Nuts Under the Tree
Prayer, Praise, and Pecans Sunday meeting
Who in their right mind would call an organisation Prayer, Praise and Pecan (PPP)? But the name is a conversation starter. Even during the registration period of our outdoor church, the NSW government rang to check that the ‘pecan’ bit was not a spelling mistake. The conversation then led to why – why the pecan? We are not a church that is funded by selling pecans - what we are is a diverse community that meets under a giant pecan tree on Sundays to pray and worship.
We have no building to walk into – what we have is God’s creation. It is a place where everyone is accepted, no matter their race, culture, or past mistakes. It’s a place where there is belongingness and no judgment. To many, this may not look like church – but God focuses on people, not on bricks and mortar.
We have no building to walk into – what we have is God’s creation.
PPP originally started in Dubai as Prayer, Praise and Pizza. Iona and Jeff Rossely hosted the gatherings Wednesday evenings at their home, which began with take away pizza, followed by prayer and worship. A couple of years later, and at the start of the Covid 19 pandemic, the Rossely Australian farm became home to PPP, but this time outside under a tree, and pizza was replaced by a pecan. With no church buildings open and with social distancing in place, PPP grew into a family – one that welcomed everyone no matter what their ideas or philosophies.
Jeff and Iona Rossely
There is such a great sense of peace and freedom worshipping outside under open heavens. Singing with God’s creation brings many new experiences - hundreds of birds circle the gatherings, eagles come and play, the horses and cattle seem to stand motionless. But above all the external happenings, the presence of God is so tangible. On the weekdays, we have farm contractors say they feel the presence of God on our property not knowing we hold farm church gatherings. The gatherings are loosely structured to allow the Holy Spirit to guide and flow within the times of silence, prayer and singing. Prayers are answered, healings take place, and God touches each person’s heart.
In 2021 The Australian Bureau of Statistics recorded only 43% of the population called themselves Christians. To help people reconnect with their Christian faith, do we now need to look at church differently? Is it time to strip away all the man-made rituals and traditions and base our gatherings solely on God’s word? PPP is one example of many small churches that are growing even though the world is moving away from Christian values.
Prayer, Praise, and Pecan meet on the first and third Sundays of each month. Please visit our Gatherings page for more information.