Festival for Hispanics held at Arena Park

Ever since coming to Cape Girardeau as pastor of the area's Hispanic Southern Baptist church four years ago, Joselid Lozano has wanted to hold a large fellowship event.

He finally did it Saturday at Arena Park with the help of 100 volunteers from Lynwood Baptist Church.

More than 250 Hispanics attended the "Para Ti" festival that included food, children's games, drama and Latino Christian music. Some in the crowd were from Cape Girardeau and Jackson, but one group came from Kennett, Mo., for the event.

"There are a lot of new faces we've not seen from the church," said Cathy Lozano, the pastor's daughter.

The number of people who attend the Hispanic Baptist church varies according to whether they have a job that will keep them from attending Sunday worship, Joselid Lozano said. Sometimes the members don't stay in the area long because they have seasonal or temporary jobs.

He hoped the festival would be a way to reach Hispanics new to the area.

"We want to let them know Jesus and that there's a Spanish church here for them," he said.

The Hispanic congregation meets now at Bethany Baptist Church but will soon be moving to Lynwood for a larger meeting area.

Lynwood helped sponsor the event as part of its missions festival weekend. The church has played host to more than 50 missionaries throughout the weekend so that church members could learn more about their work.

ljohnston@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 126