Faith @ First - February 13, 2026 | Faith@First

Faith @ First - February 13, 2026

Posted by Rev. Brittney Stephan on February 13, 2026

Every time the Winter Olympics begin, I find myself drawn in. There is something sacred about watching athletes stand at the top of a mountain, skates poised on fresh ice, breath visible in the cold air. The margins are razor thin. In downhill skiing, a few inches can mean the difference between a clean run and a crash. In figure skating, one imperfect landing can shift the entire outcome. And yet, they go. They train for years for moments that last seconds. They endure early mornings, injuries, setbacks, and long seasons of unseen work. Why? Because they love what they do.

That kind of love is not sentimental. It is resilient. It perseveres. It risks. It gets back up after a fall and finishes the routine anyway. When I watch an athlete rise from the ice and continue skating, I am reminded of the love described in 1 Corinthians 13—love that always hopes, always trusts, always perseveres. The Olympics are disciplined and brave, but it is also communal. Competitors embrace at the finish line. Teammates celebrate one another’s victories. Even in competition, there is shared humanity.

Our faith calls us to that same courageous love. To love is to risk disappointment. To love is to keep going when it would be easier to quit. To love is to cheer for someone else’s success. The Olympic flame burns brightly for a season, but Christ’s love burns continually. May we train our hearts daily in that kind of love. A love that is steady, hopeful, and strong enough to endure.

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.