Our Story
About Southern Christian Writers
A 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to encouraging the craft of writing and uplifting writers of all levels through faith, fellowship, and creativity.
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 the profile interview, Pastor Wanda told Teena, “God has a place for you, and it will open soon.” A year 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.
Teena walked into the Gospel Bookstore with a flyer advertising the new writers meeting. William, the bookstore owner, glanced at it and said, “You can meet in the bookstore.” With a location secured and momentum building, Teena formed a board and established a nonprofit dedicated to equipping aspiring writers.
January 2019, Southern Christian Writers (SCW) held its first official meeting at the Gospel Bookstore. Since then, God blessed SCW with an extraordinary lineup of guest speakers, including international best-selling authors, award winning authors, publishers, agents, and ghostwriters.
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 on the third Saturday of the month at St. Charles United Methodist Church, 1905 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan, LA. Email Jerry for more information about the River Parishes Chapter jl@jerrylepre.com
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.
Join Us
Meeting Details
When: January through October, every third Saturday of the month at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Gospel Bookstore, 91 Westbank Expressway, Gretna, Louisiana
Who: From novice writers just starting their journey to experienced published authors. All family-friendly genres are celebrated.
