Bob Scroggins

Mr. Scroggins graduated from Mount Vernon Nazarene University in Ohio and has taught for about a quarter of a century. Seventeen of those years were at an American international school in China, and three years were at a school in the United Arab Emirates. He is married, and he and his wife have two grown children. They also have a cat who likes to take a nap with him every day. Mr. Scroggins enjoys creating things with clay, wood, and other materials, reading, listening to podcasts, going for bike rides and walks with his wife, and visiting friends in other countries, also with his wife. His favorite place is Saipan.

Mankind is created in the image of God, so we share characteristics with Him. He is the Creator, and as such, one of these characteristics is creativity. Like many characteristics, this is something that we can grow in. Not everyone will create an artistic masterpiece, but everyone can enjoy creative pursuits. There are endless ways to be creative. With this in mind, the art classroom is a place to explore a variety of creative outlets so that students can discover which ones they most enjoy and would like to develop. 

Like other characteristics, creativity can and should be used to glorify God. In this way, others can be pointed to Him and know Him more, and the artist can even engage in worship through the act of creation. We know that our Father delights in giving us good gifts, and I believe that He delights in us using the gift of creativity to bless others and to glorify Him. 

Another purpose of art class in the Christian school setting is to learn to think Biblically about art and design and how artworks do or do not reflect Christ, whether or not that is the artist’s intention. Toward this end, students are taught to engage in art criticism not only with artistic intelligence and an eye for artistic excellence, but also from a Biblical perspective, with a Christian worldview.