Dear brothers and sisters of the World Evangelical Alliance, and esteemed global mission leaders gathered for COALA 3.5: On behalf of the Korea World Missions Association (KWMA), it is my great joy and honor to welcome you to this significant gathering.

Today we are not simply attending another meeting—we are standing at a historic turning point. For centuries, the center of mission has largely been in the Global North. Yet now the time has come for the churches of the Global South—Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Arab world—to rise as the leading agents of world mission. This is not merely an option, but a historical necessity and a divine calling.

The COALA movement embodies this new paradigm. COALA is more than a network—it is a vision of polycentric mission, where the expansion of God’s Kingdom is no longer dominated by one region but carried forward through shared responsibility and partnership among all churches everywhere.

The Korean church, too, seeks to walk in step with this global transformation of Christianity. We desire to learn humbly, embrace change, and move forward together with our brothers and sisters from the Global South. We honor the passion, cultural richness, and fresh perspectives of these churches and long to collaborate in this Spirit-led journey.

May this gathering become a decisive moment in opening a new era of mission for the global evangelical church. Once again, I warmly welcome you all, and I pray that God’s abundant grace and the guidance of the Holy Spirit will rest upon your lives and ministries.

Thank you.