After moving to Missoula, Montana, to plant Summit FWB Church, I decided to run for my local community council. I never believed I would win one of the seven seats, but to my surprise, I won by a landslide! I settled into the new position, where I was the only pastor and the only Christian.
I arrived early one Tuesday evening before our monthly public town hall meeting. As I glanced over the agenda for the night, something jumped out at me. A new business was coming to our community, a recreational marijuana shop seeking approval to expand the size of its previously approved location. Due to proximity of other local businesses, they sought approval from the council. As I read the proposal, I thought, “I would hate to be one of those other business owners!”
One of the owners of this shop called Bloom was present at the meeting to make the case for expansion. When he presented plans to the council and community, he shared the proposed address, and said they would be next-door neighbors to Summit Church. Suddenly, I felt as though all eyes in the room were on me. I am not sure if they were or not, but certainly I had the attention of my fellow council members.
The business owner continued his pitch, explaining how their business would “benefit the community,” how the shop would be “a valuable asset” to Missoula. The committee tabled the matter until our next meeting.
I drove home that night with my head spinning, struggling with whether to take a stand for our church and attempt to prevent this recreational marijuana shop from becoming our next-door neighbor. Throughout that month, our church planting team spent much time in prayer, earnestly seeking what God would have us do. After all, in Montana, the sale and use of recreational marijuana is legal. We asked ourselves, “Are we condoning the use of drugs by not standing up? What if someone got hurt by one of their customers who was high?” The “what ifs” went on and on.
One of the core values at Summit Church is “loving your neighbor.” As we prayed and sought God’s guidance, we gradually became convicted. This situation reminded us we don’t always get to pick our neighbors, but we are still called to love them.
“Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets” (Mathew 22:37-40).
If we as Christians believe Jesus meant for us to love our neighbors, this was an (uncomfortable) opportunity to do just that. We decided not to stand in the way of Bloom’s proposal. We did not condone what they would be doing and selling, but we would not hinder their proposal.
Within a few months, Bloom was up and doing business next door to Summit Church. Those driving by our church on Sunday mornings passed two flags, each bearing crosses: one cross standing for the recreational drugs available at Bloom and the other in front of Summit Church, representing salvation for all of mankind. I remember thinking on multiple occasions, “What have we done?” Then, in a moment, everything changed.
One Sunday morning we had a first-time guest named David. He was a young man in his early thirties, and like most guests, he didn’t stick around long after the service. However, the following week, David was back! A volunteer informed me David had walked to church, and maybe we should offer him a ride home. I was surprised because no residential homes or apartments are located near Summit.
After church, I offered David a ride. He declined, saying he lived right by the church. Like many others in Montana, David declined to fill out a visitor’s card, so we knew little about him. Thankfully, David attended a third Sunday. We began talking after church, and he started sharing his story.
David lived next door in an apartment above the business he co-owned. It was the perfect location, he told me, because he could simply walk to church every Sunday. Puzzled by this “business next door,” I asked David what business he owned.
Bloom. David was our next-door neighbor.
Over the next year, David gradually went from attending Sunday mornings only to attending small group Bible study and Thursday night men’s group. He began searching for answers and for his path forward in life. We learned David had accepted Christ at a young age but fell away from the church and the teachings of Christ. David continued to grow and mature in his walk with Christ, eventually rededicating his life to Christ, and October 8, 2023, David followed Christ in believer’s baptism.
Today, David (pictured above) has become one of the most faithful members of Summit Church where he regularly volunteers his time in the media room and on the worship team. He became convicted about using and selling recreational marijuana, and after rededicating his life to Christ, David sold his half of Bloom and went to work at a local body shop. Shortly after, the business closed its doors and dissolved.
David’s story is still being written, but it serves as a great reminder: Christ has called us to love our neighbors whoever and wherever they are. Our love for them may give us the opportunity to share the gospel and watch it bloom where it is planted.
About the Writer: Josh Hampton and his wife Kimberly are church planters at Summit FWB Church in Missoula, Montana. Josh, the son of partner church planters Clayton and Tammy Hampton, felt a strong calling from the Lord to plant a church in this widely unreached region. Together, the Hamptons and their team are making a tremendous gospel-impact in their community. Josh and Kimberly have two children, Taylor and Colton.
