# Heidi Baker
> Mediated Wiki article. Canonical URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Heidi_Baker
> Markdown URL: https://mediated.wiki/source/Heidi_Baker.md
> Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heidi_Baker
> Source revision: 1342475926
> License: Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/)
{{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](/source/Laguna_Beach), [California](/source/California), [United States](/source/United_States)
| death_date =
| death_place =
| occupation = President and CEO of [Iris Global](/source/Iris_Global)
Missionary
[Author](/source/Author)
[Speaker](/source/public_speaking)
| spouse = Rolland Baker
| alma_mater = [Vanguard University](/source/Vanguard_University)
[King's College London](/source/King's_College_London)
| signature =
| website = {{URL|irisglobal.org}}
| footnotes =
|children = 2
}}
'''Heidi Gayle Baker'''[{{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}}] (born August 29, 1959) is a [Christian](/source/Christianity) [missionary](/source/missionary), itinerant speaker, and the CEO of [Iris Global](/source/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.[{{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=}}] She has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Arts from [Vanguard University](/source/Vanguard_University),[''Compelled by Love: How to change the world through the simple power of love in action'' by Heidi Baker and Shara Pradhan] They were ordained as ministers in 1985.[''Miracles in Mozambique'' by Hope Flinchbaugh, ''Ministry Today'', Mar/Apr 2002]
In 1980, the Bakers founded [Iris Global](/source/Iris_Global),[{{cite web|url = http://www.irisglobal.org/about|title = Iris Global webpage|accessdate = January 4, 2016}}] a non-profit [Christian](/source/Christianity) ministry dedicated to charitable service and evangelism, particularly in developing nations.[{{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}}]
In 1995, the Bakers moved to Mozambique in order to begin a new ministry focused on the care of orphaned and abandoned children.[{{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](/source/Christian_Broadcasting_Network) |accessdate=May 14, 2009}}]
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](/source/Maputo). There were roughly 80 children present.