"The Word in our Words"...our theme and verse for the 2026 Southern Christian Writers Conference
Each year we designate a specific Scripture as our theme for the Southern Christian Writers Conference annual gathering. This year we've selected John 1:1 as our Bible verse--and "The Word in our Words" as a theme guiding the conference.
(by Shirley Crowder)
We welcome SCWC staff member Shirley Crowder's thoughts on the Scripture and theme, as we look forward to meeting together on June 19-20 in Birmingham, Alabama for this year's conference.
(by Shirley Crowder)
The opening words of John’s Gospel remind us that before anything else existed, before creation, before language, before story, there was the Word. Not merely spoken words, not ink on parchment, but the eternal, living Word who is Christ Himself. As Christ-following writers, this truth forms the foundation of our calling. We do not write merely to express ourselves; we write to echo His words.
Every Christian writer carries a sacred responsibility: to let God’s Word shape the words we share with the world. This responsibility is not a burden but a privilege. God invites us to contribute to His ongoing work of revealing truth, offering hope, and shining light into darkness.
Our creativity is not separate from His Word, it is an extension of it.
Paul’s exhortation in Colossians 3:16a deepens this calling: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, with all wisdom …. When the Word dwells richly in us, it saturates our imagination, our vocabulary, our discernment, and our storytelling. It shapes not only what we write but how we write. It forms the orientation of our hearts before a single sentence ever appears on the page.
Let’s think further about “The Word in Our Words” by considering what it means to write from a place where Scripture is not an occasional reference, but the wellspring of our creativity. Our words become vessels of the living Word. This image is worth lingering over. A vessel carries something precious. It is not the source of the treasure, but it faithfully transports it. In the same way, our stories, poems, articles, and devotionals carry the truth, grace, and power of God’s Word into places our voices alone could never reach.
Think of Jesus’ own communication. He spoke in parables that stirred the imagination, in sermons that confronted the heart, in prayers that revealed intimacy with His Father, and in conversations that restored dignity to the broken. Each form carried the same eternal truth, yet each was shaped to meet the listener where they were. Likewise, our genres such as fiction, poetry, memoir, journalism, devotionals become diverse channels through which God’s Word can reach the world.
Fiction can whisper redemption through characters who wrestle with grace. Poetry can distill truth into images that linger long after the reading ends. Memoir can testify to God’s faithfulness in the grit of real life. Journalism can uphold justice and truth in a world hungry for integrity. Devotionals can gently guide hearts toward Scripture and prayer. No genre is too secular, too ordinary, or too creative to carry the Word. When the Word dwells richly in us, it naturally flows into whatever form our writing takes.
Isaiah 55:11a offers a promise that anchors our work: So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth …. When we write with the Word in our words, we participate in this divine guarantee. Our writing, whether widely published or quietly shared, will accomplish God’s purpose. It may encourage, convict, inspire, or transform. It may plant seeds we never see sprout. It may reach someone we will never meet. But it will not return void.
This theme is both a celebration and a challenge. It challenges us to examine our writing: Are we letting God’s Word shape our voice? This question invites honest reflection. Do we approach our writing prayerfully? Do we allow Scripture to form our worldview, our tone, our priorities? Do we write from a place of abiding in Christ, or from a place of striving in our own strength?
At the same time, the theme is a celebration. It is a joyful recognition that when we surrender our creativity to God, He multiplies its impact. Our words become more than human. They become instruments of divine influence. They carry light into dark places, truth into confusion, and hope into despair.
As Christ-following writers, we come not merely as creators but as stewards. We steward stories, ideas, and language. More importantly, we steward the sacred trust of carrying the Word in our words. Every time we sit down to write, we are given an opportunity to recommit ourselves to our calling to write with humility, with courage, with faithfulness, and with deep dependence on the One who is the Word.
As we prepare for the conference...
May our words, even when they feel ordinary, carry extraordinary power because they are shaped by the Word who speaks through us.
As we pray for gathering together...
Lord, You are the eternal Word, and we offer our writing back to You. Fill our minds with Your truth and shape our hearts with Your presence as we create. Guide us, steady us and use our words for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Every Christian writer carries a sacred responsibility: to let God’s Word shape the words we share with the world. This responsibility is not a burden but a privilege. God invites us to contribute to His ongoing work of revealing truth, offering hope, and shining light into darkness.
Our creativity is not separate from His Word, it is an extension of it.
Paul’s exhortation in Colossians 3:16a deepens this calling: Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, with all wisdom …. When the Word dwells richly in us, it saturates our imagination, our vocabulary, our discernment, and our storytelling. It shapes not only what we write but how we write. It forms the orientation of our hearts before a single sentence ever appears on the page.
Let’s think further about “The Word in Our Words” by considering what it means to write from a place where Scripture is not an occasional reference, but the wellspring of our creativity. Our words become vessels of the living Word. This image is worth lingering over. A vessel carries something precious. It is not the source of the treasure, but it faithfully transports it. In the same way, our stories, poems, articles, and devotionals carry the truth, grace, and power of God’s Word into places our voices alone could never reach.
Think of Jesus’ own communication. He spoke in parables that stirred the imagination, in sermons that confronted the heart, in prayers that revealed intimacy with His Father, and in conversations that restored dignity to the broken. Each form carried the same eternal truth, yet each was shaped to meet the listener where they were. Likewise, our genres such as fiction, poetry, memoir, journalism, devotionals become diverse channels through which God’s Word can reach the world.
Fiction can whisper redemption through characters who wrestle with grace. Poetry can distill truth into images that linger long after the reading ends. Memoir can testify to God’s faithfulness in the grit of real life. Journalism can uphold justice and truth in a world hungry for integrity. Devotionals can gently guide hearts toward Scripture and prayer. No genre is too secular, too ordinary, or too creative to carry the Word. When the Word dwells richly in us, it naturally flows into whatever form our writing takes.
Isaiah 55:11a offers a promise that anchors our work: So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth …. When we write with the Word in our words, we participate in this divine guarantee. Our writing, whether widely published or quietly shared, will accomplish God’s purpose. It may encourage, convict, inspire, or transform. It may plant seeds we never see sprout. It may reach someone we will never meet. But it will not return void.
This theme is both a celebration and a challenge. It challenges us to examine our writing: Are we letting God’s Word shape our voice? This question invites honest reflection. Do we approach our writing prayerfully? Do we allow Scripture to form our worldview, our tone, our priorities? Do we write from a place of abiding in Christ, or from a place of striving in our own strength?
At the same time, the theme is a celebration. It is a joyful recognition that when we surrender our creativity to God, He multiplies its impact. Our words become more than human. They become instruments of divine influence. They carry light into dark places, truth into confusion, and hope into despair.
As Christ-following writers, we come not merely as creators but as stewards. We steward stories, ideas, and language. More importantly, we steward the sacred trust of carrying the Word in our words. Every time we sit down to write, we are given an opportunity to recommit ourselves to our calling to write with humility, with courage, with faithfulness, and with deep dependence on the One who is the Word.
As we prepare for the conference...
May our words, even when they feel ordinary, carry extraordinary power because they are shaped by the Word who speaks through us.
As we pray for gathering together...
Lord, You are the eternal Word, and we offer our writing back to You. Fill our minds with Your truth and shape our hearts with Your presence as we create. Guide us, steady us and use our words for Your glory. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
(Note: Everyone who signs up for the Southern Christian Writers Conference will receive a 10-day devotional on the theme "The Word in our Words" to read before coming to the event. This devotional guide will be sent to registrants on May 15 in preparation for the conference. We encourage our participants to read, reflect, pray, and prepare for our gathering together.)
Want to sign up to attend the SCWC? Fill out the registration form here.
Get involved in the SCWC community, and learn more about the conference, by joining our Facebook group here.
We're excited to have poet & children's author Charles Ghigna and inspirational novelist and devotional author Cindy Sproles with us as keynote speakers. They'll be joined by other leaders who will present 26+ workshops on a variety of writing topics.
** The 2026 SCWC is June 19-20 at The Church at Brook Hills in Birmingham, Alabama. Sign up today, and email us at scwritersconference@gmail.com with any questions or to get more information. **
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