EDITORIAL TEAM | KAIROS GLOBAL | JULY 2026

Author:  Dr Chackochan Njavallil,

Intro: Dr Chackochan J Njavallil was the first Editor-in-Chief of Kairos Global. He is currently the Director of Kairos Media.

 Called to Write: My Journey with Kairos

When people talk about writers, I find myself wondering whether I belong in that category. Over the years, I may have written hundreds of articles, reports, reflections, and a few books related to Jesus Youth and other initiatives. Yet, deep within, I still hesitate to call myself ‘a writer.’

Perhaps my story is not really about writing. Perhaps it is about how God quietly used a timid, introverted boy and slowly transformed his limitations into a mission.

My journey with the Charismatic Renewal and Jesus Youth began 42 years ago, in 1984, during my first year of degree studies at St Dominic’s College, Kanjirappally. But the roots of my writer’s journey delve deeper, to my little parish of Chettuthodu in the Pala diocese in Kerala.

The Sunday school at our parish was vibrant, even more so its Cherupushpa Mission League (a mission venture of the Syro-Malabar Church). Every year, there were competitions at parish, forane, and diocesan levels. A few times, I won prizes for writing. Those small recognitions planted a silent realisation within me: perhaps this was one of the gifts God had placed in my life.

I was never an orator. Standing before people frightened me. I was naturally introverted and hesitant. Writing became my consolation, my hidden space of expression.

During those years, our Sunday school started a handwritten publication, compiled with articles and drawings from children. Looking back, I realise that was probably my first experience as an editor, though none of us knew such terms then. Due to the spelling mistakes, inconsistencies, space limitations, and other issues, I ended up rewriting much of the content myself. Ironically, I completely depended on others for neat writing, drawing, and designing because my own handwriting was terrible.

Yet, in that little effort, many qualities that still sustain me today were silently formed – consistency, perseverance, persuasion, nurturing relationships, and patiently following up with others. I had to go behind people requesting articles, drawings, and help while at the same time ensuring my studies did not suffer.

Another important influence was my home itself.

Our house stood isolated on top of a hill. Opportunities for friendships and social interactions were limited. My mother was a voracious reader, and naturally, I too became drawn to books. Even today, I greatly enjoy novels and stories, especially detective fiction. During the last two years, when I served as principal of a college in Idukki district, one amusing fact was that I topped the readers’ list in the college library. Reading became both companionship and formation.

In 1986, I became part of the very first Jesus Youth campus team. Later, at the campus level, we began bringing out small newsletters. Then came a major phase in my life. From 1992 to 1996, I served two terms as Kerala Jesus Youth coordinator. At that time, Jesus Youth had not yet spread outside Kerala.

The responsibility was enormous. I had to coordinate activities across zones and ministries. Yet one challenge constantly troubled me: how to communicate vision and direction to ordinary youth at the grassroots when you are not a powerful public speaker? Leadership meetings alone were not enough. We needed connection.

That necessity slowly pushed me further into media and communication. We brought out newsletters and circulars. From those humble beginnings evolved Snehapoorvam. It was never part of a grand strategy. Initially, it was simply an official letter with a few personal snippets added at the end – small news items, testimonies, updates about people and their lives. Unexpectedly, people loved it.

Gradually, it became something much larger and deeply personal. It carried stories, introductions, initiatives, and moments from the lives of Jesus Youth members. For nearly ten years, it continued. But eventually, as leadership changed and communication patterns shifted, personal news stopped reaching me, and slowly the publication faded away.

Then came another turning point. We heard that the Calicut zone of Jesus Youth had begun a newsletter with a small dedicated team. After my term as coordinator, Manoj Sunny became the Kerala coordinator. He desired that this initiative be available throughout Kerala, and another person and I were invited to associate with it.

That was the beginning of my journey with Kairos. And that journey continues even today.

In 2000, Kairos Malayalam became a monthly magazine; until then, it had only been quarterly. In those days, two struggles were constant: finding quality content and finding money to print the magazine. Even then, making people read was not easy.

I cannot speak about those years without remembering people like Babu Thundathil, Sunny Kokkappillil, and Renny Njarakkulam, who stood firmly behind the mission and ensured the magazine survived. Following Renny’s leadership, I was asked to become the chief editor in 2011.

Though the title sounded impressive, my actual work was often very ordinary: encouraging people to write, convincing people to read, and somehow finding funds to continue publication.

In 2012, we took what seemed like a risky decision – shifting to full-colour art-paper printing. It was expensive, but we believed something deeply: if this was for the Lord, quality should not be compromised.

The designer Shaji Joseph joined us and continues to design the Malayalam magazine today. Jinto John, who was then working at Malayala Manorama, also contributed immensely, though his name could never officially appear in the magazine.

Looking back, that Kairos survived, financially, itself feels miraculous.

Personally, I was always uncomfortable asking people for money. Yet there was no alternative. Slowly, I discovered my own indirect ways of fundraising. Initially, I wrote emails. Later, SMS became common. Then WhatsApp arrived. It is with amusement that I’ve felt that WhatsApp was launched mainly to Kairos’ benefit! Suddenly, messages could be sent freely across the world without additional cost. 

The dream of an English magazine had long been present. Whenever we attended national programmes and introduced the Malayalam magazine, people would ask whether English resources were available. Gradually we were faced with another reality – even within Kerala, many young people could not comfortably read Malayalam.

When we sought permission from the Jesus Youth leadership to start an English edition, there was understandable hesitation. Perhaps they doubted whether we had the resources or capacity to produce a quality international-standard publication. Even after permission was granted, we struggled for lack of people and finances.

At that crucial moment, Joshy Joseph from the USA entered the picture. His involvement changed everything. Because of his efforts, Kairos Global was born with excellent quality right from the very first issue – in content, design, and presentation.

The designers from Mustard Tree, Delhi, continue with us even today, despite the reality that payments were often delayed for months and sometimes for more than a year.

Sharrol Jose from Chennai became the first Executive Editor and helped establish very high standards. She was later succeeded by the equally dedicated and committed Tania Rose Josun.

The journey, however, was never free from trials. In 2018, the very year regular publication of Kairos Global began, the devastating Kerala floods struck. Kairos’ office remained submerged underwater for three days. Almost everything was destroyed. 

Perhaps the Lord was preparing us for what was coming next – the COVID pandemic. Strangely, the lockdown hardly disrupted our operations because we were already accustomed to online meetings and remote coordination long before it became normal for the world.

Then another unexpected dream emerged, a magazine for children. In 2021, Kairos Buds was born. Today, among all Kairos publications, Kairos Buds has perhaps become the most loved and widely accepted. It is now printed in multiple regions in English and Hindi. Recently, a bishop requested a Bengali version. We are also considering a Malayalam edition.

Sometimes I wonder how long I should continue this mission.

I am no longer young. My hair has turned grey. Yet the dreams remain unfinished. There are still books waiting to be published. The video side of Kairos Media is still in its infancy. Kairos Buds has the potential to reach many more languages and regions.

Still, at every stage, one mysterious reality has remained constant: whenever our needs increased, somehow the contributions also increased. Providence never failed us.

It would not be entirely truthful to say that my involvement in Kairos and Jesus Youth did not affect my professional growth, personal life, or family responsibilities. There were seasons when I could not do my family justice. There were moments when the demands of the mission silently consumed time, attention, energy, and emotional space that perhaps rightfully belonged to those closest to me.

There were also deeply painful periods of misunderstanding.

At times, I was criticised severely. Sometimes my intentions were questioned. Sometimes I felt completely misunderstood. There were crises and pressure so intense that sleep itself became difficult. There were nights filled with anxiety, pain, and helplessness. What made certain moments harder was not merely the criticism, but the silence.

There were occasions when support did not come from people I naturally expected to understand or help. There were moments when I felt profoundly alone, carrying responsibilities that very few fully understood. Many only saw the magazine that reached their hands every month. Very few saw the struggles, uncertainties, financial burdens, emotional exhaustion, or inner battles behind it.

Yet looking back now, I realise that God was present even in those silent and painful chapters. Many times, when I thought something would collapse completely, unexpected help arrived. Whenever the needs increased, somehow the resources also increased. Whenever the road seemed closed, another door quietly opened.

Perhaps that is why I continue. Not because everything was easy. Not because everything was appreciated. Not because everything was successful. But because somewhere deep within, I continue to believe that this mission belongs to God more than to any individual.

Am I satisfied? Yes and no. Satisfied because the Lord has brought us this far against all odds. Unsatisfied because I still wonder why many Jesus Youth members themselves do not fully use these resources. Is there a better evangelisation tool available to them? Is there another collection of resources that so consistently aids spiritual growth and formation? Then why do many still overlook it? Why do some leaders fail to recognise its relevance and potential?

And yet, despite disappointments, fatigue, criticism, and struggles, why do I still not feel like giving up? Perhaps because this mission was never really ours. Perhaps the loving God still has greater plans for this media mission called Kairos.

And perhaps my story was never truly about becoming a writer at all. It was simply about a continual ‘yes’ whenever God placed a pen, a burden, a struggle, or a dream into my hands.

A gifted educator, mentor, and communicator, Dr Chackochan Njavallil, belonging to the Roman Catholic Diocese of Kanjirapally, India, dedicated more than thirty-five years to higher education, shaping generations of students and serving with distinction as a college principal. During the formative years of the Jesus Youth movement, he served as the Kerala coordinator for two terms in the 1990s, helping strengthen and guide the mission before it spread across the globe. His commitment to evangelisation found a lasting expression through Kairos Media, where he has been part of the mission since its inception in 1997, serving for years as chief editor of all three magazines and continuing as its director. Alongside his wife, Dr Daly, an ophthalmologist, and their four children — Kochuthresi, Geovani, Deepanjali, and Divyanjali — he continues to bear witness to a life joyfully surrendered to God.