American pastor Israel Ford has explained the circumstances surrounding his decision to marry a second wife, following widespread reactions to a viral video in which he introduced the woman to his congregation.
Ford said his first wife was aware of his growing relationship with the woman, identified as Shakayla, and that he waited until she was comfortable with the arrangement before proceeding with the marriage.
The pastor’s explanation comes amid public discussions about his decision to openly acknowledge having two wives while serving as a religious leader.
According to Ford, the relationship developed gradually after Shakayla became increasingly involved in his family’s daily activities.
He explained that she frequently assisted with household responsibilities, including cooking, cleaning and providing support when his first wife was ill.
Ford said her consistent presence and willingness to help his family eventually led him to develop romantic feelings for her.
“My wife is different from other women. She doesn’t mind that I look at other women,” he stated.
He added that Shakayla’s involvement in their lives became significant enough for him to recognise that he wanted the relationship to continue.
The pastor maintained that the decision to pursue a second marriage was not taken without discussing the situation with his first wife.
He said the three of them subsequently agreed to undertake a period of prayer and fasting while considering the future of their relationship.
According to Ford, they committed to a 40-day fast in an attempt to seek spiritual guidance concerning the proposed marriage.
He claimed that during the fasting period, he and Shakayla experienced dreams on the same night, which they interpreted as divine communication.
“The crazy part was He spoke to us and didn’t speak to her (first wife),” Ford said.
Despite that account, the pastor maintained that his first wife’s acceptance was an important consideration before the marriage proceeded.
Ford also addressed his decision to make the arrangement public rather than keep his second marriage away from his congregation.
He explained that his actions were guided by his belief that religious leaders should demonstrate transparency and live according to the principles they teach.
“I came out for two reasons. I believe that if you do something, you preach something, you should live it,” he said.
The pastor further argued that openly discussing his personal decisions would allow him to serve as an example to others.
“I believe that transparency is everything. I know that I can’t help people if I’m not being an example,” he added.
His explanation offers insight into how he says the relationship developed and the role his family’s discussions played in the decision.
However, the account reflects Ford’s description of the arrangement, and no independent statement from his first wife was provided confirming her position.
Ezeana Emmanuel
