Why did we decide to name this church H2O?
Haggai 2
Good question! I’ll admit, it is a bit of an unusual name, but it’s one birthed out of our history with God. In 2025 Pastors Shawn & Misty Benson joined us to help lead us into the next phase of our ministry. Interestingly they were set in as pastors on 06/01/25.
The Lord had been speaking to our team through the book of Haggai, so it was no surprise that on that day some of the prophetic voices began to read out of that passage. What did surprise us, however, was that the book of Haggai starts out with a word of the Lord on the 1st day of the 6th month, the exact day of their setting in. This definitely got our attention! Over the previous 3.5 years God had been executing His glorious and perfect timing in unusual and clearly supernatural ways, and this was just another example of the same. It not only served as a continued confirmation of God’s will with respect to the Bensons coming, but it also spoke to what the Lord intended for this new season. He wanted us to rebuild the church.
The Lord had been speaking to our team through the book of Haggai, so it was no surprise that on that day some of the prophetic voices began to read out of that passage. What did surprise us, however, was that the book of Haggai starts out with a word of the Lord on the 1st day of the 6th month, the exact day of their setting in. This definitely got our attention! Over the previous 3.5 years God had been executing His glorious and perfect timing in unusual and clearly supernatural ways, and this was just another example of the same. It not only served as a continued confirmation of God’s will with respect to the Bensons coming, but it also spoke to what the Lord intended for this new season. He wanted us to rebuild the church.
Hag 1:8 "Go up to the mountains, bring wood and rebuild the temple, that I may be pleased with it and be glorified," says the LORD.
Hag 2:4 'But now take courage, Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD, 'take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,' declares the LORD, 'and work; for I am with you,' declares the LORD of hosts.
Hag 2:5 'As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!'
Pastor Shawn’s very first message with us prior to ever being hired was, in part, about the promised land and how crossing over the Jordan didn’t mean that everything was going to be easy from now on. Quite to the contrary, this is when the real work began. Now they had to disposes the land, farm the fields, build out cities, hunt for their food, etc. But the Lord had for months been speaking to the Bensons about leaving Egypt (not that their previous church or role was a bad one. It wasn’t) and entering into their promised land. This season would be the fulfillment of many of the words they had been given, and to the desires of their heart to see a people become family and impact a region. So, seeing the declaration of the Lord that it was time to “work”, that He Himself would be with us to empower us for that work, and to see further reference to the promises of coming out of Egypt, was all just further confirmation of the Lord’s will for this season. If the book of Haggai wasn’t significant to us before, it was now.
Hag 2:7 'I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD of hosts.
Hag 2:8 'The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,' declares the LORD of hosts.
Hag 2:9 'The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and in this place I will give peace,' declares the LORD of hosts."
It is clear that the Lord is providing for the work that He is calling us to, and that we will be able to advance the church in ways that had not previously been seen. Those who came before us sowed in tears, sweat, prayers, and sacrifice. We will get to build upon that foundation to see the church advance, prosper, and fulfill its mission. Some plant, some water, but God is the one who gives growth. (1Cor.3:6). The glory of the latter house exceeding the former isn’t an indictment on the success of the former planting team. It’s simply the reality of a generational God continuing to advance His kingdom over the course of many lifetimes. His kingdom does not shrink back. It is always advancing. We wouldn’t be here today without the obedience and sacrifice of those who have come before us. But it’s also a new day where what they/we have been contending for is going to come to pass. And at the end of chapter 2, God releases incredible favor over Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, to do that which God has called. He is chosen by God. In the same way, the Bensons are chosen by God and have bee given favor to accomplish God’s will in this region. Since God was speaking so profoundly through Haggai, and since chapter 2 begins the rebuilding of the temple, H (aggai) 2 found its way into our name.
One could suggest that we won’t be “rebuilding” the temple forever, and while that’s most certainly true, we believe that we will always be working towards better, building towards better, and advancing, which we still believe fits the theme. But additionally, the New Testament makes it clear that the new “temple” is actual us. You are a temple of the Holy Spirit. So part of our mission is “rebuilding” the temple such that each person who encounters God through our ministry is actually better and more glorious than their former state.
But it doesn’t stop there. One of the scriptures that the Lord used to lead the Bensons to Colorado was Deut.11:11.
But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven.
Rain coming from heaven is often a prophetic reference to revival, which we believe the Lord wants to pour out on Colorado. So here, among other places, you catch the reference to water.
Ezekiel 47 and Rev. 22 speak of a river flowing from the temple of God that brings healing to the nations. So here too we see the referenced water mixed with the ministry of healing and reconciliation, which are very dear to the Benson’s hearts. What’s perhaps even more fascinating is that the Lord used the number 47 to lead them to Monument (too long of a story to share here). So Ezekiel’s reference to the river of life has even greater significance and again prophesies God’s desire for this new season.
Water is also symbolic of spiritual death and being cleansed from sin and the old nature (Rom.6:4), salvation and the anticipated indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Jn.4:10-14, 7:37-39), and the provision and sustenance of the Lord (Jer.17:8).
Even oxygen, represented by the O in H2O, has a role to play here. He is the air that we breathe and the sustainer of our lives (Gen.2:7, Job 32:8). He is closer than the air that we breathe. The Holy Spirit lives on the inside of us and is represented as breath (Jn.20:21-22). So, while it might seem an unusual name at first, I think you can see that it has such significance, not only throughout the pages of scripture, but also with us as we turn this page into the great and glorious things that are ahead for us here
Hag 2:4 'But now take courage, Zerubbabel,' declares the LORD, 'take courage also, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and all you people of the land take courage,' declares the LORD, 'and work; for I am with you,' declares the LORD of hosts.
Hag 2:5 'As for the promise which I made you when you came out of Egypt, My Spirit is abiding in your midst; do not fear!'
Pastor Shawn’s very first message with us prior to ever being hired was, in part, about the promised land and how crossing over the Jordan didn’t mean that everything was going to be easy from now on. Quite to the contrary, this is when the real work began. Now they had to disposes the land, farm the fields, build out cities, hunt for their food, etc. But the Lord had for months been speaking to the Bensons about leaving Egypt (not that their previous church or role was a bad one. It wasn’t) and entering into their promised land. This season would be the fulfillment of many of the words they had been given, and to the desires of their heart to see a people become family and impact a region. So, seeing the declaration of the Lord that it was time to “work”, that He Himself would be with us to empower us for that work, and to see further reference to the promises of coming out of Egypt, was all just further confirmation of the Lord’s will for this season. If the book of Haggai wasn’t significant to us before, it was now.
Hag 2:7 'I will shake all the nations; and they will come with the wealth of all nations, and I will fill this house with glory,' says the LORD of hosts.
Hag 2:8 'The silver is Mine and the gold is Mine,' declares the LORD of hosts.
Hag 2:9 'The latter glory of this house will be greater than the former,' says the LORD of hosts, 'and in this place I will give peace,' declares the LORD of hosts."
It is clear that the Lord is providing for the work that He is calling us to, and that we will be able to advance the church in ways that had not previously been seen. Those who came before us sowed in tears, sweat, prayers, and sacrifice. We will get to build upon that foundation to see the church advance, prosper, and fulfill its mission. Some plant, some water, but God is the one who gives growth. (1Cor.3:6). The glory of the latter house exceeding the former isn’t an indictment on the success of the former planting team. It’s simply the reality of a generational God continuing to advance His kingdom over the course of many lifetimes. His kingdom does not shrink back. It is always advancing. We wouldn’t be here today without the obedience and sacrifice of those who have come before us. But it’s also a new day where what they/we have been contending for is going to come to pass. And at the end of chapter 2, God releases incredible favor over Zerubbabel, governor of Judah, to do that which God has called. He is chosen by God. In the same way, the Bensons are chosen by God and have bee given favor to accomplish God’s will in this region. Since God was speaking so profoundly through Haggai, and since chapter 2 begins the rebuilding of the temple, H (aggai) 2 found its way into our name.
One could suggest that we won’t be “rebuilding” the temple forever, and while that’s most certainly true, we believe that we will always be working towards better, building towards better, and advancing, which we still believe fits the theme. But additionally, the New Testament makes it clear that the new “temple” is actual us. You are a temple of the Holy Spirit. So part of our mission is “rebuilding” the temple such that each person who encounters God through our ministry is actually better and more glorious than their former state.
But it doesn’t stop there. One of the scriptures that the Lord used to lead the Bensons to Colorado was Deut.11:11.
But the land you are crossing the Jordan to take possession of is a land of mountains and valleys that drinks rain from heaven.
Rain coming from heaven is often a prophetic reference to revival, which we believe the Lord wants to pour out on Colorado. So here, among other places, you catch the reference to water.
Ezekiel 47 and Rev. 22 speak of a river flowing from the temple of God that brings healing to the nations. So here too we see the referenced water mixed with the ministry of healing and reconciliation, which are very dear to the Benson’s hearts. What’s perhaps even more fascinating is that the Lord used the number 47 to lead them to Monument (too long of a story to share here). So Ezekiel’s reference to the river of life has even greater significance and again prophesies God’s desire for this new season.
Water is also symbolic of spiritual death and being cleansed from sin and the old nature (Rom.6:4), salvation and the anticipated indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Jn.4:10-14, 7:37-39), and the provision and sustenance of the Lord (Jer.17:8).
Even oxygen, represented by the O in H2O, has a role to play here. He is the air that we breathe and the sustainer of our lives (Gen.2:7, Job 32:8). He is closer than the air that we breathe. The Holy Spirit lives on the inside of us and is represented as breath (Jn.20:21-22). So, while it might seem an unusual name at first, I think you can see that it has such significance, not only throughout the pages of scripture, but also with us as we turn this page into the great and glorious things that are ahead for us here
