Ohio Pastor Israel Ford’s Stepdaughter Alleges Earlier ‘Throuple’ as Polygamy Controversy Deepens

Kourtney Jones, stepdaughter of LifeWorks Church pastor Israel Ford, has alleged that her mother and stepfather brought another woman into their relationship years before publicly announcing their current marriage arrangement.

According to an October 30 report by Christian news outlet ChurchLeaders, Jones discussed her allegations during an October 28 appearance on the All Things Theology podcast. Her comments followed a viral church video in which Ford and his wives, Lydia and Shakayla Ford, presented their relationship as biblically supported.

Jones challenged the account of how the arrangement developed, alleging that similar relationships had taken place privately while she was still in high school.

"The reason I chose to speak out publicly was because this is something that they have done in private for many, many years now," Jones said.

A Public Announcement Opens a Wider Dispute

In an October 25 video, Lydia introduced Shakayla to the congregation of LifeWorks Church in the Cleveland area as her "sister in marriage." Shakayla described the relationship as God's will and thanked those who had supported them.

Israel said he and Shakayla had been married for three years. In the accompanying caption, he argued that requiring a man to have only one wife was "unbiblical."

The family describes its arrangement as polygyny, meaning one man with multiple wives. Ford has said he does not support his wives taking additional husbands.

Jones' response, however, extends beyond disagreement over biblical interpretation. In Facebook posts reported by ChurchLeaders, she alleged that Ford sexually abused her over several years. She also alleged that her mother and stepfather physically and verbally abused her twin sister, Kayce White.

These are allegations, not established findings. The supplied report does not include a response from Israel or Lydia Ford addressing those specific accusations.

Beyond the Online Spectacle

Jones also criticised the jokes and mockery surrounding the viral announcement, arguing that they obscure the experiences of women involved. Despite her allegations against her mother, Jones described both Lydia and Shakayla as victims.

Her account raises questions that a debate about marriage terminology alone cannot answer: how pastoral authority operates within a congregation, whether members can challenge their leader, and how churches respond when relatives bring allegations of harm.

Ford's announcement invited public scrutiny of his theology. His stepdaughter's allegations have widened that scrutiny to his conduct-and to the church's responsibility to take such accusations seriously.