Popular Nigerian preacher and founder of Celebration Church International, Pastor Emmanuel Aniefiok Iren, has opened up about a personal habit of his — changing his phone number every two years — and the unique reasons behind the decision.
The clergyman made this revelation during one of his recent sermons, where he addressed the subject of personal boundaries, evolving relationships, and how people from one’s past can sometimes undermine present progress.
A video clip capturing the moment Pastor Iren explained his stance was shared by TikTok user @williamztv, quickly sparking conversations among followers and viewers online.
In the clip, Pastor Iren noted that while growth and elevation in life are natural, certain people from one’s past attempt to reconnect without any genuine intention, often seeking to trivialize or downplay the work God is presently doing in one’s life because of the memories they hold of who one used to be.
“Some people try to reach out to me, and in trying to reach out, they try to commonise what God is doing in my life now because they knew me in those days,” Pastor Iren remarked during his sermon.
He went further to narrate a specific incident involving a phone call from someone he hadn’t heard from in years, hailing from Ikotun Ekpe. According to the preacher, the caller did not have any important reason for reaching out, other than to impress his friends by proving he had Pastor Iren’s personal contact.
“True life story. Just randomly o… Called me. That’s how I’ve started changing my number every two years because of things like that,” Pastor Iren said, accompanied by a chuckle as his congregation responded in amusement.
When he asked the caller if he needed assistance or had any pressing matter to discuss, the caller plainly replied, “I just called so my friends will know I know you.”
Reacting to the unexpected exchange, the preacher said, “Wow! Nice one. Don’t trivialise relationships.” He emphasized the importance of valuing connections and understanding boundaries in a person’s life, especially when destiny and spiritual purpose are involved.
The sermon has since gone viral, leading to mixed reactions from netizens, with some praising his wisdom and others interpreting his move as unnecessary pride.
A social media user, @midalaEI, expressed displeasure over the incident, writing, “So disrespectful. Such behaviour should not be tolerated. And the same people will say it’s arrogance.”
Another user, @GT, shared a differing opinion: “On this, I differ o. You lumped too many things together here, Pastor. There’s nothing wrong with people reaching out to you for knowing you before now. You will relate to them based on their levels.”
Similarly, @oyenekanadebisi commented: “What have you become bro? If Jesus had acted that way, nobody would have access to him. This is a story for the gods.”
The topic of setting boundaries while maintaining humility continues to generate debate online, with some commending Pastor Iren for taking measures to protect his peace and privacy, while others insist on the need for openness and accessibility irrespective of status.
Watch the video clip below to catch the full moment from Pastor Iren’s sermon.
@williamztv
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Why I change my number every 2 years #cciglobal #relationship #emmanueliren #gratitude #humility #gospelmessage #shorts #inspiration
♬ original sound – WilliamzTv