About Us

About Us

How We Began

In 1980, the late Elder Malcolm Heard and Margarette Heard established Love Chapel Church of God in Christ in the basement of their home at 4931 Tenshaw Drive.

What began as a small gathering in a modest space marked the official beginning of what would become a lasting ministry in the Dayton community.

Several years later, Elder Heard received a vision to construct a permanent church building on Oakridge Drive, an area known at the time for significant social and economic challenges. Despite opposition and skepticism surrounding the decision to build in that location, Elder Heard moved forward in faith, trusting in God’s provision and direction.

Construction of Love Chapel Church of God in Christ began in 1987. The church would remain at that location for 36 years, serving the surrounding community through worship, outreach, and ministry. In September 2023, reflecting both growth and a new season of purpose, Love Chapel Church of God in Christ transitioned into what is now known as Born Favored Ministries.

Pastor Jonathan E. Heard, Sr. is a devoted servant of God and the pastor of Born Favored Ministries.

He is the son of the late Pastor Malcolm Heard and Margarette Heard, the founders of Love Chapel Church of God in Christ. Raised in a home firmly rooted in prayer and faith, Pastor Heard was shaped early by the values of service, dedication, and an unwavering commitment to God’s people.

Following the passing of his father in 1991, the leadership of Love Chapel Church of God in Christ was carried by his brother, Pastor Elder Malcolm A. Heard, who faithfully served the congregation until 2024. Their beloved mother entered eternal rest in February 2022, leaving behind a lasting legacy of love, faith, and strength that continues to influence the ministry today.

Pastor Heard accepted his call into ministry in June 2016 and served faithfully as a Minister for eight years. On April 28, 2024, he was ordained as Pastor. Later that year, in September 2024, Love Chapel Church of God in Christ transitioned into Born Favored Ministries, marking a new chapter defined by renewed vision, growth, and divine direction.

Pastor Heard serves alongside his loving wife, First Lady Dekisha Heard, who stands faithfully with him in ministry. Together, they are the proud parents of three children: Elaine, Ja’Niyah, and Jonathan Jr. As a family, they continue the rich heritage of faith established by the Heard legacy, serving God and His people with unity, love, and purpose.

Known for his humble spirit, powerful preaching, and genuine heart for souls, Pastor Jonathan E. Heard, Sr. remains committed to seeing lives transformed, families strengthened, and believers walk boldly in the favor God has placed upon them. He honors the foundation laid before him while faithfully leading Born Favored Ministries into the future God has ordained.

Pastor Jonathan E. Heard, Sr

First Lady Dekisha Heard

First Lady Dekisha Heard is the wife of Pastor Jonathan E. Heard, Sr. and the proud mother of three children: Elaine, Ja’Niyah, and Jonathan Jr.

First Lady Dekisha Heard is the wife of Pastor Jonathan E. Heard, Sr. and the proud mother of three children: Elaine, Ja’Niyah, and Jonathan Jr. She is also a licensed home cake baker and the owner of EL & AL Cakes, where she uses her God-given creativity to bless families and glorify God through excellence, ministry, and love.

Her walk with Christ began in childhood at New Jerusalem Baptist Church under the leadership of Reverend George Washington, where she attended with her grandparents, Annie Dell Harris and Anthony Harris. During those formative years, she was actively involved in the choir and witnessed her grandmother faithfully lead praise and worship, direct the choir, and steward tithes and offerings. Through her grandparents’ example, First Lady Heard was deeply impacted by a legacy of faith, wisdom, and servanthood that would later shape her own calling.

First Lady Heard met her husband in 1999, and they began dating in 2002. As she began attending church with him, his mother, Mother Margarette Heard, became a significant spiritual influence in her life. Mother Heard shared her experiences as a pastor’s wife, imparted wisdom concerning ministry, and provided guidance that would later prove foundational. Though unspoken at the time, it is evident that she recognized and nurtured the calling First Lady Heard would one day carry, embracing her as a spiritual daughter and preparing her with patience, love, and instruction.

In 2009, the passing of her father marked a deeply transformative season. Through grief, God drew her into full surrender, and in 2010 she gave her life to Christ, stepping fully into the purpose God had been cultivating within her. What once seemed unimaginable—serving as a pastor’s wife, leading praise and worship, and ministering to God’s people—became a reality shaped by the influence of the faithful women who had gone before her.

Today, First Lady Dekisha Heard serves faithfully alongside her husband at Born Favored Ministries, continuing the legacy established by three foundational pillars in her life: Annie Dell Harris, Anthony Harris, and Mother Margarette Heard. Though they have entered eternal rest, their prayers, teachings, and love remain evident in her service. She carries their influence with humility and gratitude, honoring the seeds they planted and walking faithfully in the calling God has entrusted to her.