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Summary: We Have to be Driven to Pray, Brethren!
Review: Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire is a wonderful short book coauthored by Pastor Jim Cymbala and Dean Merrill. Pastor Cymbala describes how God has blessed him and his wife Carol in their ministries with the famous Brooklyn Tabernacle in the last thirty years. The title "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" draws parallel of this church to the first century church in Acts 2:1-4. This book is a remarkable testimony of the awesome work of the Holy Spirit in how He could do great and mighty things through His people when they humble themselves in prayers. The increase in number for the Brooklyn Tabernacle is spectacular, but it turns pale when comparing to the increase in Pastor Cymbala's faith and dependency in God. God simply turned him from an amateur into warrior. It is a short book, but it is an important book for every serious Christian.
This book is divided into three sections, namely (1) Waking Up to a Powerful Promise, (2) Diversions from God's Best, and (3) The Road Ahead. Section 1 centers on the promise God revealed to Pastor Cymbala in Florida, that if he and his wife will lead his people to pray and call upon His name, He will provide everything they need: sermon, money, church building, and people (p. 25). Once he realized that prayer meeting is the engine of the church, and serious about it, Lord never stopped blessing them. Section 2 underscores that our lukewarm churches nowadays are in trouble by the lure of novelty, marketing, pleasing people, and dead doctrine without passions and actions for the Lord. Section 3 warns us not to be proud of ourselves and take credits from God. He challenges us to "look at the scoreboard" and be brave for God. At the end, he encourages us that the never changing power of the Holy Spirit is all-sufficient as He has never changed since the day of Pentecost.
This book is full of powerful true stories with drug addict, male prostitute, demon-processed person, homeless, all for the glory of God and the expansion of His kingdom. Besides touching stories, this book refers to scriptures in the Bible just as well - an important attribute for any Christian writing. Pastor Cymbala quotes Acts a lot, and is a doer of God's words when he follows the model of first century church in Acts.
This book emphasizes the sufficiency of the power of Holy Spirit. As a church to proclaim God's message in this evil generation, nothing will work better than the Holy Spirit Himself working through his humble and broken people. This is nicely summarized in his comments after the biblical example of Asa, that "such [whatever works is the way to go] thinking is due for a rude awakening when we stand before the Lord." (p. 164).
This inspiring book has made me think a lot. As a choir member, I was touched that even the Tabernacle choir would devoted at least half an hour to pray before the practice. Why can their music be so touching? The answer is in prayer. Life in the music comes from prayer (p. 49). I was so moved when I read the determination of that prayer band member to pray for her pastor before the Jewish man disturbed the worship service with a gun. I was equally touched by Pastor Cymbala's story on his rebellious daughter after the prayer meeting. Why can they do those great and mighty things through prayers but we can't? Why is our prayer meeting so poorly attended? The book provides an answer: prayer has to be born out of a whole environment of felt need. We cannot just say "we ought to pray", but " we have to be driven to pray" (p. 49). I am a firm believer in prayer and the promise in John 15:7, "If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you." How encouraging it is to see prayer and faith in full action in The Brooklyn Tabernacle! This book rekindled my faith in the Lord. Nothing is too difficult for Him (Jeremiah 32:17). Brethren, I encourage you to read this book, and get serious on the prayer ministry. When we work, we work. When we pray, God works! Amen.
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Summary: Prayer: A Lost Art
Review: We in America, have forgotten the art of prayer. We live in a land that is rich and everything is at our fingertips, and we have failed to remember where our blessings come from. Pastor Jim Cymbala reminds us that prayer has power, that prayer is the way we communicate with God, and that God is worthy of all praise. God is bigger than all of our problems or conditions. He is the answer to every situation. Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire breathes new life into the sometimes stagnant walk of faith. Pastor Cymbala uses his own life as an example for those who read this book. Fresh Wind, Fresh Faith will move you and inspire you to worship, praise, and thank the Lord as well as deepen your personal relationship with Him. This book will capture your heart and mind, all for His glory. Reading Fresh Wind, Fresh Faith was time well spent for me so I read it again. I thank God for using Pastor Cymbala in such a mighty way. So will you.
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Summary: Fresh wind, Fresh fire
Review: Twenty-five years ago, the Brooklyn Tabernacle was a church that could barely draw 20 people to a Sunday service. It was a church that lacks of spirit and love. But after Jim Cymbala, the pastor of the Brooklyn, and his wife Carol Cymbala brought Christian faith into the church, everything changed. Although Jim wasn¡¦t a pastor when he first arrived to Brooklyn, but his faith in God led him through the difficulties that he faced during the lives in Brooklyn. The church population went from 10-15 to more than 6,000 people! And among these people includes converted prostitutes, pimps, drug addicts, and homeless people, as well as yuppies and wholesome families¡Ketc. Helping these kinds of people takes a lot of encouragement and faith. It was a big success.
As a Christian, I really really like this book. Not only that this book gives great stories about the Brooklyn church, but also taught me a lot and let me understand the meaning of God. Not a God who¡¦s carved out of a wood, but a God who really exist. God can solve any problems that no one else can. For example, in the book, God changed the population of the people attending the Brooklyn church from almost no one to a church over flowed with more than 6,000 people!! Nothing¡¦s impossible in the hands of God, as long as you ask for it, he¡¦ll give. Carol Cymbala encouraged me by not giving up on my dream. Maybe I don¡¦t have enough skills to be a designer, but as long as I work hard, I believe I can do it just like Carol being so successful in music. Not talented on something doesn¡¦t mean anything, it only means you have to work harder to be successful. Not by yourself, but in Gods hands.
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Summary: Powerful Book!
Review: I'm a pastor in the inner city and work basically with young adults, mostly ages 18-30. Not long ago, I was talking to a college student that I mentor. I told him that God called me to do a church plant near the university campus. He gave me his copy of "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" to read. That was perhaps the best thing he could've ever done for me.
As you'll learn reading this book, this story is perhaps one of the most unorthodox ways to get into the ministry, and yet eventually pastoring a church that many Christians in America have heard of.
Jim Cymbala was talking with his father-in-law one day when he said to Jim, "Why don't you think about going into the ministry?" Jim said, "I haven't been to seminary or Christian college." His father-in-law said, "You don't have to have any of that. All you need is the call of God on your life." Those words were what eventually launched Jim Cymbala into the ministry.
When Jim Cymbala took over the Brooklyn Tabernacle, the church had less than 30 members and many assorted problems. But through the power of the Holy Spirit and a strong Tuesday Night church prayer meeting, things began to change. The result is the famous church that people still talk about to this day.
I must warn you-if you're a religious legalist who argues that every ordained minister should go through seminary to be successful, you'll have lots of trouble with this book. But to the rest of you out there, I'd recommend this book to you. This is a book for pastors and all other Chrsitains, too. If you're wondering how to do a successful church plant, make your church grow, or wake up a dead church, you can find most of your answers in this book. If you're wondering what gift to give your pastor, I'd recommed this book, if he hasn't read it already.
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Summary: Excellent testimony to God's power in our time.
Review: In reading "Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire" I was struck by how God-centered the book was. It was not just a typical "how-to" on modern Christianity, but it was a timeless work that demonstrated the power of God that He sends out when we trust Him above all others and above all things. Pastor Cymbala did just that in Brooklyn. How refreshing it was to read about the Holy Spirit entering people's lives (people that most American Christians wouldn't have given a chance...) and changing them forever. Brooklyn Tabernacle became a place that God worked mightily because the whole church decided to admit to God that they had nothing else but Him, and that the power was all His. They could not trust in money, buildings, programs, famous people, websites, big staffs, high attendance, affluent neighborhoods, cutting-edge teachings, seminary training, human knowledge, big denominations, long-standing traditions, or anything else. Pastor Cymbala guides the reader toward the power of prayer in a healthy way, as well. We are not tempted to think that the mere installation of a prayer meeting will automatically force God's hand either. I loved nearly every bit of this book. Glory goes to God. I am now reading the follow-up work: "Fresh Faith".
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Summary: Fresh indeed
Review: What a refreshing book indeed. This book is a powerful call back to the boldness to seek God at His throne of grace. It is a call to prayer, boldness, and a deeper walk with God. Cymbala shows us that it's not about clever church-growth strategies or psuedo spiritual warfare techniques that causes the the Church to thrive. Rather, the Church thrives only when it only truly makes its business to seek God, and be satisfied with nothing less than God. Prepare to be challanged and awakened to a deeper hunger for God after you read this book.
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Summary: Buy A Pack of Highlighters
Review: Prepare to read, and re-read this book. This is one of the elite Christian books that will inspire you to draw closer to Christ. It is easy to read, and doesn't present the next "great big thing". Fresh Wind Fresh Fire simply presents us with a snapshot of a church that truly hungered for the face of God. From crack addicts to cross-dressers, latinos to Brooklyn thugs, the Brooklyn Tabernacle prayed its way into God's favor.This books inspires you to pray, not for results, but to draw closer to the One who loves you.
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Summary: Prayer works!!! Awesome testimony!!!
Review: This was the first book I finished. I never enjoyed reading but I just couldn't put this book down. I've read several books since and this is at the top of my list. Read it ask God for guidence and let the Holy Spirit lead you to victory through prayer. I also recommed the Three battle grounds by Francis Frangipane , and How to listen to God by Charles Stanley.
Rating: 
Summary: Skeptical
Review: I will hold with the two star rating rather than one because of the testimony of several church friends who have either experienced Brooklyn Tabernacle (BT) or been members. Also, there are some valid points to be gleaned. However, I hit a massive roadblock right away in the first chapter, which casts a shadow on the entire work and ongoing story. The author and (unseminary trained/nonordained) self-proclaimed pastor of BT actually culled-out members from the fledgling church, suggesting that they leave. I can't imagine anything less Christian. How would he feel if such a suggestion were made of him? At the very least the author can tear out from the Bible Paul's letter to the Ephesians. I have grown skeptical of independent churches where no ordination and no accountability are the norm and where a single leader reigns supreme. And I cannot understand how the author justifies not even attending seminary. I suggest that those interested in church renewal read Miracle in Darien by Bob Slosser where Spirit lead and Spirit filled leadership along with sound Biblical scholarship and ordination were seen to all come together. If one reads this work, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, do so with discernment.
Rating: 
Summary: Good, but had some problems
Review: I totally agreed with the main point of the book. Prayer is very important and vital to having our spiritual lives strengthened. As believers our prayer can do a lot of awesome things in our lives and in the lives of others. We should call on God in prayer during times of need and times of joy. God can accomplish great things. We as believers must use the awesome gift of prayer that God gave to us. Chapter 9 I found this chapter most troubling because of his position. I understand what the author is stating and agree on the point that doctrine alone is not enough. I believe that doctrine plus prayer, plus the Holy Spirit, equals great spiritual movement for that assembly. Prayer without doctrine will not produce good results either. I believe all those things (prayer, doctrine, Holy Spirit) must be present for there to be spiritual growth. The author seemed to be stating that correct biblical teaching is not as important as we make it out to be. I find a real big problem here. If incorrect doctrine is being taught, this brings confusion, and is contrary to what God wants. The author claims to worship in how we are moved and to basically put sound doctrine aside. This is completely unscriptural. My question to the author is this, "Do we worship in sound doctrine or worship in how we are moved? What if those 'movements' are contrary to God's Word?" My answer is to worship in sound doctrine and movements, as long as the movements do not contradict scripture, if they do, then those movements are not of God. The quote on page #152 of, "So church leaders today reject the demonstration and power of the Holy Spirit in the name of sound doctrine." My question would be, "So are we to reject sound doctrine in the name of the power that is supposedly the "Holy Spirit?" Never. We are to live by sound doctrine and let the power of the Spirit move according to sound doctrine. He is basically stating that sound doctrine should be put aside in the name of the demonstration and power of the Holy Spirit. How could it be a movement of the Holy Spirit if it is contrary to God's will/sound doctrine? The Holy Spirit would never move contrary to God's will/sound doctrine. So the movement can not be of the Holy Spirit but of the flesh. The two (sound doctrine and the Holy Spirit) must work in agreement!! With sound doctrine/God's Word being the driving force, not human emotion or experience.
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