Missionary profile – Stephen Nitte La’abes

By Mercy Kambura

Stephen Nitte La’abes : from Nigeria to Niger

The prayer service was electrifying. I wasn’t born-again, but I loved being associated with God. My mother had taught me well. I thought it was enough that I grew up in a Christian home.

Everyone was immersed in prayers when someone stumbled into the auditorium, breathless and scared white!

“Stop praying!” he shouted. “The rapture has already occurred. We have been left!”

True enough, heaps of clothes lay where our praying neighbours previously stood. The panic that ensued was more electrifying than the prayers earlier on.

This ‘rapture’ had been staged, but my heart was changed forever. The reality that this is what would happen if Christ returned at that moment was enough to send me to my knees, crying, and I gave my life to Christ.

Later, I was appointed the Academic Secretary in the Christian Union, devoted to reaching people who were exposed to the gospel but hadn’t accepted Christ. I used my knowledge of science to help the students who came for help in their academics. I not only helped them with their books, I also introduced Christ to them.

I was also reaching out to missionaries in the field on behalf of the Christian Union to partner with them. We prayed with them and sent them little gifts.

I was drawn to being useful to the church community and mission community. I wanted to minister to people using my skills. I’d get sleepless thinking about people dying without the gospel. I made the grand announcement that I was not joining the corporate world, I was convinced that I wanted to be a missionary.

My dad wasn’t too happy about my announcement. He tried to stop me, and I couldn’t comply. He tried to disown me and we lost touch for years. I prayed that God would work in his life and in the lives of those who were opposing me, that they come to believe in God and understand my decision.

A couple of years ago, he called and said he now understands my calling. We now have a wonderful relationship.

I had heard about SIM, so I went online to search. I was attracted by their vision and mission. On their site, there was an urgent need for healthcare professionals. I was moved, and I felt God calling me for it.

Before joining SIM, I was called by a different organisation that was starting a clinic that they wanted me to pioneer. It was inside a school for missionary kids. I volunteered with them, staying in the hostel with the boys, serving these MKs as their parents serve others.

I was then sent by the SIM West Africa Mission Office to serve with SIM Malawi for two years, although I only managed to do six months. I spent a year and a half in partnership development.

While serving with SIM Nigeria, two hospitals reached out to me. I prayed to go to the one that needed me most. Galmi Hospital in Niger was the neediest. I packed my bags and went to Niger, and have been here for two years now. It’s been seven years of cross-cultural missions.

In Galmi Hospital, about 250 to 300 people check in per day, especially during the malaria season, to seek medical care, and more than half this number will have a lab workup.

I serve alongside Nigerian technicians by training, mentoring and encouraging them professionally and spiritually. We develop creative solutions to technical problems and carry out other duties specific to the field.

I also engage the partner church through discipleship and friendship evangelism.

Our lives are on the spot as missionaries; we have to demonstrate Christ in all our dealings.

Please #pray:

For the church to stand with all missionaries in prayer. We’d love the church to be our sending community.
For patients coming to Galmi Hospital to hear and understand the gospel of salvation.