Ed & Elvie Navato
Serving in
Military Ministry
Maranatha Baptist Church website
2020 Missions video report
BIMI Military Missions video report
Only by the grace of the LORD JESUS CHRIST, that Brother Ed Navato prayed to receive CHRIST as his personal Savior in the Philippines in 1976. Ed joined the United States Marine Corps in 1982, and married Elvie Sarmiento, from the Philippines in 1983. While stationed in California, both Ed and Elvie were discipled while members of Fellowship Baptist Church in Trabuco Canyon, California by Pastor Ivar Ensminger in 1994. While stationed in Dallas, Texas, they continued to serve the Lord in Miller Road Baptist Church under Pastor David Blaser. In Arizona, Ed and his family were members of Bible Baptist Church in Yuma under Pastor Alfred Maese. There, he was appointed a deacon. He believed GOD called him to full-time ministry, and later surrendered to preach. He preached to those in prisons, shelters for the homeless, and elderly nursing homes. He saw many people pray to place their faith in Christ in the States, the Philippines, and Japan. In 1999, he received orders to Japan where he and his family became members of Maranatha Baptist Church (MBC). While in Okinawa, he was ordained as deacon, participated in soul winning, served as soul winning and visitation director, and was later licensed to preach. Pastor Steve Nutt ordained him to the Gospel Ministry in 2002. Before Ed separated from active duty, Ed and his wife Elvie were appointed as missionaries through Baptist International Missions, Inc. (BIMI) in Chattanooga, Tennessee in 2002. He Received his Bible College Diploma from Faith Bible Institute in Monroe, Pastor John Yates in Louisiana in 2002. He received his Doctorate in Ministry Degree from Andersonville Baptist Seminary in Camille, Georgia in 2009. Ed was Assistant Pastor to Pastor Steve Nutt of MBC in Okinawa, Japan from 2005 to 2008. He was called to pastor Lighthouse Baptist Church in Sasebo, Japan from 2008 to 2011. He was called to pastor Yokosuka Baptist Church in May 2011 to September 2017. The Navato family saw the LORD blessed both in Lighthouse Baptist Church Sasebo and Yokosuka Baptist Church when both the number of missionaries supported, the church finances almost doubled before they transferred, and numerous souls prayed to trust CHRIST as their SAVIOUR. He was called to Pastor Maranatha Baptist Church in Okinawa in August 2017. Him and his family arrived 29 September 2017. Please pray that the LORD will use the Navatos for the salvation of the lost, the discipleship of converts, and that many will surrender to the call of US Military Missions, more so than ever before.
