Now available in paperback and eBook
“The driving force behind this book is to remind you that you are not alone.”
John Benjamin Jones, from the Introduction
Every paperback comes with a free 40-Day Devotional PDF. Claim yours
About the Author
Thirty years of service, one calling
John Benjamin Jones has served for more than 30 years in military and law enforcement. He began as a U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman with the Marine Corps, including a combat tour in Somalia, then served as a Deputy Sheriff in Douglas County, Nebraska. He retired as a Senior Federal Air Marshal after nearly 14 years.
Today John writes and speaks to first responders, military members and veterans about faith and service. He lives on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.
John's career started in the Navy. From 1992 to 1996 he was a Fleet Marine Force Hospital Corpsman, attached largely to the 3rd Battalion, 1st Marines at Camp Pendleton, and graduated from Regimental Sniper School. He deployed to Somalia, where he saw combat. He later returned to the Navy as an Operations Specialist.
After the military he served as a Corrections Officer and then as a Deputy Sheriff with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office in Nebraska. He managed security operations with G4S before joining the Federal Air Marshal Service in 2009, where he served until he retired as a Senior Federal Air Marshal in 2023. He holds state and federal law enforcement credentials and several federal instructor certifications.
John holds a B.S. in Criminal Justice Administration and an M.S. in Security Management from Bellevue University. He is co-author of the undergraduate textbook The Fundamentals of Security Management: A Common Sense Approach. He is now pursuing an M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Liberty University to become a licensed professional counselor.
He owns Salt & Light Unlimited, LLC, the publisher of A Higher Calling.
- 1992–1996 U.S. Navy Hospital Corpsman (FMF), U.S. Marine Corps
- 1998–2000 U.S. Navy Operations Specialist
- 2000–2005 Deputy Sheriff, Douglas County, Nebraska
- 2007–2009 Security Operations Manager, G4S
- 2009–2023 Federal Air Marshal Service, retired Senior Federal Air Marshal
- 2023–now Owner, Salt & Light Unlimited, LLC
The Book
A Higher Calling
A Biblical Guide for First Responders, Military, and Veterans
Death. Trauma. Violence. Depravity in all its forms. These are the underside of a functioning society. A side that some people refuse to even acknowledge.
While most people actively try to avoid this seedy otherworld, there is a segment that voluntarily enters the fray each day: the first responder. What does the Bible say to the Christian men and women who voluntarily wade into this dark societal underbelly?
John Jones has intimate knowledge of the issues covered in this text, having earned this familiarity over 30 years of first-hand, continuous first responder experience.
Inside the book
- Training
- Work Relationships
- Personal Relationships
- Death: The End Result of Violence
- Trauma and Loss
- Making an Impact
- Retirement
Reviews
Praise for A Higher Calling
From the Foreword
“You hold in your hands one of the most important books of our age. The author’s amazing selection of powerful personal narratives to bring this essential subject alive, combined with his masterful weaving together of all these threads into Scriptural concepts, has resulted in this ‘Biblical Guide to First Responders,’ which is to its realm what my books On Killing and On Combat have been in their fields.”
“Sometimes the greatest love is not to sacrifice your life, but to live a life of sacrifice. And that is what our first responders do, every day…”
“Thus, this book and the endeavors of those who read and apply it, represents the most important thing in the universe: souls saved for eternity.”
What readers say
“I highly recommend you read this book. The author was able to put things into words that gave me a whole new perspective on law enforcement.”
“Jones masterfully connects biblical teachings with real-world examples from testimonials of individuals in these fields. I wish I had this book when I first enlisted and began my career in law enforcement.”
“This book has changed the way I think about the hard things he has endured, and continues to see every time he puts on his uniform.”
“Highly recommend for anyone in law enforcement or military that struggle with hard situations and balancing that with faith.”
“For someone who had not served in the military or worked in a first responders job this book helped me to understand and empathize with a sacrificial lifestyle that I have never experienced.”
“An honest look into what it is like to be a Christian and in the police/army/fire/ambulance service… A proper Biblical study tackling the big questions.”
From the Book
In John's words
“I want this book to be a source of encouragement for you.”
“I have been in the muck and mire, both physically and spiritually. I have stared into that dark abyss and have been snatched back by God's gentle hand.”
“The common theme you will see throughout this book is: Mindset.”
Where to Buy
Get your copy
Free with every paperback
The 40-Day Devotional
Every paperback bought through the Buy the Book link comes with a free PDF copy of the A Higher Calling 40-Day Devotional.
- Buy the paperback. IngramSpark emails you an order confirmation.
- Send your receipt. Enter your order number and upload a screenshot or PDF of that email.
- Get your devotional. Once John confirms your order, the PDF is emailed to you.
One devotional per paperback order. The Kindle eBook is not included.
Signed Copies
A signed copy from John
Order a paperback signed by John, personalized for you or as a gift for someone who serves. Group orders for departments, units, churches and ministries are welcome.
- Send your request. Tell us who the book is for and where to ship it.
- Get your total. John replies by email with the price, shipping and how to pay.
- John signs and ships. Your book is inscribed by hand and mailed to you.
Interviews
On the air
- A Word in Season with Doug StringerA Higher Calling, Ep. 271
- Drive On PodcastSpiritual Guidance to Veterans and First Responders, Ep. 262
- The Morning Formation PodcastResilience and Adaptability, June 2024
- Sometimes Heroes Need HelpA Higher Calling, May 2023
- Porch MattersJohn Benjamin Jones, March 2023
- YouTube interviewHis career and his new book, June 2024