Dr. Mark Jackson the founding pastor of The Bridge Church in Corona was born October 18, 1953 in Rhinebeck, New York. As a youngster, he was raised in a Catholic home.

Mark and Debra were married on March 17, 1973 and have two children (Kimberly and David).

In 1974, at 21 years of age, while serving in the U.S. Navy, he heard the gospel and began his personal relationship with Jesus Christ. He was immediately baptized and discipled in a Baptist Church.

Within a few short months of completing his duty with the Navy, he enrolled in the California Baptist Seminary where he obtained his Th.B. in 1978 (Major: Theology, Minor: Bible Languages), Th.M. in 1989 and Th.D. in 1990. Dr. Jackson also served on the faculty of the Seminary from 1986 to 1993.

During his many years of ministry, Dr. Jackson has served as Senior Pastor and Executive Pastor in three Southern California churches.

In 1997, God led him to Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, California where he and his wife Debra became members and learned of the purpose-driven church philosophy.

In March 2004 Pastor Jackson accepted God's call to plant a new nondenominational church in the city of Corona. As a result, on July 1, 2004 The Bridge Church began with 4 people in his living room.