Pastor Lydia Ford, the first wife of American preacher Israel T. Ford, has opened up about the difficult conversations she had with Shakayla Ford before accepting her as her husband’s second wife.
Lydia said she had several questions when the idea was first brought to her, explaining that the initial discussions were not easy. She noted that she asked Shakayla the same questions people have since been asking her about the unusual family arrangement.
The pastor’s wife said Shakayla’s responses, humility and assurance that she wanted to support the family helped her understand her intentions. She explained that Shakayla did not want to come into the marriage at the expense of her relationship with Israel.
“If I’m honest, the initial conversation was hard because I asked the same questions. The same questions you are asking me are the same questions I asked her. And the things she was saying made sense,” Lydia said.
She further explained that Shakayla approached her with love and made it clear that she wanted to support the family rather than create divisions. Lydia said the words she received from her husband’s second wife helped her understand the position she wanted to take.
Lydia speaks about accepting Shakayla
According to Lydia, Shakayla told her that she loved her and the family and wanted to be a source of support. She said the second wife had already demonstrated some of the things she promised during their initial conversations.
“Her humility, she was like Lydia, I love you, I love y’all, and I am not trying to come in a way where, if you leave, I don’t want it. She said she wants to be a supplement; she said I want to support. She has already shown me already,” Lydia said.
However, she was keen to point out that accepting the arrangement was not an easy process. Lydia said having to adjust to the idea of sharing her husband with another woman was a lot to take in, even after the conversations with Shakayla.
“I am not saying it wasn’t hard. It was a lot to take on but yeah,” she said.
Prophet Israel T. Ford and Lydia, who lead LifeWorks Church in Wickliffe, Ohio, introduced Shakayla as Israel’s second wife during a church service on Sunday, October 26, 2026.
Israel also challenged the teaching that a man should have only one wife, arguing that the belief was not supported by the Bible.
