VOA标准英语2014--African-born Pastor Brings ‘Holy Laughter’ Revival to Washington
时间：2019-01-14 作者：英语课 分类：VOA标准英语2014年(七月)
African-born Pastor 1 Brings ‘Holy Laughter’ Revival 2 to Washington
WASHINGTON —
A South African-born televangelist based in Florida has brought his ministry 3 to Washington for a three-week event he is calling “Celebrate America.” Rodney Howard-Browne is calling for a religious revival in the United States. His preaching style, though, is far from mainstream 4.
All it takes is a touch from Howard-Browne for his followers 5 to collapse 6 and roll in the aisles 7 with laughter. He is a pioneer of what is known as the "Holy Laughter" movement, which began in the 1990s in New York state and across the border in Canada.
Now based in Florida, the self-described patriot 8 has brought his ministry to Washington for a three-week event called “Celebrate America.”
Howard-Browne wants to lead a religious revival in the United States. But laughter worship, though it has spread, is far from mainstream -- even in Charismatic and Pentecostal churches, which account for about a fifth of American Protestants.
In an interview, Howard-Browne said the chortles, chuckles 9 and guffaws 10 are the work of the Holy Spirit.
“When Jesus touched people they went walking and leaping and praising God,” he said. “If your life has been touched and changed, then you’re not going to be quiet about it. So that’s the whole thing of the fervor 11 of the Christian 12 faith. ‘Joy to the World, the Lord is come.’
“So joy has a voice,” he added. “And it is laughter.”
The event is held five nights a week in Washington D.C.'s Constitution Hall, a landmark 13 concert venue 14 down the street from the White House, and broadcast on his TV channel.
“We didn’t come to Washington to play games!” Howard-Browne shouted to the worshippers.
The preacher says his aim is to bring about a new "Great Awakening 15." That was the name given to the Christian revivals 16 that swept the young republic in the 18th and 19th centuries.
“That is the only thing that is going to help America. Without a "Great Awakening," it’s over, it’s finished,” he said.
In the mornings, teams of volunteers from his church - Revival Ministries 17 International - fan out across the city, to pray with people and invite them to the event.
For those who do come, the laughter is contagious 18. Jennifer Reed said she just can’t contain herself.
“If something’s funny, you just laugh, right? So this is like the Holy Spirit laughter," she said. "The Holy Spirit puts joy in my belly 19. And one of the fruits of the Spirit is joy. Isn’t that awesome 20? It’s supernatural joy!”
Laughter, the saying goes, is the best medicine, and some doctors even prescribe it to relieve stress. After the hoots 21 and howls subside 22, some people at the revival lie on the floor motionless with their eyes closed. Others dance and shout with glee.
Whether or not Howard-Browne’s does bring about another Great Awakening, his “holy laughter” sessions do seem to work for those who take them seriously.
- He was the son of a poor pastor.他是一个穷牧师的儿子。
- We have no pastor at present:the church is run by five deacons.我们目前没有牧师：教会的事是由五位执事管理的。
- The period saw a great revival in the wine trade.这一时期葡萄酒业出现了很大的复苏。
- He claimed the housing market was showing signs of a revival.他指出房地产市场正出现复苏的迹象。
- They sent a deputation to the ministry to complain.他们派了一个代表团到部里投诉。
- We probed the Air Ministry statements.我们调查了空军部的记录。
- Their views lie outside the mainstream of current medical opinion.他们的观点不属于当今医学界观点的主流。
- Polls are still largely reflects the mainstream sentiment.民调还在很大程度上反映了社会主流情绪。
- the followers of Mahatma Gandhi 圣雄甘地的拥护者
- The reformer soon gathered a band of followers round him. 改革者很快就获得一群追随者支持他。
- The country's economy is on the verge of collapse.国家的经济已到了崩溃的边缘。
- The engineer made a complete diagnosis of the bridge's collapse.工程师对桥的倒塌做了一次彻底的调查分析。
- Aisles were added to the original Saxon building in the Norman period. 在诺曼时期，原来的萨克森风格的建筑物都增添了走廊。
- They walked about the Abbey aisles, and presently sat down. 他们走到大教堂的走廊附近，并且很快就坐了下来。
- He avowed himself a patriot.他自称自己是爱国者。
- He is a patriot who has won the admiration of the French already.他是一个已经赢得法国人敬仰的爱国者。
- Father always chuckles when he reads the funny papers. 父亲在读幽默报纸时总是低声发笑。
- [Chuckles] You thought he was being poisoned by hemlock? 你觉得他中的会是芹叶钩吻毒吗？
- Harry even had to cover his face duck out of view to hide his uncontrolled guffaws. 哈里王子更是一发不可收拾，捂住脸，狂笑起来。 来自互联网
- They were concerned only with their own religious fervor.他们只关心自己的宗教热诚。
- The speech aroused nationalist fervor.这个演讲喚起了民族主义热情。
- They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
- His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
- The Russian Revolution represents a landmark in world history.俄国革命是世界历史上的一个里程碑。
- The tower was once a landmark for ships.这座塔曾是船只的陆标。
- The hall provided a venue for weddings and other functions.大厅给婚礼和其他社会活动提供了场所。
- The chosen venue caused great controversy among the people.人们就审判地点的问题产生了极大的争议。
- the awakening of interest in the environment 对环境产生的兴趣
- People are gradually awakening to their rights. 人们正逐渐意识到自己的权利。
- She adored parades, lectures, conventions, camp meetings, church revivals-in fact every kind of dissipation. 她最喜欢什么游行啦、演讲啦、开大会啦、营火会啦、福音布道会啦--实际上各种各样的娱乐。 来自辞典例句
- The history of art is the history of revivals. 艺术的历史就是复兴的历史。 来自互联网
- Local authorities must refer everything to the central ministries. 地方管理机构应请示中央主管部门。
- The number of Ministries has been pared down by a third. 部委的数量已经减少了1/3。
- It's a highly contagious infection.这种病极易传染。
- He's got a contagious laugh.他的笑富有感染力。
- The boss has a large belly.老板大腹便便。
- His eyes are bigger than his belly.他眼馋肚饱。
- The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
- That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.
- His suggestion was greeted with hoots of laughter. 他的建议引起了阵阵嗤笑。
- The hoots came from the distance. 远处传来呜呜声。