Maranatha Baptist Church - A Brief History

Maranatha Baptist Church started with the military in mind. A few military families who were stationed here in Okinawa in the 1960's longed for a fundamental Baptist church. Their heart's desire planted the seed for the birth of Maranatha Baptist Church.

It was May of 1968, when Bob and Marlyn Elzey, missionaries to the military under Baptist International Missions, Inc. (BIMI), with their family, arrived on the island of Okinawa. At that time the families held church services in the home of Missionary Jim Kennard in the old Camp Boone housing area. The few families soon grew and knew that they needed a bigger place to hold their services. The Lord soon enabled them to find a building on what was then Highway 1 in the Oyama area. In September of 1968, the church was formally organized and officially became Maranatha Baptist Church. Soon after, the church experienced phenomenal growth. An additional floor was added to the building and it wasn't long until several houses behind the church had to be rented to hold the Sunday School attendance.

In August of 1974, Brother Jim Kennard became pastor of the church and continued to lead the ministry in its growth and expansion. In 1976, the church was able to relocate to a building on Highway 58 and expand its size to facilitate the increase in attendance and outreach.

In September of 1978, Brother Ed Gibson took over the work and remained for almost twelve years. During this period, Brother Gibson continued to lead the church in its growth and evangelistic outreach.

In January of 1990, Brother John Baltz and his family took over the ministry.

Three years later, in September of 1993, Pastor Dan Mouw and his family took over the ministry. The Lord used Pastor Mouw to begin the relocation and expansion of the church to its current location in the Chibana area.

Pastor Nutt was voted in as the new Pastor in August of 2000 and led the church into the next phase and completion of the building project.

Throughout the years of the blessed history of this ministry, God has used this Lighthouse to minister to the needs of tens of thousands of military personnel on Okinawa. Thousands have been saved and baptized. Hundreds have surrendered to full time Christian service. Former members of Maranatha are literally scattered across the face of the globe as pastors, missionaries, and evangelists.

Nobody can explain why God has wonderfully focused His blessings upon this insignificant, little speck of coral in the Western Pacific all these years. The only explanation we can offer is that it has been of God's grace, for God's glory.

May His name continue to be magnified as we continue to serve Him.