In an unusual public declaration, Pastor Lydia Ford of LifeWorks Church in Ohio introduced her husband’s second wife to the congregation, openly confirming that their family is living in a polygynous marriage.
During the church gathering, Lydia addressed congregants before inviting the second wife, Minister Shaquela, to speak.
“Prophet and I, you know, we are living even right now in what we would call a polygynous marriage. My husband, our prophet, he has a second wife,” she announced.
Lydia and her husband, Prophet Israel T. Ford, are the husband-and-wife leadership team of LifeWorks Church, a ministry founded by the prophet in 2009.
She told the congregation that Shaquela, the new wife was already familiar to church members through her regular ministry activities.
“Y’all know her. Y’all love her. Y’all benefit from her ministry every week,” Lydia said, before introducing Shaquela as “Prophet’s wife and my sister in marriage.”
Taking the microphone, Minister Shaquela acknowledged that the announcement would likely generate questions and concerns.
“Cat’s out the bag. Elephants in the room,” she said.
Shaquela described the family arrangement as God’s will, insisting that she had not been disadvantaged by the relationship.
“I have not been slighted, not one bit, and I have gained so much,” she told the congregation.
She further maintained that the women and their husband function as a united family rather than individuals competing against one another.
“We don’t walk around like individuals fighting and beefing, but it is a family dynamic in the image of what God wants to put in the earth,” she declared.
Shaquela also thanked those who had known about the arrangement for some time and supported the family throughout what she described as a journey.
Polygyny, a form of polygamy in which one man has multiple wives, remains controversial within Christianity. While plural marriages are recorded in the Old Testament, most mainstream Christian denominations uphold monogamy as the standard for marriage.
Ohio law also prohibits entering into another marriage while a previous legal marriage remains in force. The legal status of the Ford family’s arrangement has not been established, and their public use of the term “wife” does not necessarily indicate multiple legally recognised marriages.
The announcement has attracted strong reactions online, with many commenters expressing shock, disbelief and religious objections.
Instagram user @verah_lemps wrote, “I thought I have seen it all. Until I saw this,” accompanied by shocked-face emojis.
Another user, @esechekwa, declared, “Perilous times are here,” while @iamofficial_moyinoluwa reacted, “See as I open mouth down.”
Some commenters raised concerns about the church’s acceptance of polygyny.
@nlsservices wrote, “Im scared that this is acceptable in the church.”
Meanwhile, @lovelylady_76 cited biblical passages, including 1 Timothy 3:2, which describes a bishop as the husband of one wife, and Deuteronomy 17:17, which warns against multiplying wives.
Others expressed stronger religious condemnation. @debbie__eyo warned, “Ya’ll are not about to play with the altar of God!” while @shethrivor commented, “Hell is enlarging itself daily.”
The reactions were not limited to criticism. Some users responded with laughter, disbelief and humour, including @radicalevangelist_, who simply wrote, “End time.”
