Zach Helton

he/him/his

Hi, I’m Zach.

I’m a pastor, writer, and spiritual care counselor who cares deeply about helping people reconnect with what is meaningful, alive, and true in themselves, their relationships, and the world around them.

Before coming to Glendale, I spent years in pastoral ministry and hospital spiritual care, walking with people through grief, doubt, transition, and the tender places where we need to get in touch with something deeper. I’m also a Board-Certified Chaplain, which is a very official-sounding way of saying I’ve spent a lot of time learning how to listen.

A lot of my work lives at the intersection of spirituality, story, contemplation, and emotional healing—especially with people untangling themselves from fear- or shame-based religion and trying to rediscover what faith, meaning, or the sacred might look like on the other side. I’m deeply shaped by the teachings of Jesus, Buddhist practice, mysticism, and perennial wisdom over any particular religious expression.

I’m also the author of the Metta Valley Gospel series, a literary reimagining of the Jesus story through the lenses of healing, liberation, and spiritual awakening. Outside of church life, I create online resources for spiritually curious people, seekers, mystics, and exvangelicals exploring healthier and more life-giving ways to engage spirituality.

When I’m not writing sermons or novels, I’m usually reading, playing with for my kids, or getting way too invested in some new fictional world. 

You can find out more about my work at zhelton.com.