AAS (General Business), Mercer County Community College, 1991
BS (Curriculum Development) Southern Illinois University at Carbondale,1993
United States Army Logistics Management College, 1994
MA (Instruction) Central Michigan University, 2000
United States Army Command and General Staff College, 2000
New Jersey Expedited Certification for Educational Leadership, 2009
New Jersey District Council Assembly of God Ministry Program, 2017
DMin (ABD) Asia Pacific Theological Seminary, 2022
D.P.Th., Master’s International University of Divinity, 2023

Ministerial Background
Ed's journey into the full-time ministry as the Business Administrator at APTS was preceded by a series of significant roles in the US Army and the Active Guard/Reserve Program for the New Jersey Army National Guard. His retirement from active military service, where he served as the Assistant Chief of Staff for the New Jersey Army National Guard, was a testament to his commitment and dedication, as he was instrumental in managing a force structure of 7800 soldiers.

Ed became a technology high school teacher after retiring from the US Army as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was also a school administrator and assistant principal for Vineland City Public Schools in New Jersey. He holds numerous certifications in New Jersey as a teacher of the handicapped, social studies, general business, elementary education, supervisor, principal, and administrator. Ed recently retired as assistant principal of D’Ippolito Elementary School and was assistant principal and administrator of Vineland High School.

Ed's commitment to his church and community is a testament to his sense of responsibility and dedication. Alongside his wife, Sherry, he led church growth groups and held weekly prayer meetings for several years. He was an active member of the praise and worship team, using his talents to uplift the community. His involvement extended beyond the church, as he served as a township committeeman and a township school board member, eventually being appointed as School Board President. He was also a member of the township zoning, planning, and veterans advisory committee, and was selected as a deputy township emergency management coordinator..

Ed is an ordained minister and was called to serve full-time at the Asia Pacific Theological Seminary (APTS) after being commissioned by the Assemblies of God World Missions (AGWM) and endorsed by the New Jersey Assemblies of God (AOG) Ministry Network (NJMN) in March 2017. Ed and his wife, Sherry, lead a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization through which they have taught, evangelized, and ministered through the Spiritual Gifts of Healing, Prophesy, and Deliverance in Israel, Bangladesh, China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Turkey, Hong Kong, Philippines, France, Canada, Italy, and the United States.

Areas of Research Interest, Writings and Teachings
Ed has published numerous regulations, policies, standard operating procedures and operational orders while serving in the military. He also drafted bills for consideration in the State of New Jersey Legislature serving as a township committeeman. He developed curriculum for high school courses such as Graphic Design, Mass Media, Studio Production, Criminal Justice and Leadership. He also collaborated to develop dual credit high school courses where students could obtain college credits at Cumberland County College after completing selected high school courses. The Vineland City School District and the Cumberland County College Board of Directors approved these courses.

Ed teaches for the APTS Business as Mission Degree Program and the Alphacrusis College Program at APTS. His preaching and ministry teaching interests include the Spiritual Gifts, Ministry Gifts, Seven (7) Mountains of Influence (Pillars of Society), and the Hebrew (Jewish) Roots of Christianity. Ed and his wife Sherry have produced and sponsored a Celebrate Israel Concert in Beijing, China, performed by Joshua Aaron, and produced and sponsored Israeli-Philippine Festival concerts performed by Paul Wilbur in a five-city Philippine tour in Davao, Bacolod, Manila (MOA), Baguio, and Tuguegarao. They also sponsored and produced the World Camp for Jesus in 2015 (Phnom Penh, Cambodia), 2016 (Iba, Philippines), 2017 (Jerusalem, Israel), 2018 (Paris, France), 2019 (Toronto, Canada), 2020 via Zoom, and 2023 (Israel and Italy). They also produced and sponsored various Christian praise and worship concerts in the Philippines, Cambodia, China, and the United States.

Family and Personal Interests
Ed and Sherry Benish have been married for over 11 years. They have one son living in Maryland and another son and daughter-in-love residing in Pennsylvania. Now retired from the US Army and public education after 37 years of service, Ed enjoys serving at APTS and ministering following the Holy Spirit's leading. He also likes singing and playing acoustic guitar, worshiping the Lord, praying, and interceding for others.