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Twenty-five years after first sketching “The Cardinal” as a college student at Concordia College, Kurt Kolka continues reaching Christians and non-Christians with his Christian cartoon comic strip, now on the Internet.

“The Cardinal” was born . . . or hatched, when Kolka was on the newspaper staff at Concordia College, whose mascot is a cardinal. Kolka is now a member of Friendship Christian Reformed Church in Gaylord, Mich.

Kolka, 47, spoke about the primary character of “The Cardinal,” a college student who is a Christian. He’s on his way to a costume party, wearing a cardinal superhero costume, when he encounters a crime and becomes involved helping a police officer.

Through the comic strip the character is “chosen to do things beyond himself—similar to Moses,” said Kolka. “The Cardinal” becomes a superhero, seeking God through prayer. Since he is a cardinal, he has the ability to fly, but otherwise, said Kolka, “he has to totally trust in God.”

The comic strip, which takes Kolka about 15 hours a week, has always been free. Through the advice of a friend, Kolka recently put “The Cardinal” on the Internet. (See www.gocomics.com and follow the “Comics Sherpa” route to “The Cardinal.”)

Rev. Steve Datema, pastor of Friendship CRC, said, “Kurt’s an amazing artist. He doesn’t do it for the money but takes the message of the gospel and weaves that in.”