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Metta Valley Gospel: Book 1
“For anyone healing from fundamentalism, this book feels like freedom.”
—Cindy Wang Brandt, author of Parenting Forward
A story for those grieving the faith that once defined them.Raised in a world of rules and shame, Jesus has always questioned what others accept. He’s sharp, restless, and tired of being told who he’s allowed to be. When his defiance finally erupts in a clash with the rabbi who trained him, he is forced to leave his home behind. Angry and unmoored, he wanders the ancient world in search of a new beginning—stumbling instead into a journey that will overturn everything he was taught to believe.
His path leads him east, into a remote Buddhist monastery tucked in the mountains. There, as he faces the voices of shame and fear within him, he begins to unlearn the stories that once held him captive and to imagine a freer, more compassionate way of being.
Metta Valley Gospel is a work of literary, philosophical, and historical fiction about Jesus—an engaging, imaginative retelling for anyone healing from fundamentalism or reconstructing their spirituality.
Perfect for fans of The Book of Longings, The Alchemist, Lamb, and other character-driven, historical and spiritual fiction.
More early
“Helton’s engaging adaptation of Jesus’s story… opens the imagination to the depths of our shared histories.”
—Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Life
“Not since Christopher Moore’s Lamb has there been a fictionalized retelling of the Jesus story that had this much imagination, style, and punch.”
—Rev. Dr. John R. Mabry, author of The Worship of Mystery
If you're ready for the Jesus story they never taught in Sunday School, this is a good place to start.
—Cindy Wang Brandt, author of Parenting Forward
A story for those grieving the faith that once defined them.Raised in a world of rules and shame, Jesus has always questioned what others accept. He’s sharp, restless, and tired of being told who he’s allowed to be. When his defiance finally erupts in a clash with the rabbi who trained him, he is forced to leave his home behind. Angry and unmoored, he wanders the ancient world in search of a new beginning—stumbling instead into a journey that will overturn everything he was taught to believe.
His path leads him east, into a remote Buddhist monastery tucked in the mountains. There, as he faces the voices of shame and fear within him, he begins to unlearn the stories that once held him captive and to imagine a freer, more compassionate way of being.
Metta Valley Gospel is a work of literary, philosophical, and historical fiction about Jesus—an engaging, imaginative retelling for anyone healing from fundamentalism or reconstructing their spirituality.
Perfect for fans of The Book of Longings, The Alchemist, Lamb, and other character-driven, historical and spiritual fiction.
More early
“Helton’s engaging adaptation of Jesus’s story… opens the imagination to the depths of our shared histories.”
—Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Life
“Not since Christopher Moore’s Lamb has there been a fictionalized retelling of the Jesus story that had this much imagination, style, and punch.”
—Rev. Dr. John R. Mabry, author of The Worship of Mystery
If you're ready for the Jesus story they never taught in Sunday School, this is a good place to start.
334 pages, Kindle Edition
Published November 4, 2025
7 people are currently reading
58 people want to read
About the author
Zachary Helton
4 books2 followersZachary Helton is an author and board-certified spiritual care counselor whose work speaks to exvangelicals, mystics, and seekers reimagining their relationship to the sacred. A former pastor raised in evangelicalism, he now writes stories and reflections that blend emotional depth, spiritual insight, and narrative craft. His debut novel, Metta Valley Gospel, reimagines the Jesus story through the lens of healing, liberation, and interspiritual wisdom. His work has appeared in Braided Way, Flash Fiction Magazine, Baptist News Global, and Nurturing Faith. He lives with his partner, two kids, and the world’s cutest Cavapoo—and when he’s not writing, he’s probably getting way too into a new series or re-reading something by Thich Nhat Hanh.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
November 7, 2025
I have never read a book about Jesus "finding himself", and it was refreshing to see a version of Jesus that seemed more fully human, not knowing who he really was and struggling with anger and other normal human feelings while looking for purpose. Growing up Christian, I was taught to view other religions with caution, so reading about a Jesus who studied at a Buddhist monastery while gaining wisdom and understanding from doing so was both challenging and eye opening. Zach's playful speculations on the origins of many of Jesus's parables and stories were cleverly written too. I'm really looking forward to reading Book 2 and seeing how Jesus comes into his own.
November 2, 2025
My favorite read of 2025! I did not want the story to end.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews