Letter from the Elders
How amazing to already be looking back at 2021, a year that had so much anticipation for us as a new, independent church. A year ago, there were plenty of unknowns as we approached the January 1st launch date, yet we have continually rested in the central truth that Jesus is the one who will build his church. Our job is to be faithful and trust him. Whether as Watermark Plano or now CityBridge, we know that God is the one who causes growth (1 Corinthians 3:6). He desires our hearts to grow for his kingdom more than we ever could.
Our Story
In 2014, Watermark-Plano was born. In six short years, our journey has been amazing. The Lord has added to our number daily: people saved, sin confessed, faith ignited, disciples made, marriages restored, families unified, communities changed, churches launched.
And what began in Plano, Allen, and Richardson has spread to McKinney, Lucas, Wylie, Sachse, Melissa, and beyond. Three counties, 55 cities, 100 zip codes, and counting.
Today, we must stand in the gap as a bridge between our cities, beckoning people to come and see, not our church, but our savior. We desire to extend the hope of the gospel in every way: leading others across the bridge to the kingdom of light, as Jesus rescues them from the domain of darkness.
2021 marked the year that we began the journey of calling all people to be fully devoted followers of Christ as CityBridge Community Church. A new name. A new identity. For this unique opportunity.
We’re so glad you’re here. Here’s our story.
2020
Same Mission. New Name.
After operating as a satellite campus for seven years, Watermark elders affirmed we were ready to impact our community as an independent body of fully devoted followers of Christ. We chose the name CityBridge Community Church based on our passion to extend ourselves as a bridge between the Lord and the lost in the cities around us. We desire to be marked by Scripture’s high call to full devotion to Christ while being a safe place for the journey because the law of love supersedes all others (Matthew 22:37–39).
Elder Confirmation and Leadership.
Having faithfully served as Watermark Plano campus shepherds, the body affirmed Kyle Kaigler as lead pastor and elder, along with elders Rob Barry, Grant MacQuilkan, Johnathan Collins, and Brian Buchek. Responsible for shepherding the flock (1 Peter 5:2), these men rose to the unique cultural challenges of 2020 by keeping the body focused on Christ’s unchanging mission of making disciples wherever we go and whatever we face.
Phase 2 Updates.
While the church is a people and not a building, our gathering place needed more spaces conducive to connecting with friends and family. Our body sacrificially gave over $2.4 million for the completion of the “Phase 2” construction project amidst the economic challenges of 2020. As stewards of God’s resources, we commit to projects that do not require debt during or after construction. We remain debt-free.
The Work of Ministry.
Taking Ephesians 4:11–12 to heart, we rely on our staff to equip the saints to do the work of the ministry they are uniquely gifted and called by God to do. Our members are charged to be and make disciples, and our staff seeks to guide, equip, and encourage them to that end. Preparing to operate as an independent church, we accommodated numerous staff transitions and prayed for the new hires we knew we’d need.
2021
High Call. Safe Place.
On January 3, 2021, CityBridge Community Church held its first corporate gathering across two morning worship services. Kicking off an eight-week series to communicate our biblical vision and values, Kyle Kaigler cast the vision for what it means to be a church committed to the high call of full devotion to Christ while being a safe place for the journey (Matthew 22:37–39). He reminded us Jesus is the one who deserves the glory, not someone on stage or the people at CityBridge. We began with roughly a thousand members affirming their commitment to be on mission as fully devoted followers of Christ in their homes, communities, workplaces, and cities.
Living on Mission.
The awe and wonder that comes from watching God change lives has propelled us to launch a new neighboring ministry this year. Our growing team of neighborhood ambassadors is committed to helping all CityBridge members learn how to build relationships with neighbors, looking for ways to serve and love each one. Moving the annual pumpkin gospel event from our building to homes this fall, the neighboring team supported roughly thirty-five homes across Collin County as they invited neighbors to gather and carve pumpkins in a way that illustrates the good news of Jesus Christ. Nearly four hundred people heard the gospel from this neighboring initiative.
Teaching for Life Transformation.
Through Sunday morning and midweek platforms, staff and non-staff teaching teams have worked to provide biblical content through engaging, relevant, and challenging messages. Trusting the Holy Spirit’s work to move in the hearts and lives of people as God’s Word is taught, we have continually prayed our body will surrender every aspect of daily living to Christ’s lordship.
Adding personal testimonies to the regular rhythm of Sunday mornings, we have celebrated the life change brought only through the hope and grace of Jesus Christ. Teaching, testimonies, and other resources are now easily accessible through the new CityBridge app, designed to help people connect with God’s Word, his ways, and his people no matter where they are on their spiritual journey.
Beyond
January 2022. CityBridge Health.
We are excited to announce the launch of CityBridge Health. Effective January 1st, the clinic located at Parker & Alma in Plano will be re-branded as CityBridge Urgent Care. God’s work through the clinic has been evident since the opening of this location in 2018. As we look forward to 2022 and beyond, the mission will remain unchanged: to serve our community by caring for physical healthcare needs while also engaging souls with the love and power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Summer 2022. Skylark.
We are excited to partner with Skylark to reach unreached kids and families in Collin County. Skylark is a ministry that partners with local churches to provide world-class full summer camps in church facilities that are accessible, affordable, fun, and spiritually intentional. Now that the building has been significantly improved with Phase 2 construction, we believe we can provide these kids with a great summer experience, share the gospel, and welcome them into the life of our church.
CityBridge Institute
This past year we launched a pilot Institute program with selected staff and community shepherds. We are now set to officially launch the CityBridge Institute as a ten-month, hands-on training program for those interested in falling more in love with Christ, learning his Word, and leading others in ministry.