The Jonah in Me
A Journey from Resistance to Obedience Through God's Relentless Grace
by Elder Travis Allen

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I still remember the weight of that moment. The word of the Lord didn’t whisper—it pressed. It came with purpose, with clarity, with the unmistakable authority of the God who made heaven and earth. Arise, go to Nineveh. I froze. That one command unsettled everything I thought I knew about myself, my ministry, and my calling. Nineveh was not a place where prophets went. It was not a place to preach repentance; it was a place we prayed God would judge. Yet the command was simple, and I knew His voice. But knowing God’s voice doesn’t mean we always welcome His assignment. I, Jonah, son of Amittai, felt something rise in me that day—something I didn’t want to confess. It was fear. It was resentment. It was confusion. And if I’m honest, it was rebellion. Sound familiar? Most likely. Because Jonah is us. Generations later, we still run from God’s call, resent His mercy, and prefer comfort over compassion. The Jonah in Me explores the story of this reluctant prophet through a transformative lens, exposing the uncomfortable truth that Jonah’s resistance mirrors our own. But instead of stopping at conviction, we are pointed to the hope that comes from the Greater Jonah, Jesus, and the knowledge that like Jonah, we aren’t just rescued from something, but for someone. Do you know what God has called you to do? Do you know where God has positioned you to lead? Do you know who God retrieved you to retrieve? Filled with supporting Scripture, prayers, and reflection questions, this comprehensive resource introduces a revolutionary leadership framework—retrieved to retrieve—demonstrating how God uses our past struggles to position us to uniquely help others navigate similar circumstances. Complete with a twelve-week sermon series, six-week small group discussion guide, and thirty-day devotional, The Jonah in Me will challenge the comfortable, encourage the reluctant, and show you that your rescue wasn’t random; it was purposeful.

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Travis Allen lives in Lilburn, Georgia, and has been an Elder at Hopewell Missionary Baptist Church for three decades, providing pastoral care, counseling, teaching, and leadership. He is the director of the Project Management Office at the Georgia Department of Education, where he has led strategic initiatives in kindergarten to Grade 12 educational technology for over thirty years. This extensive professional and ministry experience has taught Travis the value of leading from behind—guiding with patience, empowering others, and staying with those who are struggling—shaping a shepherd model of leadership. Inspired by watching God use retrieved people to retrieve others inspired the central framework of this book. The Jonah in Me is the first in a planned “Unfiltered” series, which will explore familiar biblical narratives through human psychological and leadership perspectives.

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Contributors

Author

Elder Travis Allen

Foreword by

Deaconess Janette Green