The Story
Jonas is a young man born out of tragedy. He spent his childhood putting pieces together and trying to survive, but then God asks him to do the unthinkable. If he had been moving away from God before, now he was all out running.
What happened next is a miracle of healing and hope. And, not just for Jonas.
His journey will change his life and so many others.
Prologue: From The Author
Hearing God’s voice, blatant disobedience, a devastating storm at sea, only to be swallowed by a fish and live to tell about it is the stuff of genuine storytelling. The message of the Old Testament prophet Jonah needs no help in being a compelling and life-changing story.
I consider this book a compliment to the lessons I have learned through studying the book of Jonah. In my 30 years of pastoral ministry, I have dedicated no less than three complete preaching series to the public study of that book in the Bible. This fiction work I offer is an overflow of personal gratitude for the historical and God-given document we call Jonah.
The book you have before you is an allegorical retelling of the Jonah story through the life of a young adult named Jonas. And, while this story is not a word-for-word parallel, it is an attempt to retell the heart of the biblical story in a contemporary setting that hopefully draws you back to the real thing, the word of God.
While it’s not necessary, it may be helpful and enlightening as you read through these pages to have read the Old Testament book of Jonah as a foundation. It’s a small, four-chapter book that would take most readers no more than half an hour to read through.
I would encourage the reader to look for characters in this story that mirror the real story’s characters. And to look for lines taken directly from the book of Jonah, which I have included in this book.
Whatever you may do, I pray that God draws you to Himself as the Hope of those who know Him and those who are yet to know Him.
More of Him, less of me.
Andy Addis
About The Author
Andy Addis is the pastor of a rural, multisite network of churches (CrossPointChurch.com) and a husband to Kathy since college in 1994. They have two adult sons joining them in ministry at CrossPoint: Noah and his wife Joy, and Nathan and his wife Haley.
Andy has authored several books including Blotch for children and families, Reading It Right Bible study method, Rhythms of pastoral health, and others including Jonas.
Andy also serves as the North American Mission Board Rural Director and Director of Heart Renewal and Evangelism for the Church Forward State Convention of Kansas and Nebraska.
Andy also hosts two podcasts:
Feel free to reach out to Andy via email: andy@andyaddis.com
Recommendations for Jonas
Reading this book was like watching a movie theater in my mind. I was emotionally connected with the characters and enthralled by Jonas' slavery to bitterness and road to forgiveness. My first read was hard to put down. Both my kids love the story read to them as well.
Randy Hamilton
Thank you so much for writing such an amazing book! I will have to tell you that I have not read a fiction work in years, but for some reason felt compelled to order Jonas. After sitting down to read the book this past Saturday on a peaceful, snowy day in Colorado, I found myself so engrossed in the story that I never put it down. The way that you brought the Biblical account of Jonah to life in a modern setting was quite fascinating, and made the Biblical truths much more tangible. It is very easy to get caught up in the Old Testament account and almost side with Jonah that the Ninevites deserved everything they "had coming to them", in much the same way that we would likely feel about Dan Asher. All this without ever fully contemplating the depth of our need for forgiveness and the human-ness behind those we do not feel compelled to forgive. By unwinding the difficulty of our fallen, human minds to fully understand such depths of forgiveness, you pieced together an amazing walk through of that process that was such a captivating read. I feel as though I have a fresh perspective on the Book of Jonah.
Steve Swart
Production Manager, Outreach Inc.
Just wanted to say that I bought the book Jonas , one for myself and one for my sister for Christmas. She just messaged me saying that she thinks it is the best book she has ever read. Thanks so much for all you do. It's an amazing book.
Mickie Lynn Fox