Works In Progress
Year In Review 2025
As we look at what the Lord has done in 2025, we are filled with gratitude and awe. This annual review celebrates his goodness by highlighting just some of what he's done in and through Watermark Community Church this year.
We recognize that we are still works in progress, living in the "already but not yet" tension of life with Christ (1John 3:2) as we wait for his return. With eager expectation, we look ahead, trusting that the same God who guided us with clarity and vision will continue to lead us into new seasons. He will be faithful to carry us ahead in the coming year and in the years to come.
Dear Watermark Family,
It’s only fitting to recognize the ways God has worked in our midst, to advance the vision he has given us for Watermark: Abiding in Jesus, we are making disciples together. As you continue reading, you’ll find a celebration of the most significant ways we believe God is moving at our church, and how each story embodies an aspect of our vision statement.
This year laid the groundwork for what we pray God will do in and through us over the next several decades. So, while many of these stories represent works in progress, they represent good works of God indeed. We will also give you a preview of where we believe the Spirit is leading us next.
As you review, please prayerfully consider how you might partner with us financially, as December is our most important month for giving. About 20% of our annual budget is received during December. The generosity of our body this December can determine whether we can resume paused projects and fuel new initiatives in discipling our church, renewing our city, and resourcing the world. Read more about the projects and initiatives Watermark is prayerfully pursuing and review the budget below.
Our Elder Team is unified in our sense that God stands ready to do a great work at Watermark in 2026 and beyond as we deepen our commitment to making disciples of Jesus—both individually and as a broader church family. With our sails up, we can’t wait to see how God carries us ahead.
Humbly,
The Elders of Watermark Community Church
Todd Anders, Timothy Ateek, Ben Caldwell, Scott Coy, Mickey Friedrich, Blake Holmes, Brett Johnston, Dean Macfarlan, Rob Thomas, and Kyle Thompson
By The Numbers
931
people became members of Watermark
931 people completed Membership Class and became members of Watermark. They learned what it means to belong to a local church family—to be known, cared for, and equipped to serve. God continues to grow our body with people eager to follow Christ, use their gifts, and join in our mission.
351
people commenced from Re:generation
351 people commenced from Re:generation, walking through the biblical steps of recovery and finding freedom and healing in Christ. Participants faced struggles like addiction, anxiety, control, and past wounds head-on, learning that real change starts with surrender to Jesus.
245
young adults walked through Disciple
245 young adults, alongside 45 leaders, walked through a class outlining Watermark’s 10 markers and what it means to be a disciple. Young adults learned that discipleship is about life transformation and growing together as they abide in Jesus and make disciples in their homes, workplaces, and city.
107+
people proclaimed new life in Christ through baptism
107+ people of all ages proclaimed a new life in Christ through baptism. Surrounded by family, friends, and our local church, they declared publicly that Jesus has changed their lives, shared how he brought them from death to life, and took the next step of obedience to follow him.
More than data
Every number and statistic is more than data; they represent souls being changed by the gospel, lives being transformed, and God's kingdom advancing here at Watermark, across Dallas, and around the world. As we reflect on the year, we can’t help but celebrate all he’s done.
1,433+ women and 662+ men are walking through the book of Matthew in our Bible studies for men and women this year and into 2026. Weekly, they gather for teaching, discussion, prayer, and to help one another apply God’s Word.
3,953+ kids experienced God’s love through Watermark Kids and Preschool as they were taught about Jesus while their parents attended Sunday services or midweek ministries. Volunteers and leaders created a fun, safe, and secure place for kids to learn lasting truths about Jesus.
1,283 students (grades 6-12) attended DTown, our annual in-town retreat in February. Students were reminded through worship and God’s Word that following Jesus isn’t just a moment but is lived out daily.
740 couples completed Merge, Watermark’s premarital class, to help engaged and seriously dating couples prepare for marriage with a biblical foundation. They learned what it means to build a Christ-centered relationship, covering topics like communication, conflict, finances, and faith.
“If you’ve tuned out, tune back in.”
TA said this 126 times during sermons this year
$780,000 was raised for Watermark Health on North Texas Giving Day in September to redeem healthcare, one patient at a time
60+ students from Shoreline (grades 9-12) gathered weekly over the summer for Bagels and Bible, an open house event for students to spend extended time with the Lord
200+ couples strengthened their marriages, restored connection, and deepened their relationships with Christ through Re|engage
700+ people served with the Frontlines and Parking Teams, ensuring our guests and church family are welcomed and arrive safely
168 people attended Watermark South Dallas on average for Sunday services
34 residents and fellows completed the Watermark Institute in May after 10 months of hands-on ministry and serving.
298 people participated in Watermark Community Development Corporation’s offerings, including Financial Catalyst, The Business Cohort, and the Job Connection Program. These programs help transform the economic well-being of our city through job creation, financial literacy, and business development.
Abiding In Jesus
A gospel-saturated church
A praying church
A spirit-led church
A bible-revering church
JOHN 15:4-5
“Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit by itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in me. I am the vine; you are the branches. Whoever abides in me and I in him, he it is that bears much fruit, for apart from me you can do nothing.”
GOD IS LEADING
US BY HIS SPIRIT.
With an intentional focus to be sensitive to the leadership and guidance of the Holy Spirit, we’ve become more aware of what God is doing in our lives through rejuvenated prayer, worship, and understanding of Scripture. Our intimacy with the Lord was deepened as thousands were united in prayer through another 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting in February and multiple Nights of Prayer and Worship. Because of a renewed dependence, more than ever before, we have our sails up and are ready to be carried ahead by the Spirit. We’ve learned to find joy in God’s presence and delight in simply being with him.
GOD IS TRANSFORMING US
THROUGH HIS WORD.
Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we are growing in our understanding of God’s Word and learning how to faithfully apply Scripture in our lives. In January, we embarked on a church-wide initiative with Join The Journey to read through the entire Bible together in 2025 called Year of the Word. Our hearts have grown in reverence for the Bible and in dependence on God as we’ve studied and meditated on his faithfulness through the ages. Stories of marriages restored, addictions surrendered, and hope renewed pour out of Watermark’s care and recovery ministries, reminding us that God is still shaping and transforming lives through Scripture.
21 DAYS OF PRAYER AND FASTING
10,000+ people prayed through the same daily prayer prompts for 21 Days of Prayer and Fasting in February
NIGHTS OF PRAYER AND WORSHIP
3,700+ people gathered for four Nights of Prayer and Worship throughout the year
YEAR OF THE WORD
767,000+ readings of Scripture through the Join The Journey app and website as people read through the entire Bible
JOIN THE JOURNEY
662,382 streams of Join The Journey's podcast, featuring faithful members and their reflections on Scripture
WHAT’S AHEAD IN 2026?
- The next step in Join The Journey
- More moments of church-wide prayer and fasting
Making Disciples
A missional church
A maturing church
A sending church
MATTHEW 28:19-20
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
GOD IS USING US
TO SEND THE GOSPEL.
This year, our leadership sensed a clear prompting from the Lord to seek his direction on how we could faithfully join him in making disciples of all nations. As a sending church, we spent the year praying for unreached people groups, supporting international missionaries, and sending members on mission trips to share the gospel and strengthen local churches around the world. In May, we commissioned members Michael and Rebekah Banks as they followed the Lord’s call to carry his name and the hope of the gospel to people in the Philippines. This fall, we partnered with Seed Company to help translate the Bible into the heart language of 63 unreached people groups with the desire to see all Scripture available to all people as soon as possible. One of the New Testaments we funded is already set to be dedicated before the end of 2025!
GOD IS ENTRUSTING US
WITH THE NEXT GENERATION.
The Lord has reminded us again and again of his heart for the next generation. We’ve had the joy of watching kids, students, and young adults at Watermark grow in their love for Jesus and thrive as they follow him. The Porch, Watermark’s weekly gathering for young adults (ages 22-35), has seen God move in powerful ways with significant growth this year. Through opportunities like Student Worship Camp, we’ve witnessed God awaken gifts in students to use their voices and talents to glorify him. Every Generation July reminded us of the incredible responsibility we have to disciple even the youngest at Watermark.
SEED COMPANY
17,700,000+ people from 63 unreached people groups will have more access to God's Word because members stewarded $2,500,000+ toward our partnership with Seed Company
DISCOVER MISSIONS
113 people participated in Discover Missions, a class to learn about international missions and the first step in exploring being sent by Watermark to the mission field
INTERNATIONAL MISSIONARIES
23 members are serving internationally as missionaries and sharing the gospel with those who do not know Christ
STUDENT WORSHIP CAMP
38 students in grades 6-12 grew as worship leaders at Student Worship Camp in June, and many have since begun serving in our weekly ministries
EVERY GENERATION JULY
4 Sundays this summer, kids and students worshiped and learned alongside their parents in "big church" services with Every Generation July
WHAT’S AHEAD IN 2026?
- Church-wide focus on making disciples
- Further establishing our sending pipeline
- The return of AWAKEN Conference for young adults
- Celebrating completed Bible translation milestones with Seed Company
Enjoying Life Together
A shepherding church
A community church
A unifying church
EPHESIANS 4:15-16
“Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love.”
GOD IS GROWING US.
In 2025, we completed the renovation of an additional 10,000 square feet of the South Dallas Campus to create more space for youth ministry, Bible studies, and community and church fellowship. In response to community requests for more youth services, we solidified our partnerships with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and By The Hand to provide after-school programming for youth.
GOD IS UNITING US.
God has opened doors and knit together partnerships with organizations in ways only he could orchestrate this year. We’ve even experienced God uniting his local church through events on our very own campus. The annual Church Leaders Conference we host every year sold out again. In March, Watermark served as the venue for Gather25, an unforgettable 25-hour global gathering that united believers worldwide through modern technology for worship, prayer, and stories.
FELLOWSHIP OF CHRISTIAN ATHLETES
75 kids engage weekly through ongoing practices, huddles, and mentorship through FCA at Watermark South Dallas
CHURCH LEADERS CONFERENCE
3,200 attendees from around the world were unified in Christ at the Church Leaders Conference
GATHER25
7,000,000+ people from 225 countries participated in the Gather25 global event
WHAT’S AHEAD IN 2026?
- Two back-to-back Church Leaders Conferences
- Preview of Sunday teaching
Whats Ahead In 2026
Works In Progress:
WHAT’S AHEAD IN 2026
2026 will be a pivotal year in the life of our church. Watermark will continue to thrive and grow only as we respond to the Spirit's leading toward sacrificial, open-handed generosity. As you review the projects Watermark is pursuing, will you prayerfully consider how you might invest in the mission?
ABIDING IN JESUS
THE NEXT STEP IN JOIN THE JOURNEY STARTING IN 2026
In 2026, we are growing Join The Journey to help our church not only read the Bible together but experience God and his Word in new ways by incorporating the practice of spiritual disciplines that align with the text.
MORE MOMENTS OF PRAYER AND FASTING
Next year, we will facilitate more moments dedicated to prayer and fasting throughout our church. We look forward to spending time resting, enjoying God, and simply being in his presence.
MAKING DISCIPLES
EMPHASIZING DISCIPLE-MAKING THROUGHOUT OUR CHURCH
Colossians 1:28 calls us to “present everyone mature in Christ.” With maturity in Christ as our goal, we’ll introduce new training strategies to raise up disciple-makers who are ready to fulfill the Great Commission in Matthew 28:19–20. Our desire is for every member to grow as both a follower of Jesus and a multiplier of disciples—living out their faith where God has placed them.
REACHING YOUNG ADULTS NATIONALLY BY REVIVING THE AWAKEN CONFERENCE SEPTEMBER 5–7, 2026
God is doing something unique in the next generation, and we believe he has entrusted us with something special with the ministry of The Porch. To invest in young adults both in Dallas and across the country, The Porch will host the AWAKEN Conference on our campus during Labor Day Weekend 2026.
GAINING TRACTION IN SENDING MISSIONARIES AND PLANTING CHURCHES
We are a sending church. In 2026, we are prayerfully committing significant resources to recruit, commission, and send missionaries to unreached people groups while laying the groundwork for future domestic church plants.
CELEBRATING COMPLETED BIBLE TRANSLATION MILESTONES WITH SEED COMPANY
In the spring of 2026, we will dedicate one of the New Testaments we funded as we prayerfully await the completion of the other translation projects.
ENJOYING LIFE TOGETHER
HOSTING BACK-TO-BACK CHURCH LEADERS CONFERENCES IN APRIL 2026
For the first time, we’re hosting two back-to-back Church Leaders Conferences to serve even more church leaders worldwide. Our hope is that every church leader leaves refreshed, equipped, and inspired to continue faithfully in the ministry God has called them to.
TEACHING THROUGH ACTS ON SUNDAYS
Watermark has always been “A Community Church” where disciples welcome, love, build up, sharpen, honor, and serve one another according to God’s design for the body of Christ. On Sundays in 2026, our church will be learning from the book of Acts and strengthening our Spirit-led embodiment of the “one anothers” of Scripture.
Financial FAQ
Annual Budget 2025 - 2026
Financial FAQ
Graph Mobile
Watermark ended the 2024–2025 fiscal year on June 30, 2025, with a $272,496 deficit, which we covered through cash reserves. Giving for this fiscal year (ending June 30, 2026) is currently behind pace to meet this year’s budget by $427,000 and will require us to draw from cash reserves if this trend continues.
About 20% of our annual budget is received during December. Not only will our body’s giving during December heavily impact our ability to meet our budget for our current fiscal year, but it will also determine our ability to fund the capital projects that were paused and accelerate strategic initiatives that advance our vision and 10 markers.
Recurring donations (i.e., automatic monthly payments) help us plan better and steward our resources most effectively. You can set up or update recurring payments through our giving portal.
Each ministry and department builds its budget from the ground up every year, evaluating what to keep, start, and stop doing. Our internal Finance and Executive Teams then review budgets, and our lay-led Business Advisory Team and elders ultimately approve the budget.
We have rigorous processes to track every dollar in and out of Watermark, with monthly reporting for each department. Our annual financial statements are audited each year by an outside firm to ensure accuracy and accountability.
Our Finance Team is happy to meet with members to discuss our budget and answer finance-related questions. Please email financial@watermark.org to set up a meeting.