Bo and Marlou Barredo are Pictured above, the original tear wipers for God’s glory! Their vision gave life to the vision of IWM.
By Autumn Nims
Is this you?” was the question that came to me one Thursday morning as I was seeking the Lord for what was next. Lately, I have been reflecting on the past 15 years of global work, and it is humbling to know that the Lord has met many needs and supported many missionary efforts through IWM. Yet, there are still long lines of missionaries waiting. The work is heavy and warlike at times. Sometimes I go to battle on my knees because the funds are just not there to meet every request.
As I write this today, I received a request to help a child needing surgery and ongoing treatment that will cost $3,000.00. Then, a proposal from a dear missionary sister for a project to rescue children from sex trafficking, and a message from a pastor about hungry orphans in Uganda. That was just today. Yesterday, there were other requests, and I am sure tomorrow will bring more.
IWM was just a dream of Bo Barredo’s when he took me down the hallway of ANM (Advancing Native Missions) to show me an organizational chart on the wall of the global mission he co-founded with Carl Gordon.
Bo and Marlou recently called me to congratulate me on 15 incredible years of compassionate service and wiping tears worldwide. As we reminisced, they recalled the moment God called me to this life-changing mission. Bo shared how the Lord gently nudged him, prompting him to speak to me. Though hesitant—knowing I was a single mom with four children and that ANM was a faith-based ministry—he listened to the whisper of God. That Thursday Bible study marked a divine turning point when he could no longer resist God’s voice. God demonstrated His faithfulness by placing a divine call on me that day!
I love how God chooses to speak to those who can’t resist His calling and voice. God’s voice is irresistible. Bo didn’t know it, but on that day, I was questioning God’s call for me to leave a ministry and go nowhere. At the same time, God was compelling Bo Barredo to speak to me about the area of ANM that had “never been fully developed,’ or as Bo called it, “a spoke on the wheel” that had never been fully realized.
He pointed to the wheel and indicated the International Women’s Ministry department on it. With his commanding voice, he asked, “Is this you???’
Immediately and without hesitation, I answered: “God had saved that for me.” I knew right away that God was calling me to ANM to answer the high calling of wiping tears.
He then asked me to go home and pray about it. He requested that I create a proposal for what IWM would look like. A couple of weeks later, I returned with a 90-day plan for implementing International Women’s Ministries. The three goals I aimed to accomplish in those 90 days were to PRAY, BUILD a team, and hold the first women’s event. With God’s favor and help, that is exactly what happened.
It has been 15 years, and God has spoken once again, giving me a REHOBOTH vision for IWM—an expansion and a place to grow. I am currently seeking God’s heart to understand what He is revealing about this vision! Almost effortlessly, He is sending people! I am amazed at how He is speaking and how He is expanding the vision.
Currently, IWM has 44 intercessors praying for the ministry, 25 volunteers supporting it with their talents, and a board of directors overseeing the vision and finances.
Our mailing list includes 2900 people, and our current database has 517 individuals who have donated at some point to help wipe the tears of sisters worldwide. I can only boast in the Lord! He has done this. He has given us a place to grow and expand- Rehoboth! Thank you, Jesus! I can only thank and praise Him because I am human, broken, have shed many tears, prayed many prayers, made many mistakes, taken many things for granted, and yet He still uses me. He still blesses the ministry despite my human frailties and weaknesses.
Someone once said that a vision without goals is just a dream. I thank the Lord for giving me the initial goals to fulfill the vision of wiping tears. I also thank the Lord for Bo’s dream and for using me to turn it into a fruitful ministry these past 15 years!
No tears go to waste in God’s Kingdom! He uses all of those tears to produce a harvest of joy! Psalm 126:5
Wiping Tears until Jesus comes,
Autumn Nims
CEO
Below is the organizational chart Bo used to show me as he spoke of his dream for IWM to come to life:
