Heidi Baker Shares Updates on Her Ministry, Iris Global

THE SCOPE OF IRIS GLOBAL

When Heidi met Rolland Baker, a third-generation missionary, in 1980, they soon discovered their mutual passion for revival. The pair married six months later and founded Iris Ministries (now Iris Global). The organization has grown from the two of them putting together short-term mission trips to Asia, to more than 2,000 missionaries, staff, and volunteers serving 73 ministry centers (10 in Mozambique) in 37 nations reaching an average of 30,000 people each month with their relief and recovery outreach programs for those impacted by extremist violence in Cabo Delgado.

The Bakers settled in Mozambique in 1995, because it was officially the poorest country on Earth. After decades in Mozambique, their goals remain the same: “To serve the poor, the destitute, the lost, and the forgotten. Iris Global is empowered by the presence of God the Father, the Son Jesus, and the Holy Spirit to stop for the one in need through adoration, outreach, family, education, relief, development, healing, and the arts.”  

Iris Global has built five Bible schools, three primary and secondary schools (attended by over 3,500 children), a university, and medical clinics, and planted several churches. They made it their goal to provide a family for every orphaned child they came across through child centers. Their Stop for the One program sponsors 1,430 individual children, 3,483 children in community programs, and 102 classrooms.

The ministry has fed over 1 million people in 2022 such items as rice, beans, oil, and provides basics like soap and clothes. Disaster relief is another important outreach of Iris; they rebuild homes and meet needs after cyclones or floods. Digging 72 freshwater wells is another. They also bring the Word of God to countless people through solar Bibles. “All the fruitfulness flows from intimacy with Him, our total connection and dependence on Him,” Heidi says. “We’re all little lovers of Jesus, laying our lives down. What we’re called to do, we do with all our might.”   

GRAVE DANGER 

The people of the northeast corner of the country, which includes the Bakers and Iris Global staff and volunteers, have faced serious danger in recent years. “What began in 2017 as a seemingly random incident of isolated aggression in a town in northern Mozambique has deteriorated into a protracted and increasingly sophisticated campaign of terror,” Rolland wrote on their website. It has spread throughout the province of Cabo Delgado and threatens more people every day.

Since that day in October 2017, more than 1 million people have fled. The conflict has not subsided, and thousands of families are still being forced to leave their homes because of attacks by non-state armed groups. These terrorists are from the radical religious group, Al Shabab. In their quest to establish Sharia law, the insurgents have committed horrific atrocities: burning homes, medical clinics, churches, and an Iris base; and worst, killing many Christians, including beheading and crucifixion.  

Heidi tells the story of a woman named Amina, who came to her sobbing. The young mother had gone in search of wood, leaving her baby at home with her mother. While she was away, terrorists burned down her home. Her mother panicked and fled, forgetting to take the baby, who perished.  

Though the looming danger is frightening and causes Heidi to have trouble sleeping, she’s more convinced than ever that she and Rolland are called to do what they’re doing. “The last thing I want to do is leave,” she says resolutely. “It’s the best of times and the worst of times. I don’t want to put our clinics and schools in jeopardy, but I don’t want to stop. We love these people. We’re in a war zone, but, God’s got this. Whether we live or die, He’s worthy.”   

GOD’S GOT THIS

In her book, God’s Got This: 40 Devotions of Courageous Faith, Heidi shares real-life stories of heroism and love like Brother Yun’s. During his third stay in a Chinese prison for sharing the gospel, Brother Yun’s legs had been broken. He and his friend Peter feared execution. They didn't doubt Jesus but they were still afraid. Heidi explains, “God spoke to Peter and told him to tell Brother Yun to leave prison.” Peter was reluctant to share the message at first because he feared it would end in death. He shared it anyway. “He (Brother Yun) overcame his fear, stood up, and walked right out of prison,” shares Heidi.