In the spirit of the season, El Ministerio Hermandad is hosting a Spanish Christmas Concert, featuring international artist Maribel Soto from Puerto Rico, at the Southampton Seventh-Day Adventist Church, 228 Middle Road, tomorrow evening, beginning at 5 p.m.

While some holiday selections will be in English, it will be Christmas with a Latin flavour.

Local performers in the programme include Tracey Richardson, Erika Hinds, instrumental music and more. All are welcome.

El Ministerio Hermandad, ('El Ministerio'), Spanish for 'Fellowship Ministry, was created and formed by a group of Bermuda women and their Spanish teacher to support other Spanish speakers on the island. Bermudians are also learning the language, since the majority of the schools no longer teach French.

Learning Spanish has opened up many job opportunities, even in Bermuda.

A lot of Bermudians have also travelled to Latin American countries, and they appreciate the culture so much that there is a salsa group here.

The ministry was created to support Spanish speakers on the island regardless of their background.

It creates an avenue not only to practice the language but also to share the same love of the Spanish culture.

Since the formation of the ministry, the group has provided several community outreach projects, one of which was providing free English classes to the community at the Bermuda Institute.

The classes were conducted by qualified teachers, and were available to any non-English speaker on the Island.

The ministry has also hosted several events throughout the yea, r including an international Valentine's get together, a special Easter programme, and a pool party.

Next year the ministry is planning a camping family seminar among other community outreach projects.

Maribel Soto is well known Christian Spanish singer. Born in San Sebastian, Puerto Rico, she began her music ministry in 1981 with her first album, 'Maravilloso es El', spreading the message of the Lord through many countries including the US, Spain, México, Cuba, República Dominicana, Curaçao, Aruba, Guadalupe, Costa Rica, Panamá, and San Martín.

She has performed for the Puerto Rico Senate, the House of Representatives, the Governor, and on any commercial TV programmes in the US, Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic, and through satellite networks in different countries.

Ms Soto has shared the stage with the well-known contemporary Christian singer, Steve Green and The Imperials.

She won first prize at the Caribbean Gospel Song Festival in Curaçao, and her musical production for children, 'Solo Para Niños', also won an award at the Premios Tito Lara.

A compilation of her best known songs, 'Lo Mejor de Maribel Soto', was nominated for the Premios Tu Musica in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

In January, 2000 Maribel took part at the Christian Music Awards' in Carolina, Puerto Rico, winning a prize for the outstanding interpretation of the song 'Miles de Angeles' from her album 'Recuerdos'.

For further information contact: ministeriohermandad[AT]hotmail.com or telephone 537-4857