Daily Inspiration: Meet Blake Helms

Today we’d like to introduce you to Blake Helms.

Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Growing up wasn’t easy but it’s something I had to do at an early part of my life. I remember the words my dad spoke to me over the phone as a five-year-old. He said, “Son you’re the man of the house now and I need you to take care of your mom and your big sister.” I grew up in the small town of Locust N.C. and as a small child, my dad moved away to Las Vegas to start a new life, one without his wife and two kids. I wasn’t ready to be the man of the house, I was worried about starting kindergarten that year.

Mom worked hard as a hair stylist to provide for her two kids but didn’t bring home much pay. I grew up on the poor side of things but had plenty of love and that was all we needed. My mom soon realized that at a young age, I had a love and talent for music. She saved up some money to buy me a real guitar. I was so proud to have something nice and new. I played every day from that point on which led me to pursue music very seriously at a young age.

Fast forward to my teenage year, my mom started her hair salon in town and I had started a band, life was good. At the age of 15, I was on top of the world, Mom’s business was successful enough to buy us a brand-new home and I was playing shows with my band all the time until my life was turned upside down again. My family had always been into riding motorcycles, and it was time for Mom to get her own. She took a course, got a bike, and on the road, she went.

She had finally felt success and freedom after her financial struggles and life as a single parent of two kids. She made a trip to Sturgis South Dakota that year for the nation’s largest annual bike rally, rode every Sunday with my grandpa, and visited many places by the way of two wheels. I was a freshman in high school and had a senior prom date. We were all dressed up and taking pictures for the night when I got the call, “Your mother has lost her life in a motorcycle accident.” My whole world came crashing down at that very moment.

My dad had just moved back to N.C. and remarried; I was told I had to go live with him after not knowing him for most of my life at this point. He eventually decided that he and his new wife didn’t want a teenage son and I was sent to my grandma’s house who also didn’t want a teenager to look after. By the age of sixteen, I found myself homeless and alone. With just a few clothes I had my dog, guitar, and truck I set off to make my way. I had a good friend that let me stay at his parent’s house till I could get on my feet. Soon I found work and had my place in just a few short months.

So now, I was 17 and had my place with no rules and no guidance. I started using drugs and drinking every night playing songs to forget about all that had happened. Very soon I found myself in a very dark place, in and out of jail, careless and wrecked but in my mind, I was living free. Eventually, I found myself wanting to change, a desire to clean up my act as they say. So, I moved away, started a new job, and dedicated myself to nothing but work and a few songs at a show now and then. I ended up playing in bars and most of the time would play for free drinks and sing all night long.

One day at work I met a beautiful woman that would soon be my wife. She had it all the looks, the brains, and the heart of gold. We fell in love and started a life together. There was something still missing in life that I could feel. For a long time, I thought it was just the hole in my heart from losing my mom. We decided to have a child and grow our family a little more my heart was overwhelmed with love and joy, but something was still missing.

One afternoon, we stopped by a cowboy church that was giving free pony rides to kids. Our daughter had developed a love for horses from a cartoon about a horse. We were able to get a lot of saddle time that day and some great people. We decided to attend the cowboy church the following Sunday and right away I knew it was where we belonged. My grandmother always made me, and my sister go to church with her, so I’ve been a believer this whole time but never lived my life for Christ.

There was a desire to pursue God at this point that I had never felt before, we attended anything that the church had going and didn’t miss a Sunday, we were hooked. My wife and I were baptized soon after joining the church and I began to play worship songs at the Sunday services occasionally. Jesus had filled the hole where something was missing, and I finally felt at peace with everything in my life. I went on to pursue my music ministry further and entered a talent show for the American Christian Country Music Association. Two nights after the talent show I found myself standing in a recording studio in Nashville. I had finally made it to the top where I had always wanted to be with my music.

I went on to record several songs that year and had two singles to be released to the radio stations. The first song made it to the number two spot on the music charts and the second song made it to number seven on the charts. The good Lord found favor in my music and blessed my songs beyond anything I could imagine. My hunger to serve the Lord was not complete yet, I had a call to the pastor that I had not answered yet.

I decided to join the North American Bible Institute to gain some education. I have now completed two years of bible college and am on my way to a four-year certificate to be a real cowboy preacher. My daughter has followed my example of being a faithful servant and has given her life to the Lord as well as being baptized the same cowboy way that my wife and I were, In a horse trough with a cowboy preacher. Once I truly surrendered my life to our Father in heaven everything changed. The desires of this world were gone. I felt guilt for my sins.

I changed my life completely and God blessed me for it. All my goals in life were fulfilled, my family has been abundantly blessed, I have some of the best friends a man could need, and the Lord continues to show me his mercy and grace every day. Nothing is Impossible with God in your life but without Him, everything seems impossible. I survived the trials and tribulations at an early age and now fear nothing that I may endure because God is on my side.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It hasn’t been smooth at all every step has been a challenge but I’ve always pushed hard and made it. Financial challenges, time away from my wife and daughter, and trying to work hard to produce the best possible results have made me many challenges.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a Christian county artist and songwriter. My work is often unpaid because I’m in it for God’s will and will see my rewards in heaven.

I work for Square One Records in Nashville Tennessee and have been with them for a little over two years now.

Trying to stay trending and creative in my work sometimes gets time-consuming but it’s worth it in the end.

Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
I have to thank my wife first for supporting me when I’m away and working. My producer Barry Lee White and Jeff Tweel and Dan the man Friszell for all the behind-the-scenes work that goes on. But the biggest role in my success I owe to my grandpa that recently passed.

He started me out at 5 years old teaching me to play guitar and always inspiring me to keep going, I’ve never heard anyone tell me how proud he was of me as many times as he did. Sometimes on the phone, he would say it 6 0r 7 times within ten minutes!!

Contact Info:

• Instagram: Blake helms music
• Facebook: Blake helms music

Image Credits
Mike Gibson and Chassidy Helms Jones