Dave Helmuth 3/18/26 Dave Helmuth 3/18/26

Hire From Within

After two and a half decades of supporting churches in your worship ministry, we’ve noticed something. The longer we’re around, the more the church personnel change. While we do know some leaders who have been at the same church since 2002 (when Ad Lib started), many have moved on. Even though some leaders feel like fixtures, even they are no longer leading worship.

Dave Helmuth 3/4/26 Dave Helmuth 3/4/26

Lead Pastor, We Need Your Voice

Imagine a world where the two people who share the vast majority of stage time at your church were best buds. I know that many lead pastors don’t have anything near that on their radar screens for how they work with their worship leaders, but John Maxwell’s leadership Law of Connection is still irrefutable:

“Leaders touch a heart before they ask for a hand”

Dave Helmuth 1/14/26 Dave Helmuth 1/14/26

The Long Game

Are you aging out of worship leadership? Are you feeling burned out or pushed out? Do you wish you had the same passion for Jesus, worship leading, and people that you once had before all those years in worship ministry? How can you rekindle a youthful, yet mature exuberance for the next season of ministry?

Dave Helmuth 11/19/25 Dave Helmuth 11/19/25

A Really Good Lunch

I was on staff and was failing with my techs. There was constant tension. There was contempt and sarcasm. And so much passive aggressiveness. There was no life. Rehearsals were dreadful.

Dave Helmuth 11/5/25 Dave Helmuth 11/5/25

Outlast

It’s happening all over America. Worship leaders with twenty and thirty years of experience are “aging-out” of leading worship.

No, they’re not, but that’s what they call it.

Dave Helmuth 10/22/25 Dave Helmuth 10/22/25

Which Fader Is The Greatest?

Which of the Five Faders matters most? The logical answer is “my Fader!” :)

This question makes sense, but it isn't the most useful one. Often, the underlying concern is finding justification to challenge a leader or team member who is out of balance or unhealthy.

Dave Helmuth 10/8/25 Dave Helmuth 10/8/25

The Five Faders Book is HERE!

Have you appreciated receiving the Worship Fertilizer or any of the many resources from Ad Lib Music?

Can I ask you a big favor?

The Five Faders book launches TODAY!

Dave Helmuth 9/3/25 Dave Helmuth 9/3/25

Hospitality Can Transform Your Team

If You Can Be Anything, Be Kind

I am not often envious of my daughter’s wardrobe, but she has one shirt that I covet. On the front, it says “be kind,” and on the back, it says “everyone you meet is fighting a battle you know nothing about.” It’s a simple concept that has become my personal mantra as a worship leader and church planter.

Dave Helmuth 8/27/25 Dave Helmuth 8/27/25

Creating A Multiplication Culture

I turned 50 in February. I’m not sure how it happened. I’m pretty sure yesterday I had all my hair and it was much darker, I could see at night while driving, and there were more days ahead of me than were behind me.

Dave Helmuth 8/20/25 Dave Helmuth 8/20/25

Something’s Not Right

Did you ever feel like something was just not right in your sphere of ministry? Wade Mullen wrote an extremely helpful book called Something’s Not Right. It was invaluable to me during a very difficult time as a worship director on staff at my church.

Dave Helmuth 8/13/25 Dave Helmuth 8/13/25

Steady Beats Cool

I love that my kids are multi-instrumentalists. Most mornings, we have family worship from 7:30 to 8:00. We take turns choosing the songs and rotate on the instruments from piano, bass, drums, acoustic or electric guitar, violin, mandolin, banjo, ukulele, percussion, and of course, voice.

Dave Helmuth 7/23/25 Dave Helmuth 7/23/25

Life As A Volunteer

I’ve railed against referring to them as volunteers for years because “volunteer” seems like the lowest possible standard you could set for your team.

Dave Helmuth 7/16/25 Dave Helmuth 7/16/25

Nick-of-Time Is My Nicotine

This Fertilizer is for my fellow procrastinators, those who have made a habit of getting things done in the nick of time to the point that it’s as addictive as the nicotine in cigarettes.

Dave Helmuth 7/9/25 Dave Helmuth 7/9/25

The Berkey Water Filter and the Scarcity Mindset

“Dad, aren’t you going to use filtered water to soak the oats?” Aspen scolded.

Dave Helmuth 6/25/25 Dave Helmuth 6/25/25

Functional To Flourishing

I was talking with an audio coach in rural Illinois and we were reflecting on the realities that many churches don’t realize how far from their potential they have settled for, how they’ve grown accustomed to simply functioning on the lowest possible rung.