The news of prophet, publicly introducing his second wife, with the first lady on stage, drew a lot of negative criticism.
The news came out when Prophet Israel Ford of LifeWorks Church in Cleveland, Ohio, released a video from the church’s service. In the video, which was shared on October 25, 2026, it starts off with Prophetess Lydia Ford, the prophet’s first wife and co-pastor, talking through the microphone to reveal that she and the prophet are in a polygamous marriage before introducing Minister Shakayla Ford to the crowd.
“Y’all know her. Y’all love her. Y’all benefit from her ministry every week. And so, I just want to take this time, as a pleasure of mine, to introduce to y’all the prophet’s wife and my sister in marriage, Minister Shakayla,” she said before the second wife took the stage.
Formerly known as Shakayla Talley, she addressed the congregation, saying she wanted to give honor to God for leading and guiding them. She acknowledged that people would have questions, comments, and concerns about the arrangement but described it as part of what she believes is God’s will.
“One thing that I want to address is that it is amazing to know this is the will of God and to live it. I have not been slighted not one bit, and I have gained so much. I mean, I have gained so much, and I learned so much from Pastor. I mean, he pours so much into me and into our family,” she said.
“We are a family. We don’t walk around fighting and beefing like individuals, but it is a family dynamic in the image of what God wants to put in the earth,” Shakayla added.
Shakayla also acknowledged that some people had known about the arrangement for a long time, thanking them for their love and support. She described the experience as a learning journey that continues to get better as God leads and allows them to make an impact on others. She also said that others around the world had reached out to them, including individuals who had been kicked out of churches for living a polygamous lifestyle and lacked a place where they could be vulnerable, worship, and pray. She described their relationship as a strong family unit in which everyone benefits from one another through worship and prayer. Throughout her speech, as Shakayla spoke, Lydia is seen in the video nodding in agreement with her speech.
The new wife also said the news had to start somewhere and that they were blazing a trail to start the initiative, emphasizing her belief in the truth of God’s Word. She praised Lydia’s contributions to the family through her worship and prayers, describing her as a light while clarifying that she was not trying to take away from the first lady’s light and wanted to be submissive to her husband and serve while helping her in whatever way she could.
Israel confirmed that he and Shakayla had been married for nearly three years, adding that their third wedding anniversary would come the following week after the announcement. In the video, cheers and applause were heard throughout. Israel Ford shared a captioned post along with the video, defending his decision.
He argued that the belief that a man should have only one wife is unbiblical.
“As a nation, we have been taught that a man should have one wife only. This is unbiblical. I encourage you to watch today’s sermon in its entirety (uploaded later this week). I understand that this is an unpopular truth that we have gotten away from, and many pastors will not preach,” he wrote.
“I have no plans to choose pleasing man over what God had revealed. 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,” he stated toward the end of his captioned post.
He cited Exodus 21:10, a passage addressing a husband’s obligations if he takes another wife, to support his position.
“If he marries another woman, he must not deprive the first one of her food, clothing and marital rights,” the Bible verse reads.
Photos shared on social media show Lydia and Shakayla appearing comfortable together, while Israel’s social media profile features images of him with both women. According to Israel’s Facebook profile, he and Lydia have been married since June 5, 2013.
Prophet Israel Ford two wives: Prophetess Lydia Ford and Shakeyla Ford; Photo Credit: Lydia Ford/Facebook
In the comments on the video on Instagram, many commenters disagreed with the decision, referring to 1 Timothy 3:2, Matthew 19:4–6, and 1 Corinthians 7:2 to back up their claims.
- 1 Timothy 3:2 states: “Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach,” New International Version (NIV).
- Matthew 19:4–6 states: “Haven’t you read,” he replied, “that at the beginning the Creator ‘made them male and female,’ and said, ‘For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh’? So, they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore, what God has joined together, let no one separate,” New International Version (NIV).
- 1 Corinthians 7:2 states: “But since sexual immorality is occurring, each man should have sexual relations with his own wife, and each woman with her own husband,” New International Version (NIV).
Others commented, saying that he would have to give an account for how he led God’s people and praying they get it right and stop twisting Scripture to cover conviction. Others said that’s why you have to read the Bible for yourself and have a relationship with God, citing that if you don’t, you will be blindly led by a pastor who can make mistakes and live in error.
One commenter, whose username is @ljtherealtor, claimed that she had previously received several spiritual warnings concerning his second wife, Shakayla, that made her uncomfortable, adding that this post confirmed those concerns. She digressed in her thoughts, citing that she doesn’t get paid for that, while also adding Scripture to back up why him having a second wife is unbiblical. She also wrote in her post that she’s praying for Lydia’s strength and for her to know her worth, arguing that Israel had not crucified his flesh and was using Scripture to justify his decision.
Meanwhile, on Facebook, a commentator by the name of Joshua Abril wrote the following statement under Israel’s Facebook post:
“Pastor Israel, it would have been more honorable for you to divorce Lydia and be single if you couldn’t be faithful to one woman. I felt bad for Tameka after your first marriage ended, but I really feel bad for Lydia. Do you realize that you’ve been given over to a reprobate mind? There are so many pastors, ministers, preachers, etc. throughout history who have walked the same path you’ve walked; dealt with the same struggles you’ve dealt with and consequently ended up in Hell for eternity. I don’t know how you and Lydia came into this relationship with Shakeyla, but anyone on the outside would see her as someone sent from Satan to destroy the union you have with Lydia.”
This is a wild-in-out situation from Cleveland. Peeps, what are your thoughts on this announcement?
