“Seeing children get to go to school, seeing kids that lived on the streets now leading our bases, watching the education level raised, that’s the greatest joy.” Photo courtesy of Iris Ministries

Longtime missionary celebrates Canadian film release

“It’s letting God love you and loving the one in front of you”

By Craig Macartney and ChristianWeek Senior Correspondent | February 18, 2014

TORONTO, ON—Known as the Mother Teresa of Africa, Heidi Baker has been caring for the poor and the orphans of Mozambique, with her husband Roland, for almost 20 years. Their amazing story of carrying the gospel throughout Africa is now available in the newly released film Compelled by Love.

Film production began seven years ago after Baker’s message of simplicity and love impacted a wealthy businessman. He hired a professional film crew (only one of whom was a Christian) and sent them to Baker’s base in Pemba, Mozambique.

“I actually didn’t want to do it, because I like to be hidden,” Baker says. “It was very hard for me to say yes, but as I sought [God], I thought, ‘if people get hungry for Him, hungry for His presence, it will make them want to give their lives to Him, and it’s worth the price.”

After three-and-a-half years of following Baker around the continent, the entire film crew had become Christians, but the budget ran out and the movie was left unfinished. Fortunately, last year, numerous volunteers came together and completed the Compelled by Love project.

“It turns out God wanted the seven-year time period,” says Baker. “When it was initially supposed to come out my husband was terribly sick and unable to communicate. He had no short-term memory, but now God healed his brain, he finished his doctoral degree and he’s flying the bush plane. God chose to release [the film] now and the interviews cover seven years.”

The Bakers have seen dramatic transformation in Mozambique; when they first arrived it was the world’s poorest country. Their ministry, Iris Global, now cares for more than 10,000 children daily and has planted more than 10,000 churches.

“The best thing is He’s impacted the children,” says Baker. “The greatest joy is seeing people who were in a hellish situation, living in a dump or under a bridge, and now they have a little house and they’re full of Jesus.

"Seeing children get to go to school, seeing kids that lived on the streets now leading our bases, watching the education level raised, that’s the greatest joy."

Baker says Westerners often complicate the gospel, which keeps them from sharing God’s love. She believes reaching out begins with the greatest commandment: falling in love with Jesus. As you allow His love to pour into you, she says, it’s easier to let His love move you to stop for “the one in front of you.”

“You can’t care for them all; it’s not about the multitudes. [The Bible] just says love God with all your heart, mind, soul and strength, and love your neighbour as yourself. It’s that easy. It’s letting God love you and loving the one in front of you, stopping for the one, everyday.”

In Western society, Baker says loving your neighbour means giving your time and building relationships, but she cautions not to leave out the first commandment: loving God.

“In North America, being compelled by love is first being present with God and spending time in His presence,” she explains. “You have to give the thing most valuable which, in North America, is your time. Give your time in adoration and in the Word and then stop for the one. It’s just stopping, loving, and letting Jesus shine through your eyes.”