The Little Church in the Valley

by Ty Keenum

Follow the lives, loves and customs of an isolated community in the north Georgia mountains. Former football star, now senior church Elder, Buster Cheatle tries to thread the needle between legal and ethical as he attempts to keep the church viable for its devoted followers. Traditional beliefs are put to the test as a visiting female pastor creates a financial windfall for the little church and the disgraced current pastor continues on his path of self destruction. Will the Elders break with one hundred years of tradition and follow the new pastor to fame and fortune even if it exposes their community to outside scrutiny?

Genres: Fiction, Humor

301 pages, Paperback

Published April 15, 2022

About the author

I was born in Asheville, N.C. during the Truman administration. We bounced from poor to middle class repeatedly over my formative years. The changes in circumstances gave me the opportunity to live in multiple southern states and to gain an appreciation for people from all walks of life. The changes in station provided the insight into the characters in my books, "Momma, Can You Hear Me?", "The Little Church in the Valley", and "The Crystal Palace". I currently live in Atlanta Ga, with my wife of forty-plus years. When we’re not enjoying our kids and grand-kids I find time for gardening, writing, and most importantly Georgia football.

Reviews

[Maxi's Twin · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you are a fan of satire, Ty Keenum's "The Little Church in the Valley" will knock your boots off. Keenum exposes the machinations of big money religion in s small Georgia town. The showmanship of charlatans takes center stage, cleverly cloaked in hymns and offerings. This author knows how to show rather than tell, and you will find yourself on the front pew of the little church, waiting for the next move. Hypocrites, don't bother reading. It will hit too close to home.

Plagued with ophidiophobia? Beware of the snakes.

[Shanessa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Writing with his signature wit and an unforgettable voice, Ty Keenum has written an engaging and entertaining story that I absolutely loved.

Keenum uses an appealing mixture of both subtle and laugh out loud humor to tell this story of a faltering church and its board of Elders facing tough decisions for their old church in a new world. Should they appease their group of faithful followers or abandon traditions in order to be put on the road to becoming a megachurch? As you can imagine, culture vs contributions can create quite the conundrum.

Without being a little familiar with some of the quirks of the Pentecostal faith (such as snake handling), some of the humor might go a bit over your head, but I think overall, this is a story anyone can appreciate. I loved the use of familiar hymns as chapter titles. And though Keenum does poke a bit of fun of some beliefs and practices, it should be noted it is never mean spirted or offensive. The characters are likeable, and you’ll find yourself rooting for this little church and its stubborn group of elders.

Besides the writing— which is just plain entertaining— the story arc kept me engaged from start to finish. It’s a book that encourages healthy examination of our traditions and beliefs. It doesn’t just make you laugh; it makes you think.

Best of all, it seems a sequel is coming! I can’t wait to continue reading about the adventures ahead for this little church in the valley.

[Bruce Leonard]

This novel introduced me to the world of snake handling while making me laugh, which is an impressive feat. The author pokes fun at the excesses and hypocrisies of some aspects of religion while creating characters and crafting a plot that propel the narrative, pulling readers along for the ride.

[Rob Samborn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Don’t let the title fool you. This is a brilliant and insightful satire that explores the business of religion. I’m a big fan of satire (and parody), so someone recommended this book to me. I’m so glad they did. I’m only vaguely familiar with the Pentecostal religion and have looked at it—and snake handling—as a curious novelty, much in the same way I look at flat earthers.

In The Little Church in the Valley, author Ty Keenum introduces this world to the reader through a larger-than-life, colorful cast of characters who are most interested in the holy business of making money. Much like his heavy-hitting, bigshot preachers, Keenum uses his knowledge and cunning to infiltrate this reclusive fragment of Americana with razor sharp wit. I laughed out loud numerous times while reading, often wondering, “Could this be true?” It wouldn’t surprise me if it is.

As the story expands, so does the little church. My feelings for the characters grew, as well. People I’d likely never associate with captured my heart while they sought ingenious ways to profit—while avoiding the venomous fangs of a deadly rattler. If you enjoy satire, or if you’re interested in the business of religion, you’ll love this book.

[Shell · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and the characters. A small, Pentecostal church suddenly explodes in popularity after hiring a female pastor. This story has all the requisite "bad" things about religion and religious people; elders that gamble and run strip clubs, how the church's main concern is making money, snake handling, the drug habit of a pastor that is kept hidden, a pastor that has issues being faithful to his wife, and on and on. It's the first in a series and I am looking forward to reading the next book. It's a book not to be taken seriously as a knock against organized religion, as we've all heard these things in the news anyway. There is so much sinning in this book that you don't want to put it down just to see what else is going to happen!

[norma baker · Rating 3 out of 5]

Is bigger better?

Many books have been written about people who win the lottery, how it changes their lives. There is a little Pentecostal church in rural North Georgia which has been lead by three generations of the same family of pastors but a fourth generation is not available. So the elders audition various eligible replacements and thus the church on a year of change. This book explores issues of generational age difference, race and ethnicity, congregation size nd location. The author handles these issues with grace. I think there is a better,bshorter novella in there just waiting for a good editor.

[Alexander Blevens · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ty Keenum takes the reader to the North Georgia hills and deep into a holler where the sun doesn’t shine all day long to sneak under the canvas flaps of a tent revival, watch the snake handling show, and listen to prattle of glossolalia. As the cleverly scripted plot develops, the shiny shell of a tiny Pentecostal church is slowly cracked, and its inner layers of hypocrisy and sinfulness are exposed. Reading this novel is like watching sausage made in the back kitchen, then delivered to your plate by Keenum with wit, derision, humor, and enough fundamentalist familiarity to question his past. This is a great read, and I suspect the foundation of his next book, The Crystal Palace.

[Tanya Hansen · Rating 2 out of 5]

As a Christian, I realize that there are many in the world who act like many in this book are and that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. I'm saddened to see the worst portrayed in this book. I know that we must face the worst and confront the worst, but so far, it seems as those who are damaging the name of Christians are getting away with their duplicity and crimes.

Perhaps in book two this is rectified but I don't know that I will read it.

[Sharon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Being from Georgia myself, I enjoyed the references to places I am familiar with. I also was able to recognize a lot of "church doings" in this novel, even though I am neither Pentecostal or Church of God, but all churches have a degree of the same shenanigans. Overall, it was a comfortable, cozy read and I enjoyed it.

[Lynn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Being from the South I had heard of churches that do snake handling. This book was entertaining for the most part. But I was a little disappointed in the abrupt ending that made it seem a little incomplete. I won this Kindle book in a Goodreads giveaway.

[Carol · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really easy read....the snake bits were a tad unnerving. A little disappointed in the ending.....