One pastor, two wives and a congregation cheering them on! American pastor Israel Ford has sparked quite the conversation online after publicly introducing his second wife, Shakayla Ford, to his church congregation, alongside his first wife, Lydia Ford

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The rather unconventional introduction took place at LifeWorks Church in Ohio, where Lydia addressed church members and revealed that she and the pastor had been living in a polygynous marriage, a relationship in which one man has multiple wives. The announcement was met with cheers and applause from the congregation.

Shakayla, who was welcomed alongside the couple, also took the opportunity to speak about their family dynamic, making it clear that she doesn't feel short-changed by the arrangement.

“I have not been slighted one bit, I have gained so much,” she told the congregation, going on to describe their union as a family.

And while the arrangement may have raised a few eyebrows online, Pastor Israel appears rather confident in his interpretation of scripture.

Taking to Facebook, the pastor doubled down on his beliefs, claiming that “having one wife is unbiblical,” challenging the traditional understanding of Christian marriage.

Unsurprisingly, the revelation has prompted plenty of discussion online, with social media users questioning both the pastor's interpretation of the Bible and the congregation's enthusiastic response.

One user joked, “God did not give Adam Eve and Evelyn,” while another questioned, “Are we reading the same bible? And people are actually clapping.”

Others were less amused by the announcement, with one commenting, “Would have been my last service at that church 😂 im not following any pastor to hell fire.”

Although polygynous marriages are referenced throughout the Bible, the practice remains a contentious subject within Christianity, with many denominations maintaining that marriage should be between two people.

Nevertheless, Pastor Israel and his wives appear united in their decision, leaving the internet to debate whether their arrangement is a matter of biblical interpretation or a departure from Christian teachings.

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