Ohio Pastor Israel Ford Defends His Two-Wife Decision

Prophet Israel Ford, the lead pastor of LifeWorks Church in Wickliffe, Ohio, defended his decision to take a second wife, Minister Shakayla Ford, during a church service on October 25. This announcement, which included the introduction of his first wife, Pastor Lydia Ford, led to significant criticism from Christians regarding biblical teachings on monogamy.

Ford argued that the scriptural requirement for church leaders to be "the husband of one wife" pertains specifically to certain leadership roles, such as bishops and deacons, rather than all Christians. He emphasized that some biblical instructions should be understood within their cultural context, questioning why some cultural interpretations are accepted while others are not.

When asked if his wives could take additional husbands, he rejected the idea, stating that it would indicate they no longer wanted him. Lydia Ford revealed that she initially opposed the idea of polygyny when it was first proposed by her husband during discussions in 2021 or 2022.