Kairos 40-Year Retrospective
Looking back at Kairos' past 40 years, while we cannot say it has been a path strewn with flowers, it has certainly been a path filled with grace. I divide these 40 years into four periods: the Establishment Period, the Transformation Period, the Leap Period, and the Expansion Period, each lasting approximately ten years. We thank God that each period brought us very suitable co-workers, volunteers, and the necessary funding to carry out the ministry.
Establishment Period
1984 - 1994
※ On October 25, 1984, Dr. Sigurd Aske, who had been a missionary in Shaanxi, China, led 20-30 representatives and missionaries from several mission organizations to establish Kairos Communication Service in Hong Kong out of concern for Chinese evangelistic ministry. They hired Rev. David W. Chao as General Secretary. Kairos means "the appointed time" in Greek (Galatians 4:4).
※ In 1985, Kairos moved to Los Angeles, California, USA, borrowing the third floor of True Light Presbyterian Church in Alhambra, and registered as "Kairos Communication Center," actively setting up offices and recording studios. The ministry officially began in 1986. This period had the most co-workers, about ten or more, evenly split between men and women, and was the most physically demanding period.
※ The Establishment Period mainly produced radio programs of two types: pre-evangelistic "Voice of the Times" (discussing movies, popular songs, ancient Chinese figures, and real life to evangelize non-believers) and Bible study guides. We also released Mandarin "Melody of Life" cassettes, sending them monthly to Kairos friends, and later produced Cantonese versions.
※ In 1989, we established the "Kairos Sacred Music Choir," later producing and publishing the sacred music CD "Opportunity." In 1994, Kairos changed its name from "Kairos Communication Center" to "Kairos Communication Service International," opening a new page in the ministry.
Transformation Period
1995 - 2003
※ In the first few years of this period, in addition to continuing to produce radio programs, we also began recording Mandarin Bible study audiobooks. After we stopped the radio ministry in 2003, we also began producing Cantonese Bible study audiobooks. Bible study audiobooks are not like Bible study guides that examine chapter by chapter and verse by verse, but rather systematic studies with fewer lessons, suitable for adult Sunday school.
※ When media tools entered the video stage, Kairos kept pace with the times, beginning video Bible study production in the latter part of the Transformation Period. Due to high production costs, during this period we only filmed and produced two Minor Prophets books: Jonah and Obadiah. Minor Prophets were less commonly filmed at that time.
※ During this period, we also began online ministry. The first thing we put online was Bible study guides, which remains a very popular personal devotional program today. Later, we continuously updated and added online items and content, actively planning to establish an online Kairos Academy.
※ In 2000, Rev. David W. Chao stepped down from the position of General Secretary. Several pastors succeeded him as General Secretary, but none stayed long. During the gaps, Rev. Chao was called back several times to serve as acting General Secretary voluntarily, until later when Board Member Zheng Huang Fengying assumed the position of General Secretary, where she remains today.
Leap Period
2004 - 2015
※ From 2004 to 2008, we received funding from a Gospel organization that enabled us to finish filming the remaining ten Minor Prophets books. Our film crew visited major museums in Europe, America, and the Middle East to collect archaeological materials, and filmed four books on location in Israel. During filming, there were many testimonies and moving stories of God's leading.
※ In 2010, God miraculously opened the way for us to begin training ministry in China. To support this, we produced three-in-one training materials (video + audio + written textbook), completing materials for twelve Minor Prophets, five Major Prophets, thirteen Pauline letters, and four Gospels. Our training team shared these materials at seminaries, Bible schools, and training centers.
※ In 2008, Kairos established a branch in Hong Kong. Before this, Hong Kong already had professional volunteers participating in filming and producing Minor Prophets video Bible studies, enabling us to complete on schedule. After the branch was established, more volunteers joined, sharing responsibilities in the training ministry.
※ After the ministry transformed, Western mission organizations on the board gradually withdrew. In 2009, when the last two Western board members withdrew, the board was completely taken over by Chinese board members. In 2012, one board member purchased the current building in Monterey Park (originally commercial) and gave it to Kairos. We moved in in 2013 and held a Thanksgiving dedication in 2015. The new location has large space and a professional-level studio, helping the ministry expand.
Expansion Period
2016 - 2025
※ In 2016, we released the first edition of the Mandarin "Walk With Me Portable Audio Player," starting with the Pentateuch and four Gospels, expanding to 66 books (entire Bible) by 2019, distributed at home and abroad and well received. We also released the Cantonese version the same year, with subsequent editions being released.
※ During the pandemic, co-workers worked from home, fully expressing their potential through daily online staff meetings. Together we produced many special video programs, broadcasting on YouTube "Kairos Videos," including pandemic reflections, true testimonies, God Says People Say, families in the Bible, Jesus' life, missionary stories, and other series.
※ After the pandemic, we made better use of the studio and YouTube platform, producing and broadcasting programs in Mandarin, Cantonese, and English, including Bible study series, spiritual growth topics, health series, interview series, and hymn series. We also regularly hold media training classes at the new location to help train brothers and sisters in media ministry.
※ While expanding the ministry, we do not forget Kairos' original purpose at its founding: we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus as Lord (2 Corinthians 4:5). While keeping pace with the times, we value the Holy Spirit's leading. Advanced technology cannot replace the Holy Spirit's leadership—when to use advanced methods and when to retain traditional ones, we follow the Holy Spirit's guidance.