China Operations Director - Kyla Alexander
Class of 1990
Service to a Christian Mission
Kyla Alexander (Class of 1990) serves as operations director for International China Concern (ICC). She leads a Chinese and international staff of 250, while safeguarding the care and enrichment of abandoned children with disability.
Kyla felt God’s call as a young child. It was a calling that was nurtured as she grew by Christian parents, faith-filled teachers at Citipointe Christian College and her church network.
Social welfare challenges
Without support, raising a child with disability can be too much for some parents to manage. International China Concern (ICC) is a Christian organisation, based in China, with a mission to care for children with disability who have been abandoned.
Through her work at International China Concern, Kyla and her team partner with loving and motivated locals to create systems that allow children with disability and their families to thrive.
“Seeing young (and not so young) Chinese people stepping into their call and serving others through
our partnership with them, gives me so much satisfaction and drives passion in me.”
It is the love, care and opportunities for meaningful relationships with others which so enriches the lives
of the children. The transformation of children, as they go from traumatised and in need, to young people able to love and give to others, blesses her heart.
As operations director, Kyla’s role involves leadership, strategic and project development, forging and maintaining government relationships and evaluating the standards and outcomes of projects.
Serving in China for the last 20 years, Kyla returned to Australia in January in 2021 to care for her mother and father who were in poor health. This year she continues to support the local and
international management teams based in China, while caring for her family and completing her Masters in Business Administration – Not for Profit and Philanthropy at QUT.
Strength to face the challenges
The children and young people Kyla served in China are an enormous source of inspiration
for her.
“They have lost so much, they have overcome so many barriers, and yet they live with constant
expectation, joy, and hope. And, they love and serve each other!”
She is also inspired by humility, by people who faithfully serve where they are called, often in
unglamourous places and situations, for very little reward.
“The ordinary people who turn up every day, and are faithful, and give of themselves daily to make
other people’s lives better. These are the people that inspire me.”
Kyla refreshes her spirit by spending time in nature, meditating on God’s Word, worship, and fellowshipping with like-minded friends who help her see God in her circumstances.
“I hear God’s call to me through words in my spirit, usually while worshiping and walking in nature, and
often through stories and experiences.”
Kyla felt a strong call to China as a child. Her interest developed and was supported by prayer, prophetic words, conversation with friends and an invitation to serve.
“My original call to China was very strong and confirmed multiple times. Because the call is strong
in my heart … I can withstand the winds that come.”
A foundation in Christian education
At Citipointe, Kyla learned how to relate and converse with friends on a spiritual level.
She learned new disciplines of faith as she interacted with a wider circle of believers.
“I learnt how to apply my faith in the area of learning, and that the career I would one day choose could be underpinned by my faith, and an expression of my love for God.
“I learnt at Citipointe that I was created with a call and purpose, and uniquely gifted, I learnt to ‘press
towards the goal’ and I think this helped to establish an ethic of faithfulness and perseverance in me.”
For students considering a pathway to development work overseas, Kyla recommends gaining tertiary
qualifications in a relevant field and developing professional skills in a similar area in Australia first.
A lot of people interested in this pathway plan to go into the field for a year or two, but Kyla
challenges people to think about a long-term commitment overseas.
“It takes a very long time to develop the crosscultural skills. You need time to develop these
skills for success. You also need time to develop relationships overseas where you can support the
development of communities sensitively and appropriately.”
International China Concern – Awaken to Hope
Read Kyla’s reflection on the organisation’s impact and how hope has been awakened in Review Magazine 2021.
