THE VISION BEARER – PASTOR ERNEST CHIGOZIE MBANEFO
Justified Youth & Singles Ministry was founded by PASTOR ERNEST MBANEFO. He was always addicted to the cause of the Youths, Single and Young Couples, after serving as the Youth and Singles Pastor of Winners Chapel Johannesburg for three and half years (2009 – 2013), on the 1st of March 2015 Justified Connect was officially launched. A very passionate lover and advocate of the Christian youths, singles and young couples Pastor Ernest C. Mbanefo takes this ministry as a divine assignment entrusted to him to relevantly impact, timely empower and direct Christian Youth, Christian Singles and the Young Christian Couples in the church of Jesus Christ today.
Justified Youth & Singles Ministry metamorphosed into Justified Connect in 2015. Pastor Ernest, during his time of reflection spent at D-Section in Johannesburg received the clear instruction and detailed directives on and how to form and set up Justified Connect. The design of the all-powerful Justified connect International Christian forum (http://www.justifiedconnect.com/), an online discussion platform was completed and open for engagement by November 2017. The Justified Connect’s Fredman Street, Sandton Office was opened to public on the 1st of December 2017. The Announcement of Justified Connect Fellowships and Recreational Events will be out on or before the 20th of January 2018.
Birth, Siblings and Parents
Born on the 10th of August 1975, Chigozie (as he was fondly called at home) was born into a very strong Christian home, with a mother (Mrs. Mary O. Mbanefo) graced with an undying passion for Christ and kingdom business. Chigozie’s father; Mr. John O. Mbanefo went to be with the lord on the 21st of August 1984, Chigozie had just celebrated his 9th birthday.
Pastor Ernest is first of five children, the three girls; Surveyor Ijeoma Regina, Rev. Sister Maureen Obianuju and Chattered Accountant Chinwe Grace come after him in that order and his only brother (Rev. Fr. Fidelis Ikenna) is the last.
Education
Chigozie, had a privileged elitist educational background; attending the Nazareth Nursery and Primary School, Festac Town, Lagos State, Nigeria. He attended the Federal Government College, Okigwe, Imo State, Nigeria and completed his tertiary education at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka from 1995 to 1999, where he graduated in 1999 where he bagged a Bachelors degree (with Honours) in Zoology and Botany.
Marriage and Family Life
Chigozie met his wife Chidimma Maureen in 2003 in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. They fulfilled all the marriage requirements and rites, with their traditional wedding taking place in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria on the 10th of November 2007 and the Church Wedding taking place in Festac Town, Lagos State, Nigeria on the 1st of December 2007. They are blessed with three beautiful children; Commander Chimkasi, Adanna Grace and John Chukwumuaya.
A member of the Winners Family.
Chigozie joined the Living Faith Church (AKA Winners Chapel) in December 2001 in Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria, where he attended he attended the Word of Faith Bible institute (WOFBI) and bagged the Basic Certificate Course (BCC), while in South Africa he went on to attend the WOFBI again in Winners Chapel, International, Johannesburg and added the Leadership Certificate Course (LCC) and the Leadership Diploma Course (LDC) to his collection of ministry-based academic accolades.
Ordination by Bishop David O. Oyedepo on 23rd April 2011 (Proxy by: Pastor Isaac Folaji)
Chigozie was ordained as a pastor (part-time) under the Winners commission on the 23rd on April 2011, where he served in the Youth and Singles Ministry leadership for three and half years, first as the assistant to Pastor Franly M. Nkulu; the former Resident Pastor, Winners Chapel, Sandton (in Johannesburg North) and then as the Youth Pastor. His service in the Youth and Singles Ministry ended in March, 2013 and he has been a member of the pastorate, where Pastor Isaac Oyedepo was both the Senior Pastor and the Resident Pastor.
Winners Journey by dates:
- 2001, December, – Joined Winners Chapel, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria
- 2003, February – Discipleship Class (Winners, Awka)
- 2003, February – Water Baptism by immersion (Winners, Awka)
- 2003, May – Completed WOFBI Basic Certificate Course (BCC), (Winners, Awka)
- 2009, July/August – Completed WOFBI Leadership Certificate Course (LCC)
- 2011, July/August – Completed WOFBI Leadership Diploma Course (LDC)
- 2011, April 22nd – Ordained a Pastor (part-time) by Bishop David Oyedepo.