Faith@First - April 4, 2025 | Faith@First

Faith@First - April 4, 2025

Posted by Rev. Brittney Stephan on April 04, 2025

Tulips have been my favorite flower for as long as I can remember. Each spring, their arrival stirs something in me—a sense of joy, wonder, and reassurance. When I was in college, I would regularly drive out of my way just to pass a house that sat proudly on a corner lot with its yard bursting with tulips of every shape and shade. That vivid display of color and life never failed to fill me with awe. Those tulips became a kind of sacred reminder—year after year—that God’s presence is constant, and that creation, in its steady rhythm, whispers of hope and renewal.

The world around us seems to move at a frantic pace, leaving us feeling unsettled and uncertain. News headlines, personal challenges, and the whirlwind of daily life can leave us feeling disoriented, anxious, and out of control. I've felt the pull of that unrest lately as well. And then, this morning, as I walked into church, I caught a glimpse of tulips with vibrant petals nearly ready to bloom. It was a quiet, holy moment.

In the unfolding of nature’s beauty, there lies an enduring promise: we are never alone. Even in seasons of weariness and uncertainty, the Holy Spirit is moving, renewing, and grounding us in love and strength. I am reminded of the soulful words of the African American spiritual that says, "I want Jesus to walk with me; I want Jesus to walk with me. All along my pilgrim journey, Lord, I want Jesus to walk with me..." This spiritual names a longing—not just for guidance, but for companionship through every trial. It reminds us that, through every twist and turn, we are not walking alone.

The tulips bear witness to this truth as well. They rise up, season after season, through darkness and cold, led into new life by a power beyond themselves. In them, I see how we too are led into power through the Holy Spirit—power to endure, to grow, to transform. So today, as spring stirs the earth and color returns to the landscape, may we pause and remember: the Spirit is near. Even in life’s chaos, even in the waiting, and even when everything feels like it's out of control--God is faithful. And like the tulips reaching for the sun, we are being drawn into newness and strength, led into power through the Holy Spirit who never leaves our side.

Keep the Faith@First,
Pastor Brittney

About the Author

Rev. Brittney Stephan

The Indiana UMC Conference Cabinet and Bishop Julius Trimble have appointed a new associate pastor for Noblesville First. Rev. Brittney Stephan is an Indiana native and was called to ministry at 14 years of age while attending church camp at Epworth Forest. She is an ordained Elder in the Indiana Conference who currently serves in extension ministry as the Associate Director for Multi-Cultural Vibrancy for the Michigan Conference. She has received a Bachelor of Arts in Religion, Organizational Communication, and Peace & Conflict Studies from Butler University and a Master of Divinity degree from Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary with a concentration in Liturgy & Music Across Cultures.

A third-generation Methodist, Brittney grew up on a dirt road outside of Huntington, Indiana. She has spent the last decade living in Indianapolis, Chicago, and currently Metro Detroit working in a variety of contexts for The United Methodist Church. Much of her work in the Michigan Conference has consisted of engaging individuals and teams alike to build our cultural proficiency in a way that moves us toward an anti-biased/anti-racist identity that seeks to diversify worship experiences and leadership as a collective whole. Previously, Brittney has served on staff at Huntington Evangelical UMC (Huntington, IN), Sherman UMC (Evanston, IL), Libertyville First UMC (Libertyville, IL), and Meridian Street UMC (Indianapolis, IN). She is passionate about equipping, engaging, and empowering local congregations to foster equitable communities of learning and discipleship.

She has spent time in Zimbabwe at Africa University, initiated a campus ministry at Butler University, and served as a youth leader for a number of years. Brittney’s leadership extends beyond the local church through her involvement in the launch of the new Junius B. Dotson Institute for Music & Worship in the Black Church & Beyond, serving on the Convocation Design Team for The Fellowship of Worship Artists, and on the advisory board with the Center for Congregational Song.

Brittney was hoping for the opportunity to serve in her native Indiana and is overjoyed to join the Noblesville First team beginning July 5 and begin sharing her gifts in family ministries and digital ministry engagement.