When Inrico Orbe was invited to the city in 2014 to become the first pastor of Tamworth's Filipino Church, his visa conditions required him to travel back to Korea every three months to renew it.

Now, he's here to stay for the next four years, which opens up the real possibility of permanent residency for Mr Orbe, his wife Lisa and son Dan. More than that, it is official recognition that he is indeed the pastor Tamworth Filipino Church.

Mr Orbe was born in the Philippines and initially led a wild life of street fighting and crime. He rebelled against school, saying, "Why should I work hard when I'm going to die?" But God radically turned him around. He went on to Bible school and got involved in the food program for poor people in the neighbourhood.

When he returned home the change was so remarkable, one incredulous neighbour remarked, "He's gone from a devil to a pastor!"

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Now as a church leader in Tamworth, he is keenly aware of the power of God to turn a life around. There are over 2000 Filipinos in the Tamworth district and the church wants to be available to all of them.

The church meets on Sundays at 2pm at the Liberty Church just past the AELEC. There is also a children's program.

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