How Iris Ministries Began
The ministry of Heidi and Rolland Baker began in Asia in 1980; however in Mozambique, Africa 1995 in what was at that time a war-torn, disease ridden country. Read below for an except from a magazine print about their beginnings:
"Heidi is indeed fearless. When Rolland read Heidi a TIME magazine article about rebels blowing up Red Cross trucks in Mozambique, Heidi felt a sudden desire from God to go. In 1995, the Bakers agreed she would move to Mozambique while Rolland stayed in England to finish his graduate studies at King's College London.
When Heidi headed out, she had only enough money for her airfare to South Africa and a vehicle she would use to drive the six or seven hours to Maputo, Mozambique. She had no idea what she would do when she arrived. She didn't have a place to stay, and she didn't know anyone in the country.
Heidi wound up staying at a local Bible college a friend had told her about. Everywhere she went, she noticed multitudes of street kids. Soon she was seeking them out, trying to talk to them. Of course, she couldn't speak Shangaana, so as she sat with them on the war-torn streets, she made it a goal to learn their language.
The kids showed her the places they slept at night, usually in an alley or under a shop's awning. A few of them slept at the government-run orphanage. An acquaintance told her the government wanted to get rid of the orphanage, the largest in Maputo, because they didn't have sufficient funds to run it. Heidi's acquaintance asked her if she and Rolland wanted it. How could they say no?
When Heidi saw the orphanage, she was shocked and tempted to wonder if there could possibly be enough hope and love for this place. She had never seen conditions like these: The children had bloated bellies and bumps all over their skin from scabies. They lived in conditions hardly fit for animals—no wonder they did not know how to smile."
Heidi was handed the keys to the orphanage that the government was shutting down. She returned home to England to create awareness and raise support.... THIS is how their ministry in Mozambique began!
Mozambique had been the poorest country in the world at that time, but now is working its way up the ranks. The Bakers have experienced God’s miraculous provision of food to thousands, brought physical healing and spiritual wholeness to His poorest children, and witnessed the transformed hearts of people caught in desperate life or death situations. Their stories prove the reality of God’s kingdom on earth, and demonstrate how to transform this world through the power of love.
Through their ministry over the years they've tended for 10,000+ orphans, over 500+ churches have been planted, they now have mission bases in over 35 nations AND millions have come to know Jesus through their simple obedience to say, "Yes" years ago to the call on their life.
Fun Facts about Rolland & Heidi Baker:
Both incredibly smart! Heidi has her PHD in systematic theology. Rolland was accepted to MIT, Harvard and Caltech; however when the direction of his life changed toward full-time ministry he turned the opportunities down. He has his M.A. as well as Doctorate in Ministry. They began Iris in 1980 doing missions in Asia, it wasn't until 1995 that they were led to Africa.
The dynamic duo have written several inspirational books. Their most popular one is: Compelled By Love