What began as a two-hour round trip to attend a writers guild on the north shore of New Orleans became the spark that ignited a thriving community of writers. Teena Myers, a seasoned author and former writer for the Faith, Beliefs, and Spirituality blog on NOLA.com, had already published three books when God began preparing her for something new.

While writing a blog series on first-time guest experiences in churches, Teena visited the congregation of Pastor Wanda, a prophetic voice who had once spoken life-changing words over Teena and her husband in the late 1990s. Though Teena preferred to remain anonymous in her church visits, her cover was unexpectedly lifted when a guest speaker—also a friend—introduced her to the pastor. That encounter shifted her focus from writing about the church visit to profiling Pastor Wanda.

After their interview, Pastor Wanda said, “God wants you to know something. He has a place for you, and it will open soon.” A few months later, a friend asked Teena to start a writing group on the west bank of New Orleans. In the fall of 2018, she hosted three exploratory meetings at her church. With an average of fifteen attendees, the interest was clear.

Soon after, Teena walked into the Gospel Bookstore with a flyer advertising the new writers group in hand. William, the bookstore owner, invited SCW to meet in the bookstore. With a location secured and momentum building, Teena formed a board and established a nonprofit dedicated to equipping aspiring writers with the tools and inspiration to grow in their craft.

In January 2018, Southern Christian Writers (SCW) held its first official meeting at the Gospel Bookstore. Since then, God has blessed SCW with an extraordinary lineup of guest speakers, including: Bruce Barbour, co-founder of Barbour Publishing and Literary Management Group; Erica Spindler, international best-selling author; Vincent Newfield, former ghostwriter for Joyce Meyers and founder of a successful editing business; Bill Myers, creator of the beloved “McGee and Me” TV series and author of over 100 books; Karen Moore, award winning author of inspirational and devotional works.

In 2023, SCW expanded its reach through the airwaves with a five-minute radio segment on CHRISTIAN MIX 106 titled Pursue Your Passion. Hosted by Teena and her husband, Rory, the show featured over 100 interviews with individuals who found purpose through their God-given passions. In 2025, SCW transitioned to a new program, Voices of Inspiration, which now airs twice weekly on Christian Mix 106, continuing to uplift and encourage listeners.

SCW’s mission continues to grow. In partnership with Jerry LePre, owner of Joyful Life Publishing, SCW launched the River Parishes Chapter. This group meets monthly at St. Charles United Methodist Church, 1905 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan, LA. On the third Saturday of the month at 10:15 a.m.

From a single flyer to a flourishing community, Southern Christian Writers remains committed to empowering writers to pursue their calling, refine their craft, and share their stories for God’s glory.