Pastor Emmanuel Iren revealed that 50 percent of churchgoers watch porn bi-weekly, blaming internet secrecy for the rise in immoral behavior.
The founder and lead pastor of Celebration Church International, Pastor Emmanuel Iren, has raised a major concern regarding secret moral struggles among church members across the country.
Speaking during a church gathering, the popular gospel teacher revealed that half of all people who attend church regularly watch adult films and pornography at least once every 2 weeks.
He explained that hiding behind secret places and using the hidden nature of the internet have made it very easy for many Christians to fall into bad sexual habits without anyone knowing.
The well-known preacher shared these shocking details while delivering a teaching during the morning session of Day 2 of the Ownership Conference 2026.
The major church programme, which drew thousands of believers and ministers together, took place from September 22 to September 27.
While speaking directly to the congregation on how people can overcome bad habits, Pastor Iren pointed out that secret sins gain power only because nobody is watching.
Highlighting the large number of churchgoers affected by the issue, Pastor Emmanuel Iren stated: “Fifty percent of churchgoers view porn at least once every two weeks.”
To drive his point home and show how common the problem is inside churches today, the preacher urged the audience to look around the auditorium, saying: “Statistically, one of them.”
Explaining why so many believers find it difficult to stop watching bad videos on their phones and computers, Pastor Iren noted that modern technology has made it too simple for people to do bad things in secret without getting caught.
He stressed that before the rise of personal phones and private internet connections, it was much harder for people to engage in immoral activities quietly.
Pointing out the role played by the internet in promoting bad behavior, Iren said: “One of the things that created a spike in immorality was the anonymity that the internet gave.”
The preacher went further to explain that many vices people fight against every day are not actually as powerful as they appear.
He explained that human beings naturally control their bad urges whenever they know that other people are looking at them or sitting close by.
To help everyone understand the concept in simple terms, he used an illustration involving a public gathering place.
Illustrating how exposure instantly stops wrong actions, Pastor Emmanuel Iren said: “Just imagine the only screen in the whole of Johannesburg is this screen here, and if he has to watch pornography, he has to come and watch it here in church. I hope you know he will stop instantly.”
He emphasized that human nature naturally fears shame and public exposure, which is why people behave well when they are in the light and around others.
He noted that if people had to do everything in the open, bad habits would disappear immediately.
Adding more details on why secret sins persist, Iren remarked: “There is something about us. Even the things we are struggling with, when we know that people are watching, we will not do it.”
See Also: Ex-CIA Officer David Rush Caught With 298 Gold Bars as He Admits $200m Fraud
He argued strongly that the act of sin itself is weak, but keeping things secret gives the bad habit strength to control a person’s life. He stated: “So what strengthens the sin? The sin is not strong. It is secrecy that has given it its power.”
To overcome these struggles, the cleric urged Christians to embrace open accountability and find trusted leaders or friends who can check on them regularly. He warned that keeping quiet about personal struggles creates a fertile ground for spiritual failure.
Warning against hiding things in the dark, Pastor Emmanuel Iren stated: “One of the major things that a Christian needs is accountability.”
He added: “The moment you find yourself struggling with accountability, you are already on the way. Even if you have not sinned yet.”
Concluding his message on open living, he warned: “If there are aspects of your life that you can do in the dark, you have created an environment for sin.”
Christian leaders across various denominations have continued to emphasize the need for open counseling, digital discipline, and strong accountability groups to help young people break free from addiction and secret habits.
Jennifer Baba is a journalist, international news correspondent, and writer at Moderncrux, where she covers artificial intelligence, fintech, emerging technologies, global politics, and international affairs. Based in Nigeria, she is passionate about transforming complex global developments into clear, engaging stories that inform and inspire readers.
