An Ohio pastor is facing fierce backlash after introducing his second wife to his church congregation. During an Oct. 25 service at LifeWorks Church in Wickliffe, Ohio, Pastor Israel Ford and his wife Lydia revealed they had entered into a “polygynous marriage.” Lydia then welcomed Minister Shakayla Ford to the front of the church as her “sister in marriage. Shakayla called the arrangement “the will of God,” and Israel later doubled down online, calling the teaching that a man should have only one wife “unbiblical.” During an Oct. 25 service at LifeWorks Church in Wickliffe, Ohio, Pastor Israel Ford and his wife Lydia revealed they had entered into a “polygynous marriage.” The announcement ignited a social media firestorm, with critics questioning the pastor’s interpretation of Scripture and the circumstances surrounding his second marriage. “Wow…. blows the dust off my bible – i need to see something,” one person wrote. “He is not a prophet doing this type of behavior,” another declared. One critic went further, writing, “Hell is very hot ,” while another called the marriage an “abomination” and urged the family to repent. Pastor Blasts Unrealistic Dating Standards, Warns Past Experiences Can Leave People Unable to Recognize a Virtuous Spouse Right In Front of Them Others defended the arrangement, accusing critics of hypocrisy. “I guess putting it in a way where both women can be loved openly fully is the sin with these folks,” one supporter argued, contrasting the marriage with relationships conducted secretly. Another defended the family, writing, “they happy that’s what matter, they just ain’t hiding theirs like other’s are.” Ford, meanwhile, remains unapologetic. “I have no plans to choose pleasing man over what God has revealed,” he declared on Facebook. Despite mounting scrutiny, Ford appeared alongside both wives on “Larry Reid Live,” where he opened up about the relationship. Ford claimed Lydia never objected to him finding other women attractive during their marriage. He said his feelings for Shakayla developed after she began spending more time around their household, helping Lydia when she was sick, cooking and cleaning. Eventually, Ford admitted he had fallen in love. However, he insisted he would not marry Shakayla without Lydia’s blessing. “I would never marry her until you are okay with it,” Ford recalled telling his first wife. According to Ford, all three agreed to pray and fast for 40 days before making a decision. During that period, Ford claimed he and Shakayla experienced the exact dreams on the same night that they believed were messages from God. But there was one striking detail: Lydia reportedly received no such message. Ford said his first wife initially hesitated, telling him, “Well, I just need a little time.” He claimed Lydia eventually gave her approval. Ford has also defended the arrangement on Facebook. “I have no plans to choose pleasing man over what God has revealed,” he declared. But the controversy deepened when details of Ford’s criminal past resurfaced. Complex reported that Ford was convicted of misdemeanor domestic violence over a January 2018 incident involving his then-17-year-old stepdaughter, identified as K.C. According to Ohio’s Eighth District Court of Appeals, the teen testified that Ford pinned her to the floor with his knee on her neck, slammed her into a wall and beat her with a belt, leaving bruises still visible three days later. He then kept her home from school so she wouldn’t tell her teachers, she testified. Ford argued he was disciplining her and denied the most serious claims at sentencing. A judge cleared him and Lydia, who was also charged, of felony child endangering but found Ford guilty of domestic violence and sentenced him to 120 days in jail. The appeals court upheld the conviction in 2020. The Shade Room reported that K.C. is Jones’ sister. During the interview, the family maintained that viewers could question their beliefs without resorting to personal attacks. But their explanation has done little to quiet the controversy surrounding the pastor’s marriage and criminal past. Ohio Pastor Stuns Congregation By Revealing He Now Has Two Wives, Claims a 40-Day Fast and Matching Dreams Were Signs from God ...read more read less