Alumni Profiles
Alum to perform in Carnegie Hall
Comic Strip is a ministry for Kolka
Alum to perform in Carnegie Hall
By Rachel Johnson
The clock was ticking faster than usual, or so it seemed, as the world around her was silenced by the sound and feel of the ivory keys. Ten minutes of what Becky (Hart) Archibald BA ’83 describes as “wonderful, everything you hope for” flew by as she sat at the perfectly-tuned piano she will play in May when she debuts at Carnegie Hall.
“They let me play for 10 minutes, and then said goodbye,” Archibald says, remembering her Carnegie Hall visit on her whirlwind tour of New York venues.
In 2000, Archibald shared with Signatures her goal to play at Carnegie Hall by age 40. By debuting at Carnegie Hall this year, she missed her deadline by four years, but she says that it is worth the wait.
“It feels like I’m going to an Olympics,” Archibald says. “You hope you can achieve that pinnacle — you work so hard for so long.” Archibald earned this honor by applying to the Indiana Arts Commission, a state agency that supports Hoosier artists with funds from the Indiana General Assembly and the National Endowment for the Arts.
Archibald says it is overwhelming to think she will accomplish one of her greatest professional aspirations this year, but she hopes to set new career goals. She has specific hopes to perform in Belgium, Greece, Austria, and other countries, where her music is often played on the radio.
She also continues teaching piano and composition to children and adults, and she recently completed her fourth CD, a Christmas album. Her latest endeavor is to compose a new piece each month to debut at Carnegie Hall. Archibald will perform in Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall on Sunday, May 7, 2006. For tickets or more information visit her Web site at www.beckyarchibald.com.
Comic Strip is a ministry for Kolka
By Cara Miller
Kurt Kolka BA ’87 has always been a comic strip fan. Remembering the days when his dad would sit and read to him the Sunday comics, Kurt now describes his interest in comics as more than just a hobby, but his calling.
He created “The Cardinal” comic strip 15 years ago as a way to use his gifts for the Lord and to share the Gospel message. His stories weave together action, drama, and humor as readers follow the Cardinal superhero and take away life lessons from a Christian perspective.
These stories, says Kolka, are the perfect way to demonstrate the Bible’s applicability and truth.
“People love comics,” he says. “Comic strips are the literature of the common people. So, what better way to teach the Gospel than with an art form people of all backgrounds love?”
And love it they do. Since its inception, the Cardinal Adventures tabloid, featuring “The Cardinal” and “The Miller Sisters,” has tripled in production. Readership is growing so rapidly, distributors struggle to keep their shelves stocked. Additionally, the Christian Comic Arts Society in California declared “The Cardinal” as America’s longest-running Christian super hero strip. This feat comes largely as a result of Kolka’s dedication. He is founder and president of Sunday Comics Ministries, Inc., and also editor of Cardinal Adventures.
He and five other staff members volunteer their time and talents year-round to develop, publish, and market the annual tabloid. Funding comes from church congregations in northern Michigan, and the publication is then released to these churches, along with other pastors, bookstores, and retailers throughout Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, and Missouri. All this so readers can enjoy the comic strip free of charge.
“I never set Cardinal Adventures up to make money,” Kolka explains. “It’s simply a ministry. If you consider touching the hearts of people successful, then it has been.” “The Cardinal” has touched a wide variety of people, from children to prison inmates and prostitutes, some who have told Kolka how his stories have inspired them to change.
He never dreamed the strip would be so powerful when he first created the Cardinal superhero for his student newspaper at Concordia College. Named after the school’s mascot, “The Cardinal” continued on the Concordia campus even after Kolka transferred to Anderson University.
He studied English education while at AU, but developed an even greater passion for writing in his English classes. His professors admired his talents, and the campus itself even inspired Kolka in his ministry.
“The university philosophy influenced the strip,” he explains. “Anderson and the Church of God, in general, have always been very accepting of people from different denominational backgrounds. I wanted to portray that type of school in the comic. We introduced Arbor City Christian College as a non-denominational institution. This allows for an Anderson-like campus.” The Rev. Curtis Alexander helped get the comic strip going as his church provided the initial funding. Since that time, Kolka has put long hours and hard work into his comic strip ministry, but says the rewards make it all worthwhile.
It’s an amazing feeling to know God has used your work to touch another person’s life,” he says. “You really can’t compare it with anything else.” Visit www.thecardinal.org for more information.
