Lead pastor of Celebration Church International, Pastor Emmanuel Iren, has addressed the troubling issue of sexual assault allegations within his ministry, emphasising the serious consequences of false accusations and the critical need for understanding the concept of consent.
Speaking during a recent sermon, Pastor Iren shared how he initially reacted with anger to reports of sexual assault involving members of his church. However, upon deeper investigation, he discovered that the majority of the cases lacked credibility.
In the sermon which started trending on Friday, Pastor Iren recounted how his initial response to the first few allegations was one of outrage. He described confronting the accused with the intent to take legal action until further investigation revealed that many of the claims lacked substantial evidence.
“In this ministry, nine out of 10 cases where the women came and said they were sexually assaulted ended up false. The first few cases, I was angry. I called the guy and swore I would jail him until he sent evidence. The girl who claimed she was assaulted said ‘It was a nice time’ in the chat,” he revealed. He voiced deep concern over how sexual assault accusations are sometimes used manipulatively, particularly after relationships end. “Ending a relationship should not be a ground for sexual assault allegations,” he said.
Pastor Iren also took a moment to advise the young men in his congregation, calling them to a standard of integrity, self-control, and wisdom.
On the topic of consent, he offered a sobering reminder stating, “Initial consent isn’t total consent. Run for your life if consent is withdrawn 10 seconds after granting it. I don’t know who raised some men!”
