Dear Friend & Partner in Ministry,
In anticipation of celebrating our 20-year anniversary next year, a few of Watermark’s initial Members recently spent some time reflecting on our earliest days. They revisited the very first prayer guide and were reminded of the things they passionately prayed would mark this local expression of the body of Christ. Things like…
These things are not only our foundation, but also our future. The day we stop seeking these things is the day we stop being the Church that God intends for us to be. Our goal has never been (and will never be) to be big, but rather to be biblical. As we continue to grow, we must remain committed to holding fast to our mission of calling every Member to live in full devotion to Jesus Christ.
We celebrate all the ways the Lord graciously worked through this body in 2017. We continue to see marriages restored, broken relationships mended, and hurting people set free. Every day of the week, our campuses are filled with men and women becoming equipped and unleashed to “be the Church.” Be encouraged! God is at work in our midst. Lives are being changed. Dallas, Collin, Tarrant, and surrounding counties are being transformed.
As we’ve been increasingly blessed, we’ve felt a responsibility to encourage and strengthen the leadership within the broader Church. Nearly 900 leaders from all over the world joined us last May for our second Church Leaders Conference. We prayerfully anticipate April 24-26, 2018, when we get to do it all over again. Our prayer is that those who attend the CLC would leave refreshed, inspired, and reminded that the Church is the hope of the world. These three days will lay a foundation for us to continue to serve the broader Church all throughout the year. Join us in praying daily at 4:24 pm for this year’s conference!
On the campus development front, we recently began renovations on a permanent home for our Fort Worth body, allowing us to deepen roots in Tarrant and Parker counties. In Plano and Dallas, we’ve begun several campus master planning projects to maximize pockets of space that will make those campuses even more functional. A practical way for Dallas Members to serve first-time visitors and help us maximize our campus is to regularly attend (and be an evangelist for) one of our evening services.
As we look toward 2018, here are a few things we are especially excited about:
We continue to work diligently to ensure that every dollar you give is invested directly into making disciples. Now six months into our fiscal year (ending June 30), our available resources are consistent with our operating budget needs. In addition, we’re grateful that in 2017 we were able to contribute close to $2 million to ministry partners both in DFW and around the globe. Many may be unaware that they can give directly to our ministry partners (e.g., Thrive Women’s Clinic, Mission of Hope in Haiti, ELAM, and others) through Watermark. This can often be a more strategic giving option. When you give through Watermark, 100% of your donation goes to the ministry partner, but it also allows us to strengthen our partnerships, ensures funds are deployed strategically, reduces administrative burdens for our partner ministries, and shifts attention away from individual donor relationships to church partnerships. Visit watermark.org/giving to learn how to give through one of our “designated funds.”
While we celebrate the Lord’s generous provision, there are many ministry opportunities right in front of us that we’re not able to pursue because resources aren’t available. Building and campus development continue to be significant needs. To learn more and invest with us, visit watermark.org/makingroom.
We believe our best days are in front of us. We have much to celebrate; yet there is much to do. These are the days to boldly seek our King and His will for our city.
With great anticipation for all God will do in 2018 and beyond,
The Elders and Staff Leadership of Watermark