Faith @ First - October 16, 2026 | Faith@First

Faith @ First - October 16, 2026

Posted by Rev. Brittney Stephan on October 16, 2026

There is something about October in Indiana that makes it nearly impossible to ignore the changing seasons. Trees that were covered in green just a few weeks ago are now showing off brilliant shades of red, orange, and gold. The mornings are cooler, the days are getting shorter, and somehow, we find ourselves wondering where the year has gone.

I've always appreciated how creation seems to embrace the changing seasons. Trees don't cling to their leaves or resist what comes next. They simply make room for a new season, reminding us that change can be beautiful, even when it means letting go of something familiar. And while we tend to notice what's happening above ground, there's just as much happening beneath the surface. Roots continue to grow and strengthen, preparing trees for whatever lies ahead. What appears to be a season of letting go is also a season of preparation for new growth.

I wonder what we might learn from that as a community of faith.

Over the next several weeks, we'll begin our stewardship series, ALL IN. As we look toward 2027, this is an opportunity to reflect on who we are becoming as a church, what God is cultivating among us, and how each of us has a part to play in what comes next. Much like the changing seasons, the life of the church is an ongoing process of growing, adapting, and making room for new possibilities.

The seasons will continue to change, and so will we. But I'm grateful to be part of a church that continues to grow, stretch, and imagine what's possible. As we prepare for this next season of ministry, my hope is that we'll celebrate all that God has already done while remaining open to everything God has yet to do among us.

Let's go ALL IN, together.

Keep the Faith@First,
Pastor Brittney

About the Author

Rev. Brittney Stephan

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.