If you were to look up invisible in the dictionary it would say: not perceptible by the eye or discernible by the mind. By definition, we know that Andy Hirko is not “invisible” because he is perceptible to the eye, he’s a person just like you and I. But who is this Andy Hirko?
In 1999, he stepped foot on Flagler College’s campus ready to take on every party and every girl. Hirko was a pitcher on a baseball scholarship, and just like most male athletes, thought he was hot stuff. He said he had his share of fun, but could feel he was lacking something, some kind of emptiness, but couldn’t put his finger on it at the time.
As he finished out his freshman year and entered his sophomore year, he started to take notice that his core group of friends had that something he was looking for.
“They had this joy and peace about life,” said Hirko.
So he asked them how he could get this same joy and peace. They told him that it was simple: there was this guy up in heaven that loved him so much and just wanted to have a relationship with him, just like a friend, but even better because he’s got so many connections to help him get through life.
“Now that I asked Jesus into my heart,” he told me, “I wanted to do it right. It was either all or nothing and I chose all.”
That’s the beginning of his “invisible” journey.
Hirko started the college ministry at Goodnews Church after graduation to reach out to kids like him.
“Many kids have a bad taste of church whether it be from a person or a past experience,” said Hirko, “But I’m just here to love and accept them for who they are. To show them that Jesus is love.”
Many don’t understand why he does what he does, like waiting outside of Panama Hattis until 1 a.m. to drive a bunch of drunk college students home for free. He’s got better things to do that night, like take care of his three-year-old daughter.
But it’s not about him.
The student at the bookstore at the beginning of the year couldn’t fathom why this stranger, Hirko, wanted to buy his semesters’ worth of books. Five hundred people wanted to know why he was handing out free Schmagel’s bagels. Dozens of kids on campus were scratching their heads when they were handed free whole pizzas, perfectly in tact.
“It’s all about love,” said Hirko.
Remember the bracelet WWJD, what would Jesus do? That’s Hirko’s mission. To show people Jesus is if he were with us today. A down to earth man who just wants to help you out through life, like your friend, but better because this friend would never stab you in the back or use you for what you’re worth. This friend wouldn’t ditch you when you did something you know you shouldn’t have done. Like a pet dog, this man would be a life-long companion.
This is no easy task, though, because so many people are skeptical of Christianity.
“We [the leadership team] just step out on faith that God will lead us where we need to go each day,” said Hirko. “I do it so they [college kids] have the chance to experience what I did, true peace and joy in life.”
What is that true peace and joy you might ask? It’s not fearing about the unknown that lies ahead. That job or career you don’t have yet, or that man or woman that hasn’t swept you off your feet yet. To a college student these are milestones in life after graduation, but he’s trying to show them that they don’t have to do it alone. There’s someone that wants to walk with them every step of the way.There are no gimmicks or strings attached to what Hirko does. He does it because he wants to. And that’s what is not discernible by the minds of today. Nobody just gives of his or her self these days. They’re usually in it for a prize or monetary gain, but not Hirko. He just wants to be invisible that others might see Jesus in human form.
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