Iris Global

Iris Global, previously Iris Ministries, is a Christian interdenominational, missionary organization that provides humanitarian aid in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe, and the Middle East. Members of Iris seek to spread the gospel^[1] while performing humanitarian activities.^[2]

Iris was founded in 1980 by Rolland Baker and Heidi Baker.^[3][4] First based in the United States, the organization initially undertook short-term evangelism trips overseas.^[5] In 1985, the Bakers began to work with the poor in Indonesia and then Hong Kong.^[5] The organization began operating in London in 1992.^[5]

Iris became active in Mozambique, Africa in 1995. In 1996, Iris took over an orphanage housing 80 children, which had previously been run by communist leaders.^[6] However, when the number of children grew from 80 to 320, the previous government leaders put a price on Heidi's head.^[6] The government also banned the singing of Christian songs in the orphanage, prayer, and the unauthorized distribution of food and clothing.^[6]

While searching out and caring for the poor and needy, Iris volunteers have founded thousands of churches, Bible and ministry training schools, medical clinics, church-based orphan care programs, children's villages, primary schools, cottage industries, widows' programs, vocational training and well drilling projects.^[7] Iris volunteers make regular visits to care for children living at a dump,^[2] and the organization combats the second-class status of women and girls by campaigning for equality of the sexes.^[2]

In 2015, Iris Global has expanded its work to provide food, clothing, and shelter to thousands of orphans.^[6][8] The organization has networks of church-based orphan care in all ten provinces in Mozambique^[9] as well as bases in main cities,^[10] including a base in Pemba which houses 200 orphans and several baby houses for abandoned infants.^[7][11]

Iris initially established churches in Indonesia, Hong Kong, and London, and later one in Mozambique.^[12] By June 2001, Iris had initiated 1,800 churches, ^[6] including about 1,200 in Malawi.^[6] In 2015 Iris has networks of churches throughout Mozambique as well as bases in main cities.^[5] Two thousand churches have been organized among the Makua people over a span of eight years.^[5][2]

Iris conducts a series of gospel conferences worldwide.^[7] In Africa, the conferences are attended by poor people, many of whom walk long distances to attend. As many as 10,000 people crowd makeshift platforms to hear the gospel.^[6]

Iris opened Harvest Schools at which local students and visiting Westerners receive training to become pastors.^[7] These students study for six-month terms or for three-month terms once a year for four years.^[6] The organization also organizes primary schools on its bases, in which more than 2,500 students at a time are taught to read and write.^[7]

Iris leaders pray for the healing of those with hearing and vision impairments during village outreaches in rural Mozambique.^[13] Iris bases include medical clinics from which the poor can receive free care.^[7] Iris workers sometimes pay for life-saving medical care for others, and the organization has handed out condoms in an effort to combat the AIDS pandemic.^[2]

The Bakers have claimed that prayer has restored sight and hearing,^[14] which was assessed and confirmed by researchers in a peer-reviewed article published by the Southern Medical Journal.^[15] They have also claimed that people have been raised from the dead.^[7] The group has been criticized by medical and government officials for these claims.^{[citation needed]}