about

john the baptist artworksthe artist

The Artist (Rebecca Brogan)

My artistic character first surfaced when, as a toddler, I would frequently stand in a metal bucket and draw pictures with my crayons. I continued to make art long after I outgrew my bucket in my hometown of Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. Eventually I went on to graduate in 2000 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa, USA.

It was during my first semester at Drake that I encountered the living God, the inspiration for the majority of my artwork since leaving Uni.

Growing up (non-Roman) Catholic, I had somewhat of a belief in God, but it was more the product of indoctrination rather than personal conviction.

During this time, God began to stir me, and I came to the realisation that all my beliefs about God and truth were only doctrines handed down to me that I had, rather indifferently, accepted without question. Eventually I realised that I had no idea what I really believed or what the truth really was.

I feared my ignorance of the truth and what would happen to me if I lived (and died) in my ignorance of it. Sobered by the potential consequences, I began to ask myself the big questions such as: “Does ‘God’ really exist? If so, which ‘god’ is the right one? Or are there many gods? Do heaven and hell exist? What if I’m going to hell? How do I get to heaven?”

Thus, I began my quest to find the absolute truth, and I had to know that I know that I know that it was the absolute truth.

Finally I reasoned that if God was an all-powerful God who cared about me and heard my prayers, He also had the power to make Himself ‘known’ to me. With this I began to earnestly pray, "God if you are real, please reveal yourself to me."

I resolved to remain in a state of neutrality, however. I refused to delude myself into believing 'God' existed if He did not, yet I remained open to the real God revealing Himself to me if He did indeed exist.

During this time I saw much evidence through born again Christians that pointed to the fact that Jesus was indeed real and was indeed God. I also studied the history of Christianity and the Bible and was overwhelmed by how much supporting historical and archaeological evidence there was for the divinity of Christ, his resurrection and the truth of His claims as well as for the historical validity and phenomenal accuracy of the translation of the Bible. However, none of this was enough to convince me.

I needed to personally experience the real God for myself in all His reality.

...And it was just a short time later that the Living God did reveal Himself to me personally....

During the break after first semester, my great grandma, a fervent believer in the Lord Jesus, died. I remember laying in my dorm room a couple days later, thinking about the reality of her death. Somehow I just knew that she was in the presence of Jesus in heaven. Immediately all my questions, fears and doubts fled. I was swallowed up by a supernatural peace and clarity unlike anything I'd ever known.

For the first time, I sensed God's presence. He filled the room, and in the deepest part of my spirit I knew that I knew that I knew that it was God. It was truly supernatural and very overwhelming.

It was not my own attempt to console myself after my great grandmother's death. God had heard my prayers and revealed Himself to me! Because this was the 'truest' and most 'real' experience I'd ever been through, I couldn't help but respond by receiving Him as my personal Saviour and surrendering myself to Him as the Lord of my entire life. In awe and humbled by His presence, I called on Jesus to save me from my sins. This was in January 1997. (See “A Message”).

Ever since then, my relationship with God has continued to grow stronger and closer the more time I spend with Him. He causes me to daily live in His tangible presence. It is during times of real intimacy with God that He most often communicates His heart to me.

Whenever I experience Him, the predominant thing He communicates to me and pours into me is His love for me and for all people. Because of this, I cannot help but to share the message of His love expressed through Jesus in bringing salvation to everyone who trusts in Him and receives Him as Saviour. I communicate this through whatever medium I can, including the spoken word, art and music.

Through John the Baptist Artworks I continue to speak about my relationship and journey with God. I share my art and the gospel message at various exhibitions and events in Australia and the USA.

I also exhibit frequently in both Australia and the USA. In addition, I can also be found down at Hobart’s popular "Salamanca Market" on most Saturdays. As a casual stallholder, I am allocated a different site every week.

I play the piano and electric guitar and enjoy songwriting. I'm also an active volunteer for Gospel For Asia (www.gfa.org), a native missionary organisation focussed on reaching the unreached people groups. (See "Testimonies" to read incredible stories of how these missionaries and other people from around the world met with God). My husband Joe and I currently live in Hobart, Tasmania, sharing about our beloved Lord with anyone who desires to know Him.