Assemblies of God Church cancels wedding over pregnant bride in Abia

There was pandemonium yesterday at the Assemblies of God Church, Ehere, Ogbor Hill, Aba, Abia State, as the minister of the church, named Reverend Eze Ogba, refused to marry a groom and bride over reports that the bride was expecting.

Reports gathered indicated that the pair, Mr. Isreal Kennedy and his bride, Miss Rose, along with their relatives, had arrived at the church for the ceremony, which was scheduled to take place after church service.

However, the church was said to have demanded a pregnancy test be done on the bride, which later showed that she was pregnant. Following the development, the minister of the church declared that the wedding was called off.

The situation caused chaos in the church as the families tried desperately to have the board of the church reverse the decision, while the minister was seen questioning the bride, who denied her guilt.

The families of the groom and bride were said to have left for a nearby church that agreed to conduct the wedding. The new church also hosted the reception ceremony.

A member of the church who did not want his name on print told Vanguard that it is the custom of the Assemblies of God Church not to marry pregnant brides, regardless of their status.

He said; “It is the custom of the Assemblies of God Church not to marry pregnant brides, it is not a new thing. The groom and bride who came for the wedding knew that the Church cannot unite them in marriage because the bride was already pregnant. They were to be united after the service when the result of the test ordered by the church would have been available. After doing the pregnancy test on the bride, the church discovered that she was pregnant and declared that the wedding was called off.”

Some members of the church who thought about the huge amount spent by the families in preparing for the ceremony said the church should have performed the ceremony and later punished the groom and the bride.