– Israel Ford Announce Second Wife – Declare Polygamous Marriage
Prophet Israel T. Ford and his wife, Prophetess Lydia Ford, have sparked widespread reactions after publicly announcing their polygynous marriage and introducing Minister Shakayla Ford as the prophet’s second wife.
The announcement was made during a church service at LifeWorks Church in Wickliffe, Ohio, United States, on Sunday, October 25, 2026.
In a surprising turn of events, Lydia, who co-leads the church with her husband, personally introduced Shakayla to the congregation, describing her as her “sister in marriage.”
Lydia told church members that she and her husband were living in what she described as a polygynous marriage, confirming that Israel had a second wife.
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Shakayla, who is also a minister at the church, subsequently addressed the congregation, acknowledging that the announcement could raise questions and concerns among members and the wider public.
She maintained that she believed the arrangement was the will of God and expressed appreciation for the relationship, stating that she had gained much from her association with the prophet and his family.
She also dismissed suggestions of rivalry between the two women, describing their relationship as a family arrangement rather than one characterised by competition or conflict.
Prophet Israel Ford later defended the marriage arrangement, challenging the widely held Christian teaching that a man should have only one wife. He argued that the belief was not supported by Scripture in the way many Christians had been taught and promised to explain his position in greater detail.
The announcement reportedly drew mixed reactions from the congregation, with some members applauding while others appeared surprised by the revelation.
According to reports, Israel and Shakayla had already been married for nearly three years before the union was publicly announced to the congregation.
The development has since generated debate on social media, with Christians and other commentators expressing differing views on polygamy, biblical interpretation and the expectations placed on church leaders.
Israel Ford Announce Second Wife
While some have questioned the arrangement in light of traditional Christian teachings on marriage and pastoral leadership, others have pointed to biblical accounts of men who had multiple wives.
The public announcement has placed the Fords at the centre of an ongoing conversation about marriage, faith and the interpretation of Scripture within contemporary Christianity.
