featured hula ministry :::
My parents have always been devout Catholics and the whole family - active in the church life. It was a pre-dominantly Filipino church and Filipinos love to sing and dance. Filipinos also love to have parties and one of the most popular theme party is the luau.
My mom “urged”, “encouraged”, ok, “ordered” me to learn hula from my sisters so I could dance at the upcoming luau. I was hesitant and unwilling. But I was trying to be a good daughter so I went ahead and learned hula and before I knew it, I was dancing hula for church events.
Fast forward to my wrestling match with God, about starting a hula ministry. I said, “Who me? Why me? I’m not even Hawaiian. I don’t want to be a leader. It’s hard to lead people! I haven’t even gone to hula school!” I believe God laughed at me, as if he was saying back…”Oh no, she di-ent!” No, He didn’t say that. He said even better, “Ya, ya Joy, so will you start a hula ministry for me or not?” So after my whining, I knew my answer, “Yes, Lord, sure I’ll start it but why me though?”
Eh, God didn’t have to answer my questions, is all I know. But I believe he explained it to me. Why me… He wanted to test me if I was going to follow His will or not. Secondly, if I started the hula ministry, it would be at standpoint of humble beginnings because I wasn’t a hula expert, which meant a few things: 1) I would start/lead it with God in mind, first, or as a spiritual thing, as worship, not as just dance or a show. 2) God’s too smart; He already had in mind who he was going to bring into the ministry. I would be so open to the women who would bring their gifts, talents, experience, and yes even technical knowledge of the art of hula, etc.
The bottom line and moral of the story: Humility and obedience. If I didn’t obey my parents to learn hula for the church events, none of this would have even been a thought or idea or inclination and now a passion. If I hadn’t obeyed Jesus when He was asking me to start the hula ministry, none of these blessings would have come about. What were/are the blessings… The Holy Spirit has led people to Christ, during our worship hula events. We have also been blessed to go on missions trip nationally and internationally. If I had too much pride or if I thought I was “all that and a bag of Maui chips” for starting a hula ministry… I don’t think God would have blessed the hula ministry as much as he has. I believe Jesus has taught me humility and obedience. He teaches all leaders these two important keys to starting and keeping a ministry alive and kickin’. My whole journey, twists & turns, seasons with hula praise is always a refiner’s fire for staying humble before God and obeying. Ask any ministry leader and they’ll tell you… they’ve been humbled and always/daily being humbled in their ministry life and personal lives. Been there; done that. I feel for y’all. But wait! There’s more… Here are God’s encouraging Word for us:
Remember how the LORD your God led you all the way in the desert these forty years, to humble you and to test you in order to know what was in your heart, whether or not you would keep his commands….He did this for your own good.” Deuteronomy 8:2, 16
Your beginnings will seem humble, so prosperous will your future be. Job 8:7
The humble will see their God at work and be glad.Let all, who seek God’s help, be encouraged. Psalm 69:32
Go to www.saddlebackhulaministry.com to see this featured hula ministry.