James Kennard and Bob Elzey had no way of knowing just how much God would bless the Maranatha Baptist Church when they held that first service in September of 1968.  Looking back we can see how the hand of God was on it from the beginning.  Thousands of military personnel and their families have come to Christ and more than 500 preachers have been called from their congregations through these 40 years.  The church now supports a number of missionaries around the world and has also sent out many from their congregation to serve in other areas beyond the perimeter of their church.

Through the years the church has had six pastors to lead the constant rotating congregation.  Bob Elzey, James Kennard, Ed Gibson, John Baltz and Dan Mouw served the church in past years. Pastor Steve Nutt and his good wife, Frankie, have served in this position for seven years and have done an exceptional job.  Under their leadership the church built a new building just four years ago.  We have included a number of pictures of their recent celebrations.

In September the church celebrated 40 years of ministering to military families.  The former pastors and members, among others, were invited to return for this wonderful celebration.  There was great preaching, singing and wonderful fellowship as well as a lot of reminiscing about the past.  Some had been there in the 60’s, some, the 70’s, 80’s, 90’s and even some from this century. The first part of the week the emphasis was on the 40 years of church history. Former pastors, Ed Gibson and Dan Mouw preached stirring messages. Also, some former members who are now pastors brought some great messages. Greg Boyle, pastor of the Faith Baptist Church, Spokane, WA, was thrilled to be back after some 30 years. He and his wife were saved there while serving in the US Army. Sammy Popwell had his life changed at Maranatha while serving in the Marine Corp there on Okinawa and was able to return for the first time since he left in 1979. He was amazed at the changes that had been made on the Island. Some from the BIMI home office also attended these celebration services and gave testimonies.

The latter part of the week the emphasis moved to the church’s annual missions conference preached by Dr. James Kennard and Dr. Jeff Alverson, director and assistant director of Military Missions at BIMI. The church committed a large increase in their missions giving.

Then, interwoven with these meetings, was the Asian military field conference. Most of the missionaries serving in that part of the world attended. The fellowship and preaching were absolutely wonderful!

Maranatha, Congratulations on 40 years of faithful service. Only in eternity will you know the full extent of the impact you have had on military personnel and the world. The thousands who have come to know Christ through your ministry and the more than 500 who have given their lives to full-time Christian service will never forget what your presence there has meant through these years. May God continue to bless you as you serve Him there in your labor of love. Through these years you have stayed true to the fundamentals of the faith and have done a great job for our Lord. You have, indeed, been an inspiration to all military churches which have come after you and we owe you a great debt of gratitude. Keep up the good work.

Speakers during the 40th Anniversary Celebration:



Dan Mouw, Greg Boyle and Ed Gibson



Sammy Popwell, Ron Parrott and Al Allshouse



Mark Sage, Bob Monteith and Ed Navato



Ken Catoe, Drs. Kennard and Alverson present pastor Steve Nutt with a copy of Embracing the World which contains a history of the Maranatha ministry.



Asian Military Field Conference



The Maranatha Choir

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1. Dr. James Kennard, Military Director BIMI - recently returned from Okinawa, where he conducted two mission conferences in his former church, Marantha Baptist. He also spoke during the 40th anniversary service of the church.

2. Dr. Jeff Alverson, Assistant Military Director BIMI – just completed 10 weeks of meetings on three continents. He and Joyce participated in the 40th year celebration of Military Missions at Maranatha Baptist Church in Okinawa, Japan. Marantha Baptist was the very first military church overseas.

3. The Pierce family, Germany – report there has been thirty (30) saved this year with twenty-five (25) following in baptism.

4. The Byers family, Missionaries going to Germany – will be working in Eifel Baptist Church as soon as they raise their needed support. They are at 75% of their needed support and hope to be on the field by May, ’09.

5. The Navato family, Okinawa – have moved to Sasebo, Japan, to take over as pastor at the Lighthouse Baptist Church. They have been serving in Okinawa.

6. The Chuck Sligh family, Germany – report their church is thriving again since their soldiers have returned home from Iraq. Susan Sligh is now doing ok since having an operation after her appendix burst.

7. The Pilalas family, Germany – Their feet hit the ground running when they arrived in Heidelberg in April and doing a great job. The whole family, including the three teen-agers are active in the ministry and love it.

8. The War family, servicing the large Naval base at Mayport, Florida – are doing a tremendous job at that facility. They have established a work at this huge naval base and have been very instrumental in leading many to the Lord.

9. The Sage family, Japan – are doing a fine job at the naval base at Yokosuka, Japan. They report the fourth largest attendance the church has had in the last twenty years. This church has a tremendous turnover due to their men being at sea for a large part of the time. They are looking to buy a building and need much prayer and support.

10. The Corprew family, Japan – is raising their support to go to Japan. Brother Corprew recently escaped death as his auto was totaled while on a deputation trip to California.

11. The Parrott family, now in Japan – He pastured churches in Spain, Germany and Italy for several years, but took over as pastor of the Faith Baptist Church at Yokota, Japan, when the pastor suddenly went to heaven in March. Brother Parrott reports that he has had thirty (30) saved since March.

12. The Wharton family, Delaware – has organized a new military church in Dover, Delaware, in order to reach the troops at the large Air Force base in that area.

13. The Nutt family, Okinawa – They have been in Okinawa for seven years, pastoring the Maranatha Baptist Church and have done a great job. This church has had the greatest number saved of all our military churches for several years.

14. The Smith family, Germany – has been serving in Schweinfurt, Germany for many years. They have been with BIMI for some 25 years and are very faithful in the work.

15. The Fritz family, USA – For 2 ½ years they have presented the military ministry for the first time to churches in East Tennessee and North Georgia. Their desire is to help get meetings and support for our families going to the field and are doing a great job. Please pray for them.

16. The Mark Lancaster family, Germany – just recently started a new church in Bamberg, Germany and is doing a great job. Pray for this new work.

17. Tom Lancaster family, Germany – They are engaged in a project of renovating their building, which will almost double their present facility. They need much prayer and support.

18. The Chuck Truitt family, Germany – Berean Baptist Church, Ansbach is now in their newly renovated building. They have recently been on a brief furlough to report to a few supporting churches and be with their son, Josh, as he graduated from Marine Corp boot camp. Return to Top

Rhein River Baptist Church in Mannheim, Germany is a military church with a huge heart for missions and missionaries. Tom Lancaster, pastor of the church says, “I am continually amazed at the love and concern these soldiers have for missions around the world.” In addition to a missions program that supports missionaries around the world, Rhein River Baptist Church also has a ministry of encouragement to the independent Baptist missionaries serving in Europe. For eleven years now the church has hosted an annual Christmas Retreat for missionaries and their families from countries all over Europe. Last year over 250 missionaries, including their families, came from fourteen different countries in Europe and were treated to a week-end of activities, great food, gifts, fellowship, encouragement and great preaching.

The church is in the midst of a new mission’s project called “The Haven of Rest”. Recently the building adjoining their present church facility became available to them and they are renovating the new building to accommodate a beautiful mission’s apartment that will be called “The Haven of Rest”. This apartment will be available, free of charge, to missionaries who need to get away for a time of rest and restoration. Please pray for this special project and if you would like to have a part in helping them with the financing of it you can send your gift to BIMI #642 and mark it “The Haven of Rest in Germany.”

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Wednesday, February 8, 2012

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Scot C & Katie Daku -  AMERICAN SAMOA
Paul J & Wendy Daku Jr -  FIJI ISLANDS
James & Dawn Daley -  INDONESIA