Faith@First - January 17, 2025 | Faith@First

Faith@First - January 17, 2025

Posted by Rev. Brittney Stephan on January 17, 2025

This weekend, as we honor the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., we are reminded of his unyielding courage and unwavering conviction in the face of injustice. Dr. King’s prophetic voice continues to resonate across generations, urging us to remain vigilant and engaged in the ongoing work of justice, equality, and love.

In his final sermon, “Remaining Awake Through a Great Revolution,” Dr. King warned of the dangers of complacency and emphasized the moral imperative to act. He declared, “One of the great liabilities of life is that all too many people find themselves living amid a great period of social change and yet fail to develop the new attitudes, the new mental responses, that the new situation demands. They end up sleeping through a revolution.” These words remain deeply relevant today as we respond to movements for racial equity, economic justice, and peace that call for our attention and action.

For me, Dr. King’s life and legacy serve as a poignant reminder that faith without action is incomplete. Believing in justice and love is not enough; we are called to embody these values through intentional, transformative work in our communities and beyond.

If you’re looking for a way to honor Dr. King’s legacy through action, consider participating in the MLK Day of Service. The Indiana Conference of The United Methodist Church is offering unique service opportunities on Monday to make a tangible impact in our communities. You can learn more and get involved by visiting inumc.org/events/mlk-day-of-service.

This Sunday, we will also continue our sermon series, "Follow the Leader: Spiritual Lessons for Every Leader.” Together, we’ll draw inspiration from Dr. King’s courage and the resilience of the disciple Peter. Both of their journeys teach us that failure is not the end of the story but rather an opportunity for growth. We will reflect on how our missteps can lead to transformation and how God’s grace calls us to awaken to the work of justice, hope, and love in our lives.

May we trust in God’s guidance to rise, act, and lead one another into a brighter and more compassionate future. This weekend, let us honor Dr. King by staying awake to the needs around us and by courageously building a world where love and justice prevail—no exceptions.

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.