Rodney Howard-Browne
Encyclopedia
Rodney Howard-Browne is a charismatic Christian
preacher
and evangelist
. He is pastor of The River at Tampa Bay, a church which he and his wife founded in 1996, and heads Revival Ministries International. He was born in South Africa and has resided in Tampa
, Florida
, USA since the mid-1990s.
In 1989, in upstate New York, revival
"broke out" (became evident) in meetings that Howard-Browne was leading (or attending). He was subsequently linked to religious revivals at the Carpenter's Home Church
in Lakeland, Florida
and the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship
. His ministry is known for its focus on evangelism and what has been described as Holy laughter
, which consists of audience members spontaneously laughing loudly during his services.
Howard-Browne is now the pastor of a church in Tampa, Florida
, which he founded in 1996.
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
preacher
Preacher
Preacher is a term for someone who preaches sermons or gives homilies. A preacher is distinct from a theologian by focusing on the communication rather than the development of doctrine. Others see preaching and theology as being intertwined...
and evangelist
Evangelism
Evangelism refers to the practice of relaying information about a particular set of beliefs to others who do not hold those beliefs. The term is often used in reference to Christianity....
. He is pastor of The River at Tampa Bay, a church which he and his wife founded in 1996, and heads Revival Ministries International. He was born in South Africa and has resided in Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, USA since the mid-1990s.
Biography
Howard-Browne states that, as a young boy in South Africa, he was raised in a Pentecostal family. In 1981, he met and married his wife Adonica. In 1987 the family immigrated to the United States.In 1989, in upstate New York, revival
Christian revival
Christian revival is a term that generally refers to a specific period of increased spiritual interest or renewal in the life of a church congregation or many churches, either regionally or globally...
"broke out" (became evident) in meetings that Howard-Browne was leading (or attending). He was subsequently linked to religious revivals at the Carpenter's Home Church
Carpenter's Home Church
Carpenter's Home Church was a prominent Assemblies of God megachurch in Lakeland, Florida. At its peak, the charismatic church claimed 5,000 attendees. The church closed amidst financial scandal and dwindling membership...
in Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland is a city in Polk County, Florida, United States, located approximately midway between Tampa and Orlando along Interstate 4. According to the 2008 U.S. Census Bureau estimate, the city had a population of 94,406...
and the Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship
Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship
Toronto Airport Christian Fellowship is a non-denominational neocharismatic Christian church in Toronto, Canada. It is affiliated with Catch The Fire and with Partners in Harvest group of churches...
. His ministry is known for its focus on evangelism and what has been described as Holy laughter
Holy laughter
Holy laughter is a term used within charismatic Christianity that describes a religious behaviour in which individuals spontaneously laugh during church meetings. It began in the early 1990s in Neo-charismatic churches and the Third Wave of the Holy Spirit....
, which consists of audience members spontaneously laughing loudly during his services.
Howard-Browne is now the pastor of a church in Tampa, Florida
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is a city in the U.S. state of Florida. It serves as the county seat for Hillsborough County. Tampa is located on the west coast of Florida. The population of Tampa in 2010 was 335,709....
, which he founded in 1996.