everlasting life. We go to all people and all situations humbly, presenting the good news of Jesus. Scripture also talks of hell as a place for those who chose, rather than to believe in Christ, to serve themselves and let selfishness and corruption and the worst part of man rule them. We believe God is most gracious but also a God of judgment and wrath. Sin separates us from God, but we also believe that forgiveness cleans us and presents us back to God in a way that is acceptable.

– Joseph O’Brien