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. Him and his three brothers went to join their dad, who practiced medicine, in West Virginia in 1981. 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 Fellowship Baptist Church 1994. While stationed in Dallas, Texas, they continued to serve the LORD in Miller Road Baptist Church under Pastor David Blaser. While stationed in Arizona, Ed and his family were members of Bible Baptist Church in Yuma under Pastor Alfred Maese. There he was appointed as a deacon. He believed GOD called him to fulltime ministry and later he surrendered to preach in 1998. He preached to those in prisons, shelters for the homeless, and 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 served as a deacon, soul winning & visitation director, and was later licensed to preach. Pastor Steve Nutt ordained him to the Gospel Ministry in 2002. Before Ed retired from active duty, Ed and his wife Elvie were appointed as missionaries through Baptist International Missions, Inc. (BIMI) in Chattanooga, Tennessee 2002.

Ed received a secular Bachelor in Arts degree in Criminal Justice from Chapman University in Orange County, California, in 1994. He received his Bible College Diploma from Faith Bible Institute in Monroe, Louisiana in 2002. He received his Doctorate in Ministry Degree from Andersonville Baptist Seminary in Camille, Georgia in 2009. Elvie also received a Bachelor's Degree in Biblical Studies from Andersonville Baptist Seminary in 1998. Ed was an assistant pastor to Pastor Steve Nutt of Maranatha Baptist Church in Okinawa, Japan, from 2005 to 2008. He was the pastor of Lighthouse Baptist Church in Sasebo, Japan, from 2008 to 2011. He was called to pastor Yokosuka Baptist Church and after receiving a unanimous vote from the church in May 2011. Him and his family arrived 1 July 2011. Elvie is a great help meet, leads the ladies, and serves in various ministries including the nursery.

Ed and Elvie has two children. Edelyn is now married to Jesse Pilalas. Both of them met in and graduated from West Coast Baptist College in Lancaster, California. Both received Bachelor of Biblical Studies degrees and majored in Missions. They also surrendered to be missionaries through BIMI and are praying about coming to Japan. Eleazar "Eli" is finishing up his senior year in Abeka Academy and is being home-schooled by his Mom and is planning to go to West Coast Baptist College in 2012.

Ed's vision and burden is to reach our community and the world with the Gospel of the LORD JESUS CHRIST through soul winning and faith promise commitments to missionaries. His prayer is for everyone in the local church reach their maximum potential as they serve CHRIST. Brother Ed Navato believes the Holy Bible is the Word of GOD. He stands for fundamentals of the faith and he is an independent Baptist by conviction.

One of Ed's favorite Holy Bible verses is Philippians 1:6, "Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ." One of his favorite quotes is from the great Missionary William Carey, "Attempt great things FOR God and expect great things FROM God". Please take sixty seconds to pray for the Navato family and Yokosuka Baptist Church.