CAI SPOTLIGHT
- Dr. Phyllis Arno
- 13 hours ago
- 3 min read
INWIA Ministries is a Certified Academic Institution (CAI) through the National Christian Counselors Association (NCCA). I established INWIA Ministries as a counseling ministry in 2010, after I completed my PhD in Clinical Pastoral Counseling through the NCCA in 2009. So, what does INWIA mean, and where did the name come from?
INWIA is an acronym for “It’s Not Words. It’s Actions!” This comes from James 1:22 that states, “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.” (NIV) My wife and I have been in ministries of different types for most of the past 40 years. About 30 years ago, I was the Children’s Pastor for a large church in Alabama. We ran our own kids' camp for the church every summer. One year, our theme for summer camp was “It’s Not Words. It’s Actions!” That year, this phrase became my wife’s and my life motto. It is on our license plates, our ministry, and our lives. God has taken us through many incredible journeys. We have two children by birth and eight children by adoption. No, that wasn’t planned. But when God opens doors, we go there.
In 2013, INWIA Ministries became a CAI with the NCCA. Initially, I trained and supervised individuals in our immediate area. However, over the years, INWIA Ministries has expanded. I now work with and supervise students as far North as Alaska and as far south as the Bahamas. I have administered almost 1300 APS surveys for my clients and my students.
I tell my students, and it is the truth, the NCCA and temperament theory radically changed my life and how I view other individuals. I am no longer judgmental. I now understand that there are always reasons why people are who they are and do what they do. This does not justify inappropriate behavior or sin. But it helps us understand their internal and external conflict and how they need to turn these things over to God to get beyond their sin and change their thinking and behaviors.
The more I studied and learned about temperament theory, the more I saw how internal and external conflict affects every one of us. I am a Melancholy Compulsive in Inclusion. However, most people would never know this. I grew up as a pastor’s kid and have been interacting with people my whole life. I enjoy the interaction. However, emotionally, it wears me out. I never understood what was going on until I dived deeper into internal conflict, external conflict, and my temperament versus my life experience. This led me to write the NCCA course titled Christian Psychology - Integrating Temperament and Psychology.
INWIA Ministries has become an outlet for me to share with my students my passion and desire to help others. I spend a good amount of time with many of my students who desire input and understanding as they take their courses and begin their journey in ministering to others. I have had many students share that temperament theory has changed their lives and how they view others. The Arno Profile System (APS) has helped us all to understand conflict
within individuals and conflict between individuals. It is a tool that God has provided through the NCCA to help us help others.
INWIA Ministries, “It’s Not Words. It’s Actions!” Every one of us needs to incorporate James 1:22 into our lives.
In Christ’s Service,
Dr. Henry Mohn