{{Short description|Christian missionary, speaker, and writer}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2019}} {{Infobox person | name = Heidi Baker | image = Heidi_Baker_Babyhouse.jpg | imagesize = | caption = Baker in one of the Iris Global children's centers | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|8|29}} | birth_place = Laguna Beach, California, United States | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = President and CEO of Iris Global<br />Missionary <br />Author <br />Speaker | spouse = Rolland Baker | alma_mater = Vanguard University<br>King's College London | signature = | website = {{URL|irisglobal.org}} | footnotes = |children = 2 }}

'''Heidi Gayle Baker'''<ref name="glenetta">{{Cite web |last=Pilot |first=Coastline |date=2015-10-06 |title=Long-time resident had a love of teaching |url=https://www.latimes.com/socal/daily-pilot/news/tn-cpt-1022-farrell-obit-20101021-story.html |access-date=2023-03-16 |website=Daily Pilot |language=en-US}}</ref> (born August 29, 1959) is a Christian missionary, itinerant speaker, and the CEO of Iris Global, a Christian humanitarian organization. She is the author of several books on Christian spirituality.

==Early life== Heidi Gayle Farrell was born to James Moies Farrell and Glenetta Betty Farrell, née Schacht (1930–2015), an English teacher.<ref name="glenetta" /> She grew up in Southern California, becoming a Christian after hearing a Navajo preacher's message during a revival meeting.<ref>{{cite web |url= https://kingdomwinds.com/heidi-baker-surrender-learn-poor/ |title= Heidi Baker: The Beginning of Surrender |last= King |first= Dawn |date= 25 October 2018 |website= Kingdom Winds |publisher= |access-date= November 20, 2025 |quote=}}</ref> She has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from Vanguard University,<ref name="Miracles"/> and a PhD in systematic theology from King's College London (1995).<ref name="Miracles"/>

==Career== She met Rolland Baker, the grandson of missionary H. A. Baker,<ref name="CBN" /> in 1979. They married six months later in 1980; they left for the mission field two weeks after that.<ref name="Compelled">''Compelled by Love: How to change the world through the simple power of love in action'' by Heidi Baker and Shara Pradhan</ref> They were ordained as ministers in 1985.<ref name="Miracles">''Miracles in Mozambique'' by Hope Flinchbaugh, ''Ministry Today'', Mar/Apr 2002</ref>

In 1980, the Bakers founded Iris Global,<ref name=":0">{{cite web|url = http://www.irisglobal.org/about|title = Iris Global webpage|accessdate = January 4, 2016}}</ref> a non-profit Christian ministry dedicated to charitable service and evangelism, particularly in developing nations.<ref name="Christianity Today">{{cite web|last1=Stafford|first1=Tim|title=Miracles in Mozambique: How Mama Heidi Reaches the Abandoned|url=http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2012/may/miracles-in-mozambique.html|website=christianitytoday.com/|date=May 18, 2012 |publisher=Christianity Today|accessdate=January 31, 2015}}</ref>

In 1995, the Bakers moved to Mozambique in order to begin a new ministry focused on the care of orphaned and abandoned children.<ref name=CBN>{{cite web |url=http://www.cbn.com/700club/guests/bios/heidi_baker081208.aspx|title=Heidi Baker: Intimacy for Miracles|author=Christy Biswell|work=Christian Broadcasting Network |accessdate=May 14, 2009}}</ref>

Iris Global negotiated with the Mozambican government to assume financial and administrative responsibility for a former government orphanage in Chihango, near the capital city of Maputo. There were roughly 80 children present.<ref name=CBN />

Candy Gunther Brown, professor of religious studies at Indiana University, has called the Bakers "among the most influential leaders in world Pentecostalism."<ref name="Christianity Today"/>

== Bibliography == * ''There Is Always Enough'', with Rolland Baker. Chosen Books (2003) {{ISBN|1-85240-287-3}} * ''The Hungry Always Get Fed: A Year of Miracles'' with Rolland Baker. New Wine Press (2007) {{ISBN|978-1-903725-85-6}} * ''Expecting Miracles: True Stories of God's Supernatural Power and How You Can Experience It'', with Rolland Baker. Chosen Books (2007) {{ISBN|978-0-8007-9434-7}} * ''Compelled by Love'', with Shara Pradhan. Charisma House (2008) {{ISBN|978-1-59979-351-1}} * ''Learning to Love: Passion, Compassion and the Essence of the Gospel'' with Rolland Baker. Chosen Books (2013) {{ISBN|978-0-8007-9552-8}} * ''Birthing the Miraculous: The Power of Personal Encounters with God to Change Your Life and the World''. Charisma House (2014) {{ISBN|978-1-62136-219-7}} * ''Reckless Devotion: 365 Days into the Heart of Radical Love'' with Rolland Baker. Baker Publishing Group (2014) {{ISBN|978-0-80-079584-9}} * ''Daily Insights to Birthing the Miraculous: 100 Devotions for Reflection and Prayer''. Charisma House (2016) {{ISBN|978-1-62-998914-3}} * ''Training for Harvest: Stopping for the One, Believing for the Multitudes'' with Rolland Baker. Destiny Image Incorporated (2017) {{ISBN|978-0-76-841078-5}} * ''Living from the Presence Interactive Manual: Principles for Walking in the Overflow of God’s Supernatural Power'' with Rolland Baker. Destiny Image Incorporated (2017) {{ISBN|978-0-76-841237-6}}

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == * {{official website|http://www.irisglobal.org}} * {{IMDb name|4930889}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Baker, Heidi}} Category:Protestant missionaries in Mozambique Category:Living people Category:Female Christian missionaries Category:Vanguard University alumni Category:1959 births Category:Alumni of King's College London Category:American Pentecostal missionaries Category:Writers from Laguna Beach, California Category:Clergy from Laguna Beach, California