An American pastor has sparked heated debate among Christians after publicly introducing his second wife during a church service, with his first wife reportedly describing the unusual arrangement as something ordained by God.
Pastor Israel T. Ford, founder of LifeWorks Church in Wickliffe, Ohio, made the announcement on Sunday, October 25, 2026, alongside his first wife, Prophetess Lydia Ford. The couple introduced Minister Shakayla Ford, formerly known as Shakayla Talley, as his second wife.
The revelation surprised many congregants and social media users after it emerged that Israel and Shakayla had reportedly been married for nearly three years without publicly disclosing their union.
In a development that has attracted even more attention, Lydia reportedly welcomed Shakayla as her “sister in marriage,” maintaining that the arrangement was in line with God's will for their family.
Pastor Ford also defended his decision by challenging the widely held belief that Christian marriage must involve only one wife. He cited Exodus 21:10 in support of his interpretation of biblical teachings on marriage and marital responsibilities.
The announcement reportedly received applause from some members of the congregation, while others expressed surprise and raised questions about the biblical justification for the arrangement.
Online, the revelation has reignited a wider debate about biblical interpretation, Christian marriage, and whether polygyny has a place in contemporary Christian communities.
The development has left many people debating a difficult question: Can a man have more than one wife and still claim that his marriage arrangement is guided by God?
The
pastor then revealed that his marriage to Shakeyla was not new, saying
the union would reach its third anniversary in a week.
An American pastor has revealed that he has been married to his second wife, Minister Shakeyla, for nearly three years, as he and his first wife publicly introduced her to their congregation as part of what they described as God’s plan.
During the church service, the pastor’s first wife introduced Shakeyla as her “sister in marriage”, telling the congregation that her husband had a second wife.
“I want to share that Prophet and I, we are living even right now in what we will call a religious marriage. My husband, Prophet, he has a second wife. Y’all know her. Y’all love her. Y’all benefit from her ministry every week,” she said.
Shakeyla acknowledged that the arrangement might raise questions but insisted that the family was united and that the marriage reflected “the will of God”.
“Let's address the elephant in the room. It is amazing to know that this is the will of God. I have not been slighted not one bit. We ARE a family,” she said, adding that they did not live as individuals fighting or beefing with one another.
She also claimed that people in similar family arrangements across the United States had been rejected by churches because of their beliefs, leaving some without a place to worship.
Shakeyla clarified that she was not taking on the role of pastor, describing herself as a minister who was there to support the prophet and his first wife.
The pastor then revealed that his marriage to Shakeyla was not new, saying the union would reach its third anniversary in a week.
