A United States-based pastor, Israel Ford, has defended his decision to marry a second wife, Shakayla Ford, insisting that the Bible does not prohibit polygamy.
Gatekeepers News reports that Ford, founder of Lifeworks Church in the United States, publicly introduced Shakayla to his congregation nearly three years after their marriage, with his first wife, Lydia Ford, making the announcement during a church service.
In a video circulating on social media, Lydia disclosed that the family was practising polygamy before introducing Shakayla, who also works in the church.
“We are living even right now in what we will call a polygynous marriage. My husband has a second wife,” she told the congregation.
She added, “Y’all know her. Y’all love her. I just wanna take this time as a pleasure of mine to introduce to y’all Pastor’s wife and my sister-in-marriage, Minister Shakayla.”
Shakayla was subsequently given the microphone to address the congregation, expressing her happiness about being part of the family and describing the marriage as God’s will.
“One thing that I want to address is that it is amazing to know that this is the will of God. I have not be smitted one bit. I have gained so much,” she said.
She continued, “I’ve learnt so much from Pastor . He has poured so much into me and into our family. We have families. We don’t walk around like individuals but like families.”
“This is our life. We want to live the life of God,” she added.
Shakayla also defended Christians who practise polygamy, saying some had faced rejection from their churches because of their marital arrangements.
“There are people who have been kicked out of churches because they live this life and they don’t have anywhere to worship; they don’t have anywhere to go and pray and talk to God because people shun them,” she said.
“But God’s word is real. God’s word is true,” she added.
She further described the family as strong, saying members benefited from one another’s contributions to worship and prayer.
“We are a strong family. I mean, we benefit from her worship. We benefit from the revelation in the word. We benefit because it is a house of prayer and God uses me to pray,” Shakayla said.
Following the introduction, Ford announced the marriage on Instagram and defended his decision, arguing that the belief that a man should have only one wife was not biblical.
“I would like to introduce to the world, my second wife, Shakayla Ford!!! As a nation we have been taught that a man should have one wife only. This is unbiblical,” he wrote.
He encouraged followers to watch his sermon on the subject, adding, “I understand that this is an unpopular truth that we have gotten away from and many Pastors will not preach.”
“I have no plans to choose pleasing man over what God has revealed,” he stated.
Ford cited Exodus 21:10 to support his position. The passage in the New International Version reads: “If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights.”
The pastor also acknowledged that his decision could attract criticism and cause some people to distance themselves from him.
“People may not accept this and choose to disconnect, and that is ok! This life will be over soon and we can all laugh about it in Heaven. Until then, God bless,” he added.
The announcement has generated debate on social media, with some users defending the arrangement while others questioned its compatibility with Christian teachings on marriage.
