Throughout the visioning process, WDMCC’s leadership has employed a seafaring metaphor to talk about the church’s preferred way of moving into the future: We don’t want to just plug holes and keep the boat afloat. We want to raise the sails and see where the wind takes us!

Don't Just Plug the Leaks—Raise the Sails

Every ship takes on water. It’s part of the journey. As a congregation, we’ve done our fair share of patching holes—fixing furnaces and air conditioners, adjusting programs, balancing budgets, covering the gaps when staff or volunteers step away. These are necessary and faithful acts of maintenance. And, God is calling us to more than just keeping the ship afloat. It’s time to raise the sails!

Sail-raising means shifting our mindset from survival to adventure. It means asking not just, “How do we keep things going?” but, “Where is the Spirit leading us next?” We believe God wants to continue to use this community to do something bold, something joyful, something that leads to widespread wellness. Setting out on such an adventure can sometimes stir up nerves, but there’s also so much excitement and opportunity for growth at the edges of our comfortability.

So what does raising the sails look like for us as a congregation?

1. Tuning Our Ears to the Wind

First, we have to listen. Sailors don’t create wind—they respond to it. In the same way, we don’t force spiritual momentum; we discern it. That means we pray more intentionally, listen deeply to one another, and stay alert to where energy and need seem to meet in our community. Direction could come from anywhere: through a conversation after worship, a burden on someone’s heart, or a new voice with a new idea. Here’s an example of how discerning the Spirit might guide our direction:

At Vacation Bible School during snack time, some of our staff and volunteers overheard a kid praying for a full fridge at home. This kid’s prayer has prompted us to 1) offer more substantial snack options at future children’s events, and 2) call the school district’s nutritionist and Backpack Buddies program leader to ask to be involved in providing summer lunches to West Des Moines kids.

You can be listening for the Spirit and helping connect dots that plot our course into the future.

2. Empowering New Crew Members

Sail-raising requires people to grab ropes and take their place on deck. Maybe this is the time for you to step forward to serve or lead. Are there gifts in our congregation we haven’t made room for yet? Let’s talk about them. Are there new people ready to lead if we hand them the wheel for a bit? Raising the sails means saying yes to participation, not just preservation, so the call is for everyone to participate as deeply and earnestly as able.

3. Making Room for Risk

The open sea isn’t always predictable. That’s part of the thrill—and the fear—of it. Raising the sails might mean starting a new ministry we’re not totally sure how to fund yet. It might mean worshipping differently or inviting people we haven’t invited before to be part of the movement. It might even mean letting go of something familiar to make room for something fresh. But remember: ships are built to move, not sit in harbor.

4. Serving Beyond the Shore

Sailors don’t raise sails to float in circles—they’re going somewhere. If we raise our sails as a congregation, then where is God calling us to go? Maybe it’s deeper relationships in our local community. Maybe it’s caring for the poor in more intentional ways. Maybe it’s engaging people who’ve felt excluded from church for too long. Raising the sails is about living on mission—moving toward others in love.

5. Enjoying the Journey

Finally, raising the sails invites us to enjoy the ride. Not everything has to be urgent or serious. Much of what we do together ought to be joy. Sing the songs. Watch for the sunrise. Celebrate the moments when someone’s faith deepens, when kids laugh in the hallway, or when a hurting person finds comfort in community. These are the signs that we’re not just surviving—we’re thriving.

Bring Me That Horizon

So, Church — where do you sense the Spirit’s breeze picking up? What rope will you take in your hands and help pull? I believe God is ready to move us. We’ll patch the holes when we need to. But more than that, let’s be ready to catch the Wind!

Hoist the Anchor, Raise the Sails!