Heidi Baker's Unshakable Faith in Mozambique

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 4,000 missionaries, staff, and volunteers serving 70 bases in 38 countries.

The Bakers settled in Mozambique in 1995, because it was officially the poorest country on Earth. After 26 years, their goals remains 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 3,500 children), a university, medical clinics, and planted more than 10,000 churches. They made it their goal to provide a family for every orphaned child they came across through child centers. The ministry also feeds 30,000 hungry people each day with items such 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 fresh water 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 700,000 people have fled with little more than their lives and stories of unspeakable evil made manifest.” 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.”