Exhausted Missionaries Seek Fresh Fire
Heidi Baker and her husband Rolland, founders of Iris Global, have witnessed the transformative power of Jesus in Mozambique, a nation once mired in poverty and spiritual darkness. After years of missionary work in Asia, the Bakers found themselves exhausted and in need of a fresh encounter with God. In Heidi's words, 'God, if You don't touch me, I am so tired that I'd like to just take a job at Kmart.'
A Prophetic Word Changes Everything
In July 1996, during a healing conference in Toronto, Canada, Heidi experienced a profound encounter with God. As she rushed to the altar in desperation, Randy Clark, a speaker at the event, prophetically asked, 'Heidi, God wants to know, do you want the nation of Mozambique?' Heidi's response was a resounding 'Yes!' She later recounted, 'The power of God hit me like lightening. I vibrated and screamed ... for seven days and seven nights after that. I felt the presence of God so intensely that I was disabled.' Jesus used this moment to reignite their passion and mission.
Emboldened by this divine encounter, the Bakers returned to Mozambique with renewed determination. They faced initial discouragement as they prayed for the blind and saw no immediate results. Yet, they persisted, holding onto the prophetic promise that 'the blind will see, the deaf will hear, the crippled will walk, the dumb will speak, the dead will be raised, and multitudes will come to Jesus.' Over time, they witnessed supernatural miracles, including the dead being raised and the lame walking.
Their ministry expanded rapidly, planting over 10,000 churches and feeding more than 10,000 children daily. Iris Global's work transformed entire provinces, with regions once predominantly Muslim now embracing Christianity. Through trials of illness, poverty, and persecution, the Bakers held firm to their faith. Rolland Baker reflected on their journey, saying, 'We were drawn to Mozambique, officially listed at the time as the poorest country in the world... It was a perfect test of the Sermon on the Mount.'
Even when faced with financial challenges, Jesus provided miraculously. Heidi recalled a time when they were $97,000 in debt, and a package arrived from Kenneth Copeland Ministries with a check for $100,000.
Despite the hardships, Heidi's message remains one of radical obedience and trust in Jesus. She encourages others, 'Everybody that is yielded God can use, but you have to get your eyes off yourself and on to Jesus.' Through their story, it is clear that Jesus has been the driving force behind every miracle and transformation in Mozambique.
