…and outsiders trying to take over the church have all been the recent experience of Martin & Rose Ebel’s ministry in Woorabinda, in the Australian Outback.

Some of those attending church called on us to “pay back” those that tried to take over the church.   Martin ended up teaching about 1 Peter 3:9, “Do not repay evil with evil or insult with insult.  On the contrary, repay evil with blessing, because to this you were called so that you may inherit a blessing.” Once again we saw how God is working in people’s lives as well as ours as we did not realize how much this tradition of “payback” is still ingrained in the people, even though they have come to know the Lord (some anyway).  Yet there are still things to which they hold on from the old nature.