Yesterday, there was uncertainty at the Assemblies of God Church, Ehere, Ogbor Hill, Aba, Abia state, as the priest of the church, Reverend Eze Ogba, denied to marry a groom and bride due to allegations that the bride was pregnant.
According to Platinum Times, the pair, Mr. Isreal Kennedy and his wife, Miss Rose, as well as their relatives, invaded the church for the ceremony, which was scheduled to take place after church service.
The church, on the other hand, was alleged to have ordered a pregnancy test on the bride, which later proved that she was pregnant. Following this event, the Church’s priest stated that the wedding had been canceled.
The incident caused consternation in the church as family frantically tried to persuade the church board to reverse the decision, while the priest was spotted examining the bride, who claimed her innocence.
The groom’s and bribe’s families were alleged to have gone to a nearby church where the wedding was performed. The reception was also held at the new church.
A church member who did not want his name used in print told Platinum Times that the Assemblies of God Church does not perform weddings for pregnant brides, regardless of their condition.
He said;
“It is the tradition of the Assemblies of God Church not to wed pregnant brides, it is not a new thing. The groom and bride who presented themselves for the wedding knew that the Church cannot join them in matrimony because the bride was already pregnant. They were to be joined after the service when the result of the test ordered by the church would have been ready. After conducting the pregnancy test on the bride, the church found out that she was pregnant and announced that the wedding was cancelled.”
Some church members believed that given the enormous amount of money spent by the families on preparations for the ceremony, the church should have performed the ceremony and then chastised the husband and bride.
Platinum Times learned that both the groom and his wife were later suspended in accordance with the Church’s Constitution.
Attempts to get the priest’s comment were futile because he was stated to be in a meeting when Vanguard arrived at the church.