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I just got this email from one of the staff members in Pemba:

“We thank God for each of you who have so covered us in love, support and intercession. We have felt that we could stand on your prayers. Heidi flew out to join Rolland a week ago. Rolland received one week of intensive prayer along with solid and sound medical attention. His heart has calmed, he has begun to regain the weight he lost, gaining strength and is feeling much better. In our time of deepest need, God has really given him a breakthrough.

However, the doctors are insisting Rolland take a three-month sabbatical or furlough in the US. Therefore, Heidi and Rolland will be in the US for the next three weeks. Rolland will rest in the US for Nov through Jan 2008. Heidi will also take the month of December completely off from ministry after our Holy Given Iris International School of Missions Graduation. The Bakers will be together laboring to “enter rest” as Heidi wrote in our last update. Therefore, Heidi will not be speaking more during this time as her focus and priority is Rolland.

Both Bakers express intense appreciation and thanksgiving for the depth and breadth of love and care. Certainly we do not feel alone in times of trials. Perhaps the greatest redemption of attacks like these is Jesus’ love shining so brilliantly and beautifully through the lives of our family of friends. We see Him in each other and thank our God daily for you. We request prayer also for the transition in administration as Rolland takes a time of rest. We pray for the fullness of rest and restoration. The best is always yet ahead in Him.

“Onward we go” as Rolland often says.”

Glory, friends! Please be praying for the Bakers and this much needed time of rest!!!!! We just spent a few days with the Bakers at the Voice of the Apostles Conference in Harrisburg, PA. Here a testimony from Heidi which sums up the past week:

“To Finish Well”

Heidi Baker
November 1st, 2007

This is a short update to thank you for your love, prayers and standing with us during our time of greatest need. As most of you know during these past three months, we have experienced fierce trials. Jesus has recently spoken to me about finishing well. I am fixing my eyes on Jesus. I am looking away to Him. I am coming forward with boldness to the throne of grace in my greatest time of need. Hebrews 4:1, “Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience.”

In this time of reflecting, The Lord came to me and asked me, “If I had known ahead of time all that this calling would cost, would I still be willing to receive the call.” And still my cry is yes. I have nowhere else to go. I have no one else to run to. Jesus is my life and He is altogether lovely. Through everything, it is still my joy to say that I gladly give my life for Him.

Yesterday, we had a surprise birthday party for Rolland. Dear friends flew in from other countries and all over the United States. We felt so loved and supported. Our Revival Alliance brothers and sisters, Bill & Beni Johnson, Che Ahn, Randy & Deanne Clark, Georgian & Winnie Banov were all there blessing us, cheering us on, lifting up our arms and fighting for us. Even John and Carol Arnott sent in a special birthday greetings on a dvd. Charles and Anne Stock spoke beautiful scriptures of life over Rolland and blessed him with Rolland’s favorite chocolate cake. Mel Tari, the best man in our wedding and one of our closest friends helped led the festivities. His wife Joyce spent months putting together an incredibly anointed and touching dvd of Rolland’s life. We all cried. Crystalyn and Elisha both laid hands on their father and blessed him as his children. The party would not have been possible without the beautiful efforts and great love of Norberto, Will, Shara, Jinyoung, and Angela. Darrel and Mariyln carry such a mama and papa anointing. Betty, our Toronto friend, drove all night to be with us. It was a delight to have them with us. We want to thank everyone who was involved and all of you who have been praying for us. We are forever grateful.

It is my great joy to celebrate with with Mozambican sons and Iris missionaries who flew in from Sudan, France, and Mozambique. God is still speaking to me about releasing my sons and daughters to carry His heart for the lost and broken into the greatest darkness. I know even as we enter a season of rest, God will increase the movement by carrying it through the lives of many. I love watching our these amazing young people from so many races, nations and backgrounds, run forward carrying the light of His glorious gospel. They are truly my heroes, my friends and my family. There are no words to express how grateful I am for the love and prayers of so many. We do not feel alone.

Our International Director Surprise Sithole also flew in to be with us from South Africa. He recently went back to the very village where our dear pastor Ezekiel Sithole was martyred for the gospel. They cut him off his tongue and lips to silence him. They said our movement Partners in Harvest/Iris Africa would be silenced. Surprise’s went back into the village in love and humility releasing forgiveness to those who killed his cousin. Thousands gathered to hear him preach. And hundreds were saved. Please pray for Pastor Ezekiel Sithole’s wife who is deeply troubled, very, very thin and left with many children to raise alone. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 12Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven” Matthew 5:11-12.

WOW! All of creation is groaning….The beauty of the Lord is being revealed through nature. Teisa and I stand in awe of the majesty of our God in creation. Fall in New England, leaves changing, Red Sox in world series, what more could we ask for? More of the glory!!!

Last night we were at the White Horse Cafe in Hartford VT. I was so excited to bring Teisa to meet one of my spiritual Fathers Wayne Anderson. We were able to spend quality time with Wayne in the afternoon before the evening meeting. Our good friend Dee and the worship team helped usher in the presence of our bridegroom, King Jesus! What a wonderful time of refreshing we had in the presence! Words can’t describe, the atmosphere was heavenly! Thank you Jesus. We love you!

We are very encouraged by what God is doing in New England. On Oct. 7th we were in MA at the Metro West Bridge Christian Fellowship. Hungry hearts were filled with the love of God. We have been directed by the Holy Spirit to keep our message simple and practical. Love the Lord, love his people! What does love look like? We know in Africa it looks like wound care, it looks like food, but in New England what does it look like? Raking leaves for your neighbor, visiting the elderly….love takes on many different facets. I challenged the saints of God to calculated acts of kindness and love. It’s the goodness and kindness of God that leads to repentance. Amen! Revival is here!!!

On Monday we traveled to North Sutton NH with our good fiend Kathy to meet with John Paul Jackson and to minister to his interns. Once again hungry hearts were filled. We are greatly encouraged by what God is doing, we are living in a season of great change. The atmosphere and spiritual climate is changing over New England! No longer will it be known as the land of the frozen chosen, but it will once again become the epicenter of what God is doing in America. Angelic circuit riders are traveling New England and lighting Holy Ghost fires throughout the land. God is raising up an army in New England that will not take no for an answer! The saints of God will possess the land and establish His kingdom on earth as it is in heaven!! New England the time is NOW!

The following weekend on the 14th we ministered at River of Life Fellowship in Windsor CT in the morning, and that evening we ministered to 40-50 youth at the senior center in Granby. On Thursday the 18th we met at Granby High School to minister to a dozen middle school students from Valley Brook Community Church. This past Sunday were had the privilege of ministering to the entire body at Valley Brook. Being a former resident of Granby for almost 7 years, I shared my testimony on how God took me from being a convenience store manager at the Food Bag in Granby to being a missionary in Mozambique Africa. God is faithful. The Holy Spirit touched many hearts and many came forward as a call to missions was given.

Both Teisa and I are really enjoying our season hear in America, especially New England. However, we are very aware of what is happening to our Iris family in Pemba. Unfortunately we probably know only as much as most of you who will read this. Please keep Rolland Baker in prayer as he is in hospital and has lost over 40lbs. The warfare in Pemba is raging, but the kingdom of God is advancing and his saints will be victorious. Jesus is Lord!

We hope to be meeting with Rolland and Heidi Baker at the VOA in Harrisburg PA next Wednesday. We will update you all with any new information as we receive it. Please join us in prayer for our Iris family. Thank you. Blessings on ya!!

After two days of wrestling with my computer (and winning!) our wedding video can now be viewed on our media page!!!! I also posted more picture pages on the Photo page like: Omaha wedding, Warriors (our boys), Widows Ministy, Outreachs, etc.

Check it out!

I am working on uploading pictures this week…this new website program is giving me a few issues….please forgive the weird photo pages outlay or lack of the page…I am trying to figure it out:) Grace, grace!

Before we left Africa this summer, we were asked to represent Iris Ministries at the Partners in Harvest (PIH) conference at the Toronto Airport Fellowship. Both Jean and I have been extremely blessed on prior visits to Toronto, so we were pretty stoked to return. Boy, we were not disappointed! We were so refreshed by the worship, preaching, and fellowship. We testified for the ministry and received prayer for the Bakers/our pastors/us…as you can imagine, we had a very hard time getting up off the floor!

After the conference, we drove by Niagara Falls and took some pictures. Here are my favorites….

While in California, I was privileged to return to the ministry I served for 5 years before going to Africa. School of Urban Missions has two campuses; one in New Orleans (where I served) and Oakland, CA. This was my first time being at the Oakland campus which was started 8 years ago by Chancellor George Neau. Today, it is a thriving campus with over 60 students being trained for urban ministry!

When Jean and I arrived in chapel, the atmosphere was charged with zeal and joy! Preaching was easy due to the hunger of the students’ hearts. After chapel, we spent some time with Chancellor Neau and his wife, sharing God stories and future ministries opportunities like hosting students in Mozambique for an internship. Jean and I both bore witness to the internship, so we began making plans to meet with any prospective students desiring to intern with us.

The next day we returned to preach in chapel again….the Holy Spirit was so thick during worship…many of the students made calls for repentance and gathered in groups praying for one another. After some time, the service transitioned to where I could address something heavy on my heart…the ladies! I knew the Holy Spirit wanted to pour out His love on these amazing women (most of the ladies attending SUM have been so wounded by past hurts/lies which has hindered their growth and identity in Christ). I began sharing part of my testimony to encourage the ladies (cause if I can do it, anyone can). Then in prayer, I made some declarations to tear down the lies/ungodly beliefs, the men started surrounding the ladies and praying for them….glory…God did the rest!

After chapel, we met with 11 students interested in doing an internship with us in Mozambique next summer! Please pray with us about this amazing opportunity. Many of these students struggle in huge ways with their tuition (which is very affordable), so believing God for the $3000 for the airfare to Moz is huge! Also, a few students have never left their home state of California!
So friends, this is huge for them. Please pray with us for the supernatural provision for these students to come…..we want to provide some form of matching scholarship for the struggling students.