Writers

Jan is a former educator who has delighted in teaching the Bible since college. She and her husband, Don, have 3 daughters and 2 grandchildren. Jan loves spending time with her close-knit family, walking with her dog and traveling. Presently, she is serving as an Area Advisor for BSF International.

Stacy is a stay-at-home, work-at-home mom who is rarely at home. But her husband knows he can probably find her running to their boys’ activities, juggling interviews, volunteering, or at Zumba class. She’s a corporate writer and a former Bible Study Fellowship leader. In a house full of testosterone, she seeks regular “girl” days, which includes a trip to the big city, eating dark chocolate gelato and seeing friends.

Jill and her husband made their home in Tyler over 30 years ago. Her treasures, a teenage daughter and a pre-teen son, keep her busy running pickup from cello lessons, refereeing nerf wars in her backyard or helping with that nasty algebra homework. Her heart includes mentoring young women, teaching women’s studies and music. She plays in the orchestra at her church and works as the Executive Director of East Texas Youth Orchestra, Inc. She says the last 15 years of crucible care-giving to elderly parents have shaped her heart and grown in her compassion, patience and a longing for heaven. From that, she writes.

Nancy Paul: Canadian born and bred. Happily settled in Texas. Married, mother of two, grandmother of three busy boys. Loves to read, lover of God's word, wannabe writer. Focus: making the Word real and personal to her "girlfriends."

Claudia is a Southern Woman born and bred; married for 39 years to her hero, Fred; loves traveling, entertaining friends, a good laugh, music, and is passionate for others to know the joy, comfort, and promises in a relationship with Jesus Christ through His Word, prayer, and daily living.

Nancy Shirah has been a writer for encouraging.com since 1999. In addition to the joy and challenge of writing for the website, Nancy enjoys cooking, gardening and spending time in the Word with other women. Nancy and Al are the parents of three children and the grandparents of nine.

Karen Sims and her husband live in East Texas. Their blessings include four children and three grandchildren. Karen mentors at-risk, young women at a local emergency shelter. Her passion is sharing God’s unconditional love and grace with those who are discouraged and lack hope. Karen is a third generation chocolate lover, enjoys walking, and collecting recipes.

Terri Vardeman has been married to John for 30 years. She homeschooled her three children and taught classes at a homeschool co-op. She loves to curl up with the Bible or another good book and a chai latte. She's an avid bargain hunter and crafter. She has a heart for hurting people and for sharing how amazing God is.

Julie Smith has been married to her high school sweetheart for 19 years. They have a daughter and a son, and they are learning to parent a teenager in the age of technology. Julie also works part-time as a counselor at a local school. Julie is passionate about helping others move from a head-knowledge of Jesus to a heart-knowledge.

Whitney Prosperi:
Occassional writer. Ongoing discipler of younger women. Full time mom. 
She invests in deep friendships, fervent prayer and has been known to be witty at times. 

Susan Campbell Partida began writing poetry while still in Elementary School.

She also has written in several journals over the years. Through teaching

she developed a greater love of writing.

Susan has taught in both public and private schools and now finds herself

back in public school as an aide for special needs children. She and her husband,

Marty, live in Whitehouse, Texas. They have two daughters. One is married

and an adorable grandson recently joined the family.

Charity is a stay at home wife and a homeschool Mom to her two daughters. The journey that brought her to open up and share her thoughts and prayers to others started when she and her husband were struggling with infertility. God opened up an opportunity for her to share her struggle and heartache as they waited on the Lord to answer their prayer for another baby. God blessed them three years ago with a beautiful baby girl and now she has a story to share of God's faithfulness! Along with writing, she loves sewing, reading, and photography. Her testimony is written in the book Wounded Women of the Bible: Finding Hope When Life Hurts by Dena Dyer & Tina Samples.