LOVE IN ACTION

By Heidi Baker, Iris Ministries, Inc.

PEMBA, MOZAMBIQUE (ANS) -- To our friends around the world,

After much prayer concerning the massive tsunami tragedy suffered by our brothers and sisters in Southeast Asia, we announce with great joy the launching of Iris Ministries' first India base.

Within the next two weeks, we will send out missionaries to establish a home near Madras for orphans who are tsunami victims in order to best funnel relief efforts to southern India. Our mission is to bring the good news of Jesus Christ and limitless love to those who have had their lives and loved ones swept away in this unprecedented natural disaster. The purpose of this simple home is literally to love these children back to life and release them as part of the next army that will reach India for Jesus. As Mother Teresa said, "You love until there is pain, you love through the pain, until all that remains is love."

In 2000-2001, when Jesus called us to help feed Mozambique during some of the worst flooding in world history, we saw beautiful Jesus begin to break forth in the midst of darkness and despair with a glorious "flood" of revival. Now we are believing Jesus to do even greater works than these in India. Surely He is "shaking everything that can be shaken" in order to best call the lost into the Father's house, bring in His bride from every tribe and tongue, and release His great end-time harvest. We are believing for a tidal wave of His glorious presence to sweep over those most affected by these recent events. We are trusting Jesus for an ocean of children to be rescued from India and beyond. Please believe with us for the glory of the Lord to cover the earth as the waters cover the sea (Hab 2:14).

I pray your New Year is filled with the glorious promises of God. I pray you be taken to an even deeper place of love. As I have been praying and meditating on God's purposes for 2005, I feel Jesus taking us deeper inside His huge heart of love. My heart is drawn into abandoned, laid-down love. All within my life cries out for the plans and purposes of God to be birthed this year. I hear Jesus call us to find and take in the lost, orphaned and abandoned children. I hear Him say (Matthew 25) I am hungry, give me something to eat. I am thirsty, give me something to drink. I am a stranger, invite me in. I am in rags, clothe me. I am sick, look after me. I am in prison, visit me. Whatever you do for the least of these, you do for me. Where there is love, there is always service.

I am greatly moved by the words of my mentor, Mother Teresa, who perfectly shares her thoughts with us: "Love has no meaning if it isn't shared. Love has to be put into action. You have to love without expectation, do something for love itself, not for what you may receive. Love in action is what gives us grace. We have been created for greater things -- to love and to be loved. Love is love -- to love a person without any conditions, without any expectations. Small things, done in great love, bring joy and peace. To love, it is necessary to give. To give, it is necessary to be free from selfishness."

God has called me to simplicity, the simplicity of love. I do not feel called to what many call greatness or success. My only call is to love more. True love may cost everything. It may cause pain, and at the same moment bring joy. I ask Jesus for more courage to love without limit. God has called His Bride to be carriers of His love-glory. To do this He leads us to deepen our life of sacrifice, prayer and abandoned love.

To be true, love must empty itself of self...

As I close, I pray that the promises of God for 2005 in your life will come to pass quickly. For The Lord clearly spoke to me that even in the wake of such calamities, His promises and purposes for 2005 would not be aborted! The things God has planned, we cannot accomplish in our power or by our effort. Like Mary we are called in glorious, abandoned worship to yield our lives to the Holy Spirit. He will speak His word to many: "Greetings, highly favored ones. Do not be afraid. You have found favor with God." In the natural realm, that which God wants to birth through our lives could never come to pass. The Holy Spirit will overshadow us and the holy promise will be born! Our only appropriate response is Luke 1:38: "Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word."

Thank you so much for caring for the poor and praying for us. Please believe with us for every holy promise to be birthed.

Much love in Jesus,
Heidi

Heidi Baker - Support Address: Iris Ministries, Inc. - P.O. 339 - San Juan Capistrano, CA, 92693-0339  USA

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, and provide for those who grieve in Zion -- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations. Aliens will shepherd your flocks; foreigners will work your fields and vineyards. And you will be called priests of the Lord, you will be named ministers of our God. You will feed on the wealth of nations, and in their riches you will boast. Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs. For I, the Lord, love justice..." (Isaiah 61:1-8).

About the disaster in India, Pastor James Rebbavarapu of India Christian Ministries wrote: "There are more than 3000 people dead and several thousand missing in Southern India. The people in the coastal villages of Andhra Pradesh are still in shock after being hit by 20-foot tidal waves caused by a powerful earthquake in the Indian Ocean on Sunday. As of today, in the state of Andhra Pradesh, where ICM works, more than 100 bodies have been found. Thousands of people are missing, and over 25,000 people from the 80+ villages along the coastline are now homeless. People have lost everything they owned, they are without food, and the water sources are polluted. Property damage is estimated to be around US $12 million."

ROLLAND AND HEIDI BAKER began Iris Ministries, Inc., an interdenominational mission, in 1980 and have been missionaries for the past twenty-one years. They were both ordained as ministers in 1985 after completing their BA and MA degrees at Southern California College in Biblical Studies and Church Leadership. Rolland is a third-generation missionary born and raised in China and Taiwan. He was greatly influenced by his grandfather, H.A. Baker, who wrote "Visions Beyond the Veil," an account of the extended visions of heaven and hell that children received in his remote orphanage in southwest China two generations ago. Rolland and Heidi Baker, Directors Iris Ministries, Inc. P.O. Box 563 No. 654/29 Zimpeto, Av. Mozambique Km. 11 Maputo, Mozambique Tel: +258-82-303-068 Rolland@irismin.org Address for mail and support checks:  Iris Ministries, Inc. 1900 Via Sage San Clemente, CA 92673 USA Visitor inquiries (dates, travel, preparation, etc.): hospitality@irismin.org Inquiries regarding container shipments, needs and logistics: Gordon Haggerty Tel: +1-206-898-0275 E-mail:haggerty@attglobal.net                        Malawi contact: Pamela Bryan, representing Iris Ministries in Malawi Cellphone in Blantyre: +265-958-334 E-mail: pbmalawi@mw.celtelplus.com Web site containing photos, past news, background, visitor info, etc.: irismin.org Los Angeles fax and voicemail: (will be converted and sent to us by email): +1-213-330-0293 Address for packages of donated goods sent by surface mail: Iris Ministries, Inc. P.O. Box 20017 West Acres 1211 Nelspruit, SOUTH AFRICA Canadians (for tax deductible receipts): Please make your cheque or money order payable to: "To the Nations Fellowship" Mail to: To the Nations Fellowship Mozambique Ministry 3092 Shannon Crescent Oakville, Ontario L6L 6B4 For more information e-mail: tothenationsmoz@anacis.com Iris Ministries (UK) Ltd PO Box 33531 London E2 oFW UNITED KINGDOM info@irisministries.co.uk www.irisministries.co.uk