Ohio Pastor Goes Viral After Revealing He Has Two Wives

An Ohio pastor and his wife are making headlines after publicly revealing that their marriage includes another woman, and they’re standing firmly behind their belief that God brought them together.

The Root reached out to LifeWorks Church for comment but has not received a response as of publication. Two current members and one ex-member verified that the so-called marriage is real as well is the video.

Prophet Israel Ford and his first wife, Prophetess Lydia Ford, who lead LifeWorks Church in Wickliffe, Ohio, introduced his second wife, Minister Shakayla Ford, to their congregation. In a video shared by The Neighborhood Talk, the family opened up about their unconventional relationship, describing it as a reflection of God’s will.

“We are living in a polygamous marriage. My husband has a second wife,” Lydia told the congregation before introducing Shakayla as her “sister in marriage.”

Rather than appearing uncomfortable with the arrangement, the Prophetess welcomed the minister to the pulpit, where the two embraced before the minister addressed the congregation herself.

“Cat’s out the bag, elephants in the room,” Shakayla said before giving glory to God and acknowledging that their announcement would likely raise eyebrows.

“I know people have questions, comments and concerns,” she continued. “I want to address that it is amazing to know that this is the will of God and to live it. I have not been slighted one bit and gained so much.”

Shakayla went on to explain that the relationship isn’t about competition between the women, but rather building a family rooted in their shared religious beliefs.

“We are a family,” she said, describing their relationship as a family dynamic that reflects what she believes God wants to establish on Earth. She also thanked those who had already known about the marriage for continuing to love and support them.

And while the arrangement may be difficult for some people to understand, Ford acknowledged that navigating their relationship has required patience and growth.

“It has been a learning experience, but it keeps getting better. We’re learning and we’re growing. We want to live the life of God,” she explained.

But their decision to speak publicly goes beyond simply introducing a second wife. During her remarks, Shakayla also addressed the stigma surrounding plural marriages within religious communities, noting that some people who practice the lifestyle have been rejected by their churches and left without a place to worship or seek spiritual guidance.

She expressed hope that their family’s willingness to speak openly could offer encouragement to others facing similar rejection, describing their household as strong and saying they were helping blaze a trail.

Israel also defended the marriage in a social media post, arguing that the belief that a man should have only one wife is “unbiblical.” He maintained that he would not prioritize public approval over what he believes God has revealed to him.