The story of Khora Collective didn’t start with a grand vision or a formal meeting. It began with a selfie, Starbucks, and a series of seemingly unplanned encounters that felt more like divine orchestration than coincidence.

A Global Invitation

It all started when Yulee, Jenn, Richard, Alex, and Joyce received invitations to attend the Fourth Lausanne Conference 2024 in Seoul-Incheon, South Korea. As life would have it, only four of them ended up making the trip. Each had their own reason for attending, but they were about to experience something far greater than they had imagined.

A Long-Awaited Meeting

For Richard and Yulee, this was particularly special. Despite countless Zoom calls and long conversations as friends, they had never met in person. It felt almost surreal that their first in-person interaction would take place internationally. Determined to make the most of it, they decided to meet for dinner—because what better way to solidify a friendship than over Korean BBQ in Seoul?

After savoring grilled meats and laughter, they started walking back when Richard was approached by someone wanting a selfie (btw, this “someone” is now one of our Founder’s Circle members!). As Yulee stepped away to give them space, she accidentally bumped into a complete stranger—Jenn. As Yulee scrambled to apologize, Jenn just laughed, her warmth radiating as if she were the one concerned about Yulee rather than the other way around.

An Unexpected, Yet Divine Connection

Yulee and Jenn struck up a conversation, and it didn’t take long for Jenn to realize that she had heard Richard speak at The Honor Summit. Intrigued by the connection, the three of them soon recognized that this was more than a random meeting. They agreed to continue the conversation at a nearby Starbucks.

There, on September 23, 2024, they began to talk about their shared dreams and burdens—the desire to see healthier Asian American Christian leaders flourish in both ministry and the marketplace. It was as if the pieces of a puzzle were coming together right in front of them. They sensed that God was doing something significant, and they couldn’t ignore it.

Confirmations and A Call

As the days unfolded at Lausanne, more voices affirmed this growing desire in Yulee. One particularly significant conversation led someone to suggest that if Yulee and Joyce worked together, it would be something truly powerful (btw, this “someone” is now another one of our Founder’s Circle members!). Intrigued, Yulee didn’t waste any time. On her last day in Seoul, she called Joyce via voice memo to share about her conversation with Richard and Jenn and ask if Joyce wanted to partner with them on this new journey. To her pleasant surprise, Joyce had been praying about the same desire. It was clear—they were meant to do this together.

Back to the States

Once back in the U.S., Yulee reached out to Richard, Joyce, and Jenn to continue the conversation. Meanwhile, Alex reached out to Yulee upon returning stateside because a mutual friend suggested they connect and get to know one another (btw, this mutual friend is now a Founder’s Circle member too!). During this meeting, Alex discussed another project he was thinking of starting within the Korean American ministry context. As they talked, Yulee shared the budding vision for Khora Collective, and they both expressed joy for each other’s initiatives, agreeing to keep in touch.

Khora Collective Becomes Official

As Yulee, Joyce, Richard, and Jenn began formalizing Khora Collective, they realized they wanted another male voice on their leadership team. The first name that came to mind was Alex. After praying about it, they extended the invitation, and Alex’s response was an emphatic yes.

From scattered personal experiences to shared dreams, Khora Collective was born. It wasn’t a grand strategy that brought them together, but a series of moments marked by divine intersections. Each of the co-founders brought a unique story and passion, but they shared one heart: to cultivate healthier Asian American Christian leaders who could impact both the ministry and marketplace by experiencing God’s grace, embodying values of goodness, and leading with generosity for the good of others. 

Khora Collective exists because of a willingness to listen, meet, and follow where God was leading. It’s a story rooted in prayer and the undeniable sense that they were being called to something beautiful together. And now, the journey continues—one intentional step at a time.