A Nigerian Pastor, Evangelist Gospel Agochukwu, of Shekinah Arena International Ministry, Rumuokuta, Port Harcourt, shocked an intending couple in his church after they were unable to produce someone from the bride’s family to hand her over.
When the couple were already at the altar, the pastor asked if there was anyone to hand over the bride to her husband, but there was silence.
Evang Gospel Agochukwu then threatened that if there was no one to hand her over, he would suspend the wedding.
The groom and the bride looked at each other and the groom cast a look backwards into the audience.
At some point, a gentleman stepped forward and the cleric queried him about his relationship with the bride.
His response could not be captured by the microphone, but the pastor can be heard saying, “No, sir! We need her relatives to do this. Her father, mother, brother, uncle or any relative.”
Another person also rose, but the pastor identified him as a member of the groom’s family and could therefore not hand the bride over.
After a little while, it appeared the wife of the pastor rose to save the day by handing over the bride, but the pastor rebuffed her.
He can be heard saying if his wife was meant to perform that role, the couple would have pre-informed him and not wait till he was making the announcement.
He then asked the bride to sit while they waited for her relatives. He noted that the mother of the bride was a worker in the church and he could not understand why she was not present at her wedding.
Gospel Agochukwu emphasized that it was an important aspect of the ceremony that could not be ignored or bypassed for future reference.
The cleric further claimed that he could even be sued if he went ahead without proper handing over by her family member.
The pastor could be heard requesting for chairs for the couple to sit somewhere near the front to wait for the bride’s family.
It is not clear when or if the family of the bride arrived.
The video of the incident has generated lots of debate online, with many siding with the pastor while some others criticized the pastor for ‘embarrassing’ the couple.
Some comments:
@eucharia_obara: “What if she’s an orphan”
@sirepaul01: “What Manner of man is this husband?! You made all plans, had time to inform church, buy suit and wedding gown and all.
Yet, you cannot ensure at least ONE PERSON from the wife’s family represent, no matter the distance!! It’s even against our culture and very risky”
@VivaDido: “That’s a very good decision. They either settle their feud or forget about the marriage, no matter who is right.”
@TheoriginalJN: “Not even one family member was there 😮💨
Good call from the pastor except she’s an orphan”
@Nwannekaenyioma: “According to the pastor, her mother is a worker in the church yet not present. He knows some underground vibes not just a good call.”
