“Your Pastor Should Not Be Number One in Your Life”: Pastor Emmanuel Iren Tells Christian Women
- Pastor Emmanuel Iren has addressed Christian women about their marriage priorities, urging them not to place their pastors above their husbands in their lives
- The Celebration Church International senior pastor questioned why some married women use their pastors' pictures as display pictures when they have husbands at home
- He explained that certain acts have the power to cause tension in homes, emphasising the need for boundaries and proper prioritisation in marriages
- Evangelist Abbass Daniel supported Pastor Iren, saying that family must come first and warning that neglecting husbands for pastors goes against biblical balance
Nigerian cleric Emmanuel Iren, senior pastor of Celebration Church International, has urged Christian women to prioritise their husbands above all other men, including their pastors.
Speaking during a recent church service, he explained that misplaced priorities in marriage can create unnecessary tension in the home, and he emphasised the importance of setting clear boundaries in relationships.
Source: Instagram
Iren explained that some married women make the mistake of elevating their pastors to a position that should rightly belong to their husbands.
He pointed out practices such as using a pastor’s photograph as a display picture on social media or phone, noting that such actions send the wrong message about where loyalty and affection should lie.
According to him, a woman’s true love is reflected in how she values and prioritises her husband, and this should be evident in her choices and behaviour.
The pastor further explained that men often observe how women treat them and can easily tell whether they are valued or vulnerable to outside influence.
He emphasised that while respect for spiritual leaders is important, it must never replace or be more than the commitment owed to one’s spouse.
In his view, a husband should always occupy the number one position in a woman’s life, as this is the clearest sign of devotion and stability in marriage.
Watch Pastor Emmanuel Iren's video below:
Family comes first – Evangelist Daniel
Evangelist Abbass Daniel, a theologian, reacted to Pastor Iren’s teaching, emphasising that prioritising family is essential for both believers and leaders.
He stated:
"I agree with Pastor Iren. Even as a man of God, your family should come first before the ministry or anything else, because if a home breaks down, the calling itself will suffer. So, women treating their pastors like the ultimate authority while neglecting and disrespecting their husbands at home are doing the wrong thing. Their husband and families should come first before any pastor. Whatever honour you can give a pastor, your husband deserves even more; that’s how the balance should be."
Netizens react to Pastor Emmanuel Iren's message
Legit.ng compiled the reactions of netizens below:
@GodswayChika said:
"Women are self sabotaging creatures. If women give their husbands 10% attention and respect they show to religious leaders, work bosses, govt officials, politicians and customers that patronise their businesses, their lives will be heaven on earth. See finish destroy women."
@thediabetes_doc commented:
"Preach pastor! Some women honour and respect their pastor but dishonour and molest their husbands. As a woman the most important earthly authority over you is your husband."
@praizeemeka wrote:
"The day he said this, I was so happy. Cos months before a member was arguing with me and almost claimed I don't respect him hence me questioning the dp."
@IykeNwaObi reacted:
"As a woman, you should know that your husband is the head over your life after God. Your husband is higher than your father because he has transferred the power over to you. Some women will bring out the best of plates whenever their pastors are coming to the house and they won't serve their husbands same way."
@H2Wealth365 said:
"Good question. The husband is the head of the home, not the pastor. The Pastor is the head of his assembly. These are two, very distinct roles. And problems arise when women try to substitute the role of her husband with that of her Pastor, unless her Pastor is her husband."
Source: Instagram
Pastor Iren shares why he changes phone number every 2 years
Earlier, Legit.ng reported that Pastor Emmanuel Iren disclosed why he changes his phone number every two years.
The Celebration Church International founder explained that people try to commonise what God is doing in his life because they knew him in the past.
He gave two instances of people who called him on the phone without having any serious reasons for doing so, and this informed his decision to change his number biannually.
The pastor's decision was met with mixed feelings online as people commented on the video.
Source: Legit.ng
