A Healthy Maybe, a Little Yes… and a Big Yes I didn’t even know about!

Mark Greenwood shares how a relaxed church plant in a rugby club bar led to surprising gospel conversations — and one unexpected Big Yes.

“I am definitely a Healthy Maybe.”
“I’m a Healthy Maybe – can I have that information you mentioned to find out more?”

Those were the responses from two guests at a recent church plant gathering I visited — and they absolutely made my day.

I’d had a brilliant time in the morning encouraging Gloucester Elim Church, followed by lunch with their minister, Peter Millward. After that, we headed to Old Richians Rugby Football Club on the Elmbridge estate in North Gloucester, where Peter and a fantastic team planted a new church in September 2024.

They’ve created a relaxed format: nice food, chatting in the club bar, a short talk and discussion. It’s accessible for people who don’t yet know Jesus, while still being meaningful for those who do.

I used my little interactive leaflet: 'Is it possible that...?' It asks: is it possible that God does exist, that Jesus really did die, and that Christianity could be true – even if it’s just outside your current experience? It’s a light apologetic approach with a few stories that lead into a light gospel presentation. Perfect for this kind of setting.

I joined a small group discussion with two guests. One of them said, “I suppose I’m a Healthy Maybe.” The other came to speak to me afterwards and said, “I’m a Healthy Maybe too, but I’d love some of that stuff you talked about to find out more” — which, in leaflet terms, is a Little Yes. It was such a joy to give her a copy of 'Look Closer', a short book I wrote to help people explore Christianity in a personal and accessible way. A simple next step, but one that could lead to something life-changing.

Then, just this past week, I heard from someone in the church who’d seen me use the leaflet. Inspired by that, he gave it a go in a conversation with one of his customers — nothing dramatic, just an honest chat. But through that conversation, he ended up introducing them to Jesus. A Big Yes! And the best bit? I didn’t even know it had happened until he told me later. God was still at work long after I’d gone.

This article was first published in the Your Elim newsletter. You can read the first edition here, and sign up to the newsletter here.