Breaking The Mold: How a Saddleback Ministry is Leading People to Jesus Through Hula Dance

Worship is defined as the feeling or expression of reverence and adoration for God. It can take on innumerable forms including singing songs of praise, kneeling in prayer, and even dancing. At Saddleback Irvine North, a group of women have devoted themselves to expanding the way they worship God by using hula dance as a means to praise him.

Saddleback member Linda ‘Yoshi’ Yoshimura was introduced to traditional hula dance at a young age, but it was not until she reached adulthood when she realized that the Polynesian dance form could be used as a way to worship.

“[When] I saw hula worship I thought that it was just the most amazing way to praise God,” she said, fighting back tears, “but it was not until there was a bad place in my life that I said, ‘maybe this is how I worship and how I express my feelings and prayers.’”

It was nearly two decades ago when Yoshi was first introduced to hula as a form of worship. Since that time, Yoshi has dedicated much of her life to the practice and now leads the Hula Ministry at Saddleback Irvine North. She regularly invites other women to join the ministry and teaches them how to worship through hula. 

Elaine Lai is one influential member of the ministry who was invited to join by Yoshi. She said that hula worship has helped her step outside her comfort zone and learn to praise God in a way that feels authentic to how she is shaped.

“Dancing in front of people, I do get stage fright,” Elaine said, “but then Miss Yoshi and the rest of the sisters will always remind me that we are doing it for Jesus.” 

Oftentimes when asked when her next hula performance will be, Elaine gently explains to people that the ministry does not put on performances, rather, it is their way of worshipping God. That posture of praise has helped Elaine, and the other members of the ministry lead many people to Jesus over the years.

“I have so many strangers who actually walk up to us after our worship and they say it’s amazing that they could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit and they want to be part of our family,” she said.

Yoshi echoed that statement as she recalled past events hosted by the ministry that resulted in people experiencing God’s presence through hula worship.

“Out of the many outreaches we do, it’s not the big stage where there are a lot of people [I look forward to most],” Yoshi said. “It’s the smaller stage in assisted living [homes]. It is so intimate and I can see people have broken down, they have given their lives to Christ all through what God has done through this ministry.”

Throughout the course of the pandemic, Saddleback Irvine North’s Hula Ministry continued to meet on a regular basis albeit virtually and they even hosted international hula worship events through Zoom calls. Members of the ministry are now meeting in-person once again and are excited to see how God will continue using them to reach people for him through hula. 

“It is a beautiful ministry of fellowship and discipleship and we will never stop,” Yoshi said, beaming from ear to ear.

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For more information about Saddleback Irvine North’s Hula Ministry and a list of other ministries across Saddleback’s regional and international campuses,click here.