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IMC Missionaries
Most of our missionaries send out email newsletters on a periodical basis. If you would like to receive a specific missionary's newsletter, please email him or her directly and request to be added to their list. Nancy Anderson
The Lord began to break Nancy and her family's hearts for Africa when in 1998 Nancy's parents met Rolland and Heidi at a conference in Toronto. A few years later in 2001 the principal of Nancy's high school initiated a relationship with a rural, black, Christian school in South Africa by taking his family to live and teach there for 5 months. The following year the principal and a teacher from there visited her school and Nancy knew from hearing their stories and heart that she would one day visit Africa. In 2003/04 Nancy took a one-year leave of absence from teaching to travel to both South Africa and Iris Ministries in Mozambique. She spent 2 months teaching at the Christian school in South Africa before spending 3 weeks at Zimpeto, Mozambique with her dad. “In SA my heart was deeply knit with the people who became my family.” While there she visited a Mozambican refugee camp where there were 8,000 people sharing only 2 water taps. “As we drove into the camp my heart broke and I began to weep.” This was excellent preparation for the next stage of her trip to Zimpeto. “After arriving at Zimpeto I felt like I had been forever changed just from the drive to the centre through the streets of Maputo. Throughout the ministry in the bush, dump, street, hospital, and centre, I knew I was nearer to the presence of the Lord than ever before and had a taste of the Lord's deep, deep compassion for the poor. I suddenly understood Jer. 22:16-17 where it says 'He defended the cause of the poor and needy and so all went well. Is that not what it means to know me declares the Lord.'” In July 2005 Nancy returned to Zimpeto for 3 weeks with her whole family where her plans to return long-term were finalized. In October 2005 Nancy moved to Zimpeto where she is working in hospitality helping to manage the many aspects of visitors' short term trips to Iris. She also has a heart to minister to children and adults in the Boccaria (dump), and to work with the Baby House or the girls' dorm. Update: February 2006“These past four months, I have been amazed by the Lord's grace over every aspect of my move to Mozambique. The transition and adjustment has been much easier than I expected, allowing me to feel at home here very quickly. “My primary responsibility has been working in hospitality with the many visitors. More recently, we have just opened up a new library for our kids, with about 200-300 Portuguese fiction and non-fiction books. After helping to set it up, I am now working there a few hours a week, and coordinating the staffing. It is incredible to watch some kids discover books for the first time! As a teacher, I especially love helping kids with their reading. “One highlight of my time here was being a part of handing out bread, food parcels and Christmas presents at the city dump where on a 45C/110+ F day we watched the Lord multiply the children's gifts. My current challenge is learning the language. Please pray the Lord supernaturally accelerates my acquisition of Portuguese as it will open up many new doors.”
or send mail to (checked monthly): Nancy Anderson Nancy's cellphone: 011-258-82-518-3501 View Nancy's personal blog: http://www.xanga.com/maputobound Lisa Brown
In the spring of 2003 Lisa again felt the Lord calling her to missions, but this time felt it was not to be dental in nature but rather a time of ministering the Gospel directly. A friend invited her to consider Iris Ministries and in October 2003 Lisa spent four weeks in Mozambique at the Zimpeto center. “I felt the Lord encouraging me to jump in the deep end and experience all I could: the prisons, the bush, the dump and the streets. At each turn I felt God’s presence and felt most at home in the bush. Out of that experience came the confirmation of my call to Africa, specifically Mozambique. “I began by attending Iris’ first Holy Given School of Missions in Pemba in 2005. While there God spoke into me that this would be a life-time venture. One day in particular stands out. Heidi was teaching on cross-cultural ministries from the Beatitudes, vs. 6: ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.’ Heidi asked the Mozambican pastors how many had lost a family member or loved one to physical starvation. All 200 of them stood up. They truly knew what it was to be hungry and thirsty. She then asked the westerners to come forward and let these pastors pray into us an awareness of what it means to truly be hungry and thirsty. As I was prayed for, I felt the Lord deposit into my spirit a deep burden for a specific Mozambican tribe – the Macondi. I fell to my knees along with a fellow Mozambican pastor and together we wept. Missions was truly birthed in my heart that day. I believe that this people group represent the first of many tribes and people groups the Lord may call me to.” Lisa moved to Dondo, Mozambique in March 2006 to serve in our Dondo Centre.
or send mail to: Lisa Brown Lisa’s cellphone: 011-258-82-820-0450 John & Sandra Ewert
God has put an incredible passion in the Ewerts' hearts to help mentor and equip the pastors in the unprecedented revival that is taking place in Mozambique. Pastors come to the school, often with little or no biblical background, but with an incredible love and hunger for God. John and Sandra teach in the Bible school, which is located at the Zimpeto Children's centre. They also serve in many capacities to assist the pastors practically during their stay at the school. Since these men are actively leading churches that have been recently birthed, the school is set up to run in three-month segments, enabling them to study the four levels offered at different times, so that the churches they oversee are not left without leadership for lengthy periods of time. The Ewerts' first year with Iris was amazing. John and Sandra were overwhelmed by the love God gave them for the pastors. One real difficulty was with acquisition of the Portuguese language. As a result, in this, their second year, following a trip to Canada to initiate landed immigrant status (known as D.I.R.E.), John and Sandra have decided to take language lessons in the city of Maputo. Please pray that God gives them a quick grasp of the language so that they will be able to communicate on a heart to heart level with the pastors they so love. Kara-Lee, their seventeen-year-old daughter, is in her final year of high school at a missionary school in Maputo. She has been assisting at the baby house as her schedule permits, administering medicines and doing a variety of other activities. Kara-Lee plans to pursue medical training following graduation so that she might become a medical missionary. The Ewerts have a daughter, Kristen, working in Paris France for a year; and a son Aaron and daughter-in-law, Selah, living in Oregon, USA. Update: August 2004“We continue to be awed by the wonderful heart connections that are made with our pastors and with the love that flows between us, both ways. With His love, we are are able to teach and pour into these leaders' lives the transforming power of the Holy Spirit. We have also been priviledged to assist in facilitating many wonderful guest speakers who have come at Heidi and Rolland's invitation to and equip the pastors. These opportunities are wondefully rich for our students, as keynote speakers come from around the world to minister into their lives. “Kara-Lee, our youngest, has just completed her final year of high school at a missionary school in Maputo and is planning to attend the School of Ministry at Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship this fall. Kristen is back from Europe, living and studying in Ontario.” Update: February 2005The Ewerts have been in Canada temporarily, due to the illness and subsequent passing of Sandra's mother. During this time Sandra has been undergoing medical treatment herself and is scheduled for surgery at the beginning of March. “While in Canada, we've been privileged to speak in many churches and with numerous individuals, about Mozambique. We've also attended ministry courses and furthered our acquisition of Portuguese. We will return to Mozambique in mid-March and look forward to resuming our work at the Bible school with the pastors and leaders. We are planning to open a prayer/soaking centre in our home where there can be ongoing prayer for the Zimpeto centre and for Iris Ministries as a whole, and would appreciate prayer for this endeavor. “Our daughter, Kara-Lee, loved her time at the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship School of Ministry and plans to work until the fall, when she will begin studies in nursing. She looks forward to her return to Mozambique in the future.” Update: August 2005“Our highlight this year was the April to July session at the Bible school. We were thrilled to graduate some students from the fourth and final level who have been with for all four levels. Many wonderful relationships have developed and it was with much joy as well as some sadness that we sent these pastors out, not knowing when we will see them again. We were able to share a meal and hear as they spoke of the highlights of their time at the school. Many told of transformation that has taken place in their lives as they learned about and experienced forgiveness and healing from woundedness. Others spoke of all they learned from the various courses that were taught. Other rich times were spent outside of the classroom, such as an evening when we viewed “The Passion” in Portuguese in our home, followed by a time of communion and worship. “A vision that we've had for some time has just come to fruition with the opening of the 'Prayer Room' in the end room of our house. Basically, this is a place which is available 24 hours for individual and corporate prayer meetings. It's here that we gather to pray for the needs of the center and lift one another up. We also have 'soaking meetings' where we find refreshment and renewal as we rest in the Lord's presence. When there are no corporate meetings taking place, individual missionaries can come and find a place of quiet and solitude as they seek the Lord, away from the daily demands. We trust this will be an oasis of His presence as we seek Him for 'more'.” Update: March 2006“These past months have been very eventful - some positive while others have been challenging, but all a demonstration of God's love, grace and mercy. “In September we experienced first hand some of the many perils that happen all the time to people living here. John was in the city looking to buy bibles for our pastors, when all of a sudden he was pulled down from behind by several people and robbed. After they fled, God provided amazingly, bringing people to help like angels of mercy. We praise God that the real valuables were not stolen as they only took what was in the pockets and not the money belt underneath his trousers. God has given much peace in the midst of this and we praise Him for His protection. “Sandra had been going though some intense physical challenges to the point that walking had become very difficult but was miraculously healed in November. She has regained strength and is once again able to do all the running around that she needs to as well as keeping up with a busy teaching schedule. “We were privileged to be involved in the wedding of one of our students in December in his local village. We've had many weddings at the center but this was a first for us to be able to be involved in local culture. It was a wonderful opportunity to deepen relationships with our pastors outside of the Bible school setting. “The prayer room we opened in our home continues to be a blessing for many of the missionaries here as they find a time apart from the demands of the centre. We have been having some wonderful Holy Spirit directed times of prayer as we meet together corporately to seek His face and pray for the many needs of the centre. “We are once again having a senior graduating class this term with many students that we've come to know and grown to love over the three and a half years in Mozambique. The pastors and teaching continues to be our delight and we are so privileged to be here pouring into their lives.” or send mail to (checked monthly): John & Sandra Ewert The Ewerts' cellphone: 011-258-82-811-9030 Don and Elizabeth Kantel
In October 2005 the Kantels joined Heidi and Rolland and their international missionary team based in Pemba. In addition to teaching in the Bible school and generally supporting the many ministries based in Pemba, Don and Elizabeth will be helping pastor the Iris missionary staff. With whole villages coming to the Lord, they will also be pursuing a vision to lead transformational and sustainable community development, as part of the holistic gospel Iris is presenting to poverty-stricken communities. They believe the Jeremiah 29:11 promise of “hope and a future” applies to Africa too! And their vision is to mobilize resources and develop community servant-leadership to help bring lasting transformation to some of earth's poorest people…to the praise of God's glory! Don and Elizabeth are sent out with the blessing of their church families, their son and daughter-in-law, Tim and Sarah, and their young grandson, Evan. Update: March 2006The Kantels continue to carry a long-term transformational vision for their Pemba-based work with Iris Ministries. And they know that transformation becomes a possibility when the Lord strategically combines vision, resources, and leadership at the moment in history of His appointing. In recent months, Heidi and Rolland have mandated Don to head grant applications and project administration for Iris. This is a new and timely initiative which could make significant new resources available to advance the Iris mission of evangelism, church planting, and poverty alleviation. We are currently awaiting final word on two large project-funding grants we've Don has also been acting as an interim base director from time to time and helping with financial administration. Elizabeth is a member of a new team set up to handle long-term missionary applications and appointments for all of Iris. The committee is also working with Heidi and Rolland to develop consistent personnel policies for the future. These important new responsibilities are additional to Don and Elizabeth's general pastoral role with the missionaries in Pemba. or view the Kantels' website. The Kantels' cellphones: Don 011-258-82-518-3594; Elizabeth 011-258-82-527-0999 The Morrison family
The Morrisons' desire is to serve the poor, to train and develop Malawi pastors, and to provide homes for the growing number of orphaned and abandoned children. As part of the work they also hope to develop a base to house short-term mission groups from the west. While the work in Bangula is still very young, there are over 500 churches in the area, with as many pastors waiting to be trained. Stage one of the Bible school building is now complete. Classes began in September 2003, with sixty pastors attending the first-term class. David is directing the school, leading a team of three westerners and three nationals who are teaching and ministering to the pastors. The pastors live at the school for three months and return for a second and third semester during the second and third years. The school will have to expand in terms of facilities and staff over the next few years to accommodate the addition of a new class each semester. As an integral part of the training, the Morrisons will be facilitating church-based care for orphans. Upon graduation, the hope and expectation is that Iris pastors will personally be responsible for the care of ten orphans. David and Joanna have three children: Patrick, Daniel, and Kalina. Initially, Joanna will be homeschooling their children and building relationships with the mothers of the childrens' new friends. The local dialect in Bangula is Chichewa and language study will be an ongoing priority. Update: August 2004“Almost a year in Bangula and we are still learning lots every day! We are living in the middle of Jambo Village, and have the privilege of walking daily with the poor. With a 25% yield on their crop, many families are really struggling to find enough to eat each day, let alone having any luxuries of soap, toothpaste or shampoo. Each month Iris Ministries Canada is able to support some of these needy families with some maize and beans - the elderly, widows, orphans and the handicapped come early on the 15th of each month to receive help. We are challenged daily and are constantly learning to depend on Jesus to meet every need. “We have had several Canadian visitors already, some of whom helped in the building of our own home, beside the Bible school. Developing a short-term mission base is a part of our vision, and we are thankful to all who have expressed an interest in coming. The children are doing well, though still really missing Canadian friends and snow!” Update: February 2005“We are delighted to have moved into our own home this past month, located on the Bible school property. We are now able to easily 'slip' out and teach at the Bible school, and be close to the pastors. Our new house is wonderful as it is situated to catch the breezes, and we are feeling spoiled to now have a fridge, a freezer and an oven! The children love that I can once again bake bread and can vary the daily menu even a little bit! “Homeschooling is developing a rhythm, but most afternoons find our children walking the dog and chasing the kitten, and love it when we can fill the paddling pool to beat the heat! We continue to pray for friends for the children.” Update: September 2005“This past summer we returned to Canada for a visit. It was wonderful and the time flew by quickly! We are now settling into life in Africa once again. Friendships with the children from neighbouring villages are growing stronger. Communicating in Chichewa is becoming more familiar, and the heat and the dust are a little less strange. Home schooling is still a lot of work, but at least the routine is familiar. Joanna now has friends among the women, and continues to write songs to help them learn Scripture. With our first third-year class this term, Joanna and David will both be teaching classes. We are excited to see these pastors enter deeper into relationship with Jesus, and with each other.” The Morrisons would all appreciate prayer for language learning, and growing friendships. Update: March 2006“What is it like to live in Bangula? It is hot, and mostly dry, though we have had rain this year. It is big enough for a corner store and a market, but not big enough for a grocery store. As you walk through ‘downtown’ you are likely to meet cows, goats, chickens, and many children wanting something to eat. At our house you will find our children doing school work in the mornings, and our Malawian children coming to play with Duplo and do puzzles on the back porch in the afternoons. You might meet pastors popping in for various reasons, or someone coming by for a visit. “Our family life is a constant adventure. Put three children under the age of 10 into a small town in rural Malawi and the adventure soars to new heights! We live with the very poor, love and care for pastors and orphaned children and pray to see God’s Kingdom come here on earth, amidst the hunger and the sickness. In the myriad of decisions that need to be made everyday we wait on our God who is our supplier of wisdom, provisions, strength, humour... always giving just what is needed.” Email the Morrisons: David or Joanna or view the Morrison's website or send mail to : David & Joanna Morrison Phone contact : The Morrisons' cellphones: David 011-265-8-343-814; Joanna 011-265-8-345-710 Keith, LaQueta and Rachel Paul
“Training the pastors has been like feeding the hungry. They always want more of Him. It remains a great honor to share with them from the scriptures in the power of the Holy Spirit. “Rachel has completed high school by correspondence and will be living with us in South Africa. Jordan will be following the Lord's direction for his own life by joining the staff in Zimpeto, Mozambique within a few months. “There are several things we feel the Lord is calling us to do. We will establish a home base in Nelspruit, South Africa. We plan to have a house which will also be used as a missionary guest house. We look forward to the opportunity of ministering to the missionaries when they need a time of rest and refreshment themselves. Nelspruit is only about 2 hours from Iris's main base in Zimpeto, Mozambique, and many of the missionaries come across on a regular basis. “We also plan to travel to all of the various centers, ministering on a short-term basis as needed, be it for conferences, outreaches or general ministry, as well as being available to teach at the various Bible schools. “LaQueta and Rachel want to remain available to the children's center in Zimpeto, to minister to special-needs children as needed." The Pauls will initially be in Pemba from June to August 2005, pastoring the students at the newly begun International School of Missions. Update: September 2005The Pauls have returned to Nelspruit, SA, after their time at the School of Missions in Pemba. “It was a time of rich and wonderful ministry serving as pastors for 250 Western students in the School of Missions. What a unique and amazing privilege to be able to pour into the lives of people from all over the world who are being sent out to yet even more nations! “We plan to use South Africa as a base to come home to between ministry trips to other Iris centres. We will travel regularly and serve short-term, providing pastoral care to the missionaries and serving in whatever other capacities are most needed. In between going into very different cultures and situations we will return to SA for rest. We are currently staying with missionary friends while we look for a house of our own which we will also use as a guest house to minister to other missionaries. “Our son Jordan has arrived from Canada so now the whole family is together again. He will be going to Maputo, Moz. to spend most of the year there, so he will be close enough to see often. God has been so faithful to our family!" Update: February 2006“We are thoroughly enjoying living in beautiful Nelspruit, South Africa. Our home is in the mountains and we have to drive only a short distance to more mountains and breath-taking views. It's summer all year long, unlike Canada! “We are about three hours away from the main missions base in Zimpeto (Maputo, Mozambique) so we are able to visit regularly and see our son Jordan who is working there. “Our ministry is divided into 2 parts: “We live here and travel wherever we are needed, usually to one of the mission bases in Mozambique. So far we have spent 3 months in Pemba, northern Moz.; spent time in Dondo (Beira) about halfway up the coast; and made several trips to Zimpeto, the main base in southern Moz. Our ministry on these bases involves pastoral care to the missionaries and whatever else we have been sent to do. This includes everything from pastoring School of Missions students to teaching pastors in the Bible schools to caring for Aids babies. Variety is the spice of life and we love it. “The other facet of our work is to minister to the missionaries on this side of the border. Most of the Zimpeto missionaries come to South Africa once a month to get their visa stamped and to rest for a few days. Our goal is to have a guest house where they can stay. So far we are just renting a very small house. But we are at least able to invite them for dinner and minister to them here. We look forward to the time when we have our own house and can broaden this very necessary aspect of ministry. God bless you all.”
or send mail to: Iris Africa The Pauls' cellphone: 011-277-6-383-6572 John & Dawn RedworthIn April 2006, John and Dawn moved to South Africa to serve at the Iris base, located in the village of Kabokweni, near White River. John will provide leadership to the Iris missionary team in South Africa. This will include the further development of the Bible school, where John is principal, and the development of a children's centre, currently in the planning stages. Additionally, John will provide ongoing input into the leadership commission of the approximately 500 Partners in Harvest/Iris Africa churches in South Africa. Dawn's desire is to bless the pastors who come to the Bible school, and care for the poor, especially the women and the sick who live on the hill, where the Redworths believe that they too will be living.
Or send mail to: The Redworths' cellphone: 011-27-82-488-7645
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Nancy was born and raised in small-town Saskatchewan until she left for BC to attend Trinity
Western University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Education. For seven years Nancy
taught high school English and social studies at a Christian school in Surrey, BC. Whenever
asked about full-time ministry or missions Nancy would respond that she was in full-time
ministry in the mission field of her classroom.
Lisa comes to Iris from Toronto, Ontario, where she worked as a dental assistant for 15 years. Her profession opened doors to use her skills on a short term missions venture with Mercy Ships to The Gambia, West Africa in 2002. “During my time there God clearly spoke to me that it wasn’t about what I did but truly about the people.” Upon returning to Toronto Lisa left her job and went into the sales end of dentistry to purposely encounter more people. 
The Ewerts left their home in Burlington, Ontario, Canada in August
of 2002, to live at the Zimpeto Children's centre in Mozambique, where
they plan on ministering indefinitely. Their first trip to Africa
was during the floods in 2000. With subsequent visits, they felt God's
call to serve under Heidi and Rolland Baker.
The Lord has recently renewed his call to Don and Elizabeth Kantel to serve in Africa under the banner of Iris Ministries. No strangers to Iris, they have visited annually since 1999. In 2002, they served long-term at Zimpeto, where they directed Hospitality and ministered to hundreds of visitors. Between trips to the airport and organizing programs for visitors, "Papa Don" also made time to be a friend and a father to many of the younger boys at Iris-a role he looks forward to resuming in Pemba later this year.
The Kantels come to Iris from Summerside, PEI. However, they lived in St. Stephen, NB for 30 years, where Don was founding president of St. Stephen's University, a Christian university. Don holds degrees in political science and theology and is currently completing a D.Min. in leadership and renewal studies at Regent University in Virginia. Elizabeth, who has an M.A. in organizational leadership, has been actively involved for many years in community-based health care—in particular, home-based volunteer hospice programs and services related to senior and geriatric care.
The Morrisons moved to Bangula, Malawi in September 2003, leaving their home in Oakville, Ontario. God has been growing their interest and passion for mission work in the developing world for a few years now. Joanna grew up in a missions family, and has longed to live in Africa. During a visit to Mozambique in 2002, God enlarged David's heart for the poor and for the abandoned children of these lands.
The Pauls came to Iris in May 2005 from Ontario. Previously they had pastored throughout Canada for 23 years, and for several of those years they have traveled and ministered with their two children, Jordan and Rachel. Four of their trips have been to Mozambique. “We now have clearly heard the Lord's voice asking us to follow Him into the harvest fields in this part of Africa. During our visits the Lord gave us opportunities to to help train the many pastors at three of the centers, and to care for the precious children. We witnessed His wonderful love restoring these once-broken little ones. As we would return on subsequent trips, the change would be so evident. It is His compassionate touch that restores. 
“The past six months I have been working primarily in construction. We have completed many building projects at our main centre, as well as at two other smaller properties which will also be used for the work of the Lord here in Pemba. We have also been working jointly together with the construction team that was hired to build the residences and classrooms for our new International School of Missions. 
The Holy Spirit ignited Sue’s heart for mission when she went on two short-term trips, first to Guatemala in 2004, and then to Malawi in 2005. She felt the Lord’s call to ‘more’ and quickly sensed her heart and destiny being sealed in Africa. Sue left her home in Oakville, Ontario, with the blessing and support of her four grown children, and moved to Bangula, Malawi in June 2006. 
Matt comes to Iris from his ‘forever’ home in Markham, Ontario. Being raised in a Christian home, he grew up surrounded by the knowledge of Christ. His own faith walk was heavily influenced and challenged over years of both attending and then giving leadership at a Christian camp. Matt did post-secondary studies in the field of building renovation and construction engineering, and since graduating has been operating his own renovation business.