《中英對照讀新聞》"Cash-machines for Jesus" a hit at California churches「給耶穌的提款機」在加州教會獲好評

◎魏國金

An enterprising preacher has found a better way of raising money for his church than passing around an old collection box.

一位有企業頭腦的牧師，發現一個比四處傳遞老舊募捐箱，更好的教會募款方法。

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He has installed electronic cash machines in his congregation’s three churches and has set up a private company to market the devices to other houses of worship."It’s truly like an ATM for Jesus," Pastor Marty Baker of Stevens Creek Community Church said.

他在他的三間教會安裝電子提款機，並成立私人公司，向其他禮拜堂推銷這項設施。「它真的像是獻給耶穌的自動櫃員機」，史蒂芬溪社區教會的牧師貝克說。

He said he came up with the idea as traditional collections dropped because people were carrying smaller amounts of cash in a society where commerce is increasingly conducted with a swipe of a plastic card.

他說，在傳統的募款下降之際，他想到了這個點子；因為在交易日益以塑膠卡片進行的社會，人們攜帶的現金減少。

Unlike regular cash machines, the ATM’s for Jesus do not allow users to withdraw money. The specially designed "Giving Kiosks" just allow donors to make electronic donations, and gives them a receipt. Some donors place the receipt in the traditional collection plate to retain the old-time sense of giving.

不像一般的提款機，給耶穌的自動櫃員機不會讓使用者提領金錢。特別設計的「奉獻亭」僅允許捐款者從事電子捐獻，然後給一紙收據。有些捐款者將收據放在傳統的捐款盤，以保留舊時的奉獻況味。

This year Baker’s three churches are expected to raise between 200,000 and 240,000 dollars via the kiosks. His company has also installed them in seven other churches. "I’ll bet that caused a stir," he said.

透過奉獻亭，今年貝克的三間教會預計可募得20萬至24萬美元，他的公司也在另七間教會安裝該設施。「我賭它會引起轟動」，他說。

新聞辭典

be（make）a hit：很成功、博得好評。The new play is the hit of the season. 這齣新戲是本季最叫座的。

withdraw：指領錢，存錢為deposit。He deposited 5,000 dollars in the bank. 他在銀行存了5000元。

cause a stir：引起轟動。