About Us

From a small handful of members to a congregation of nearly 10,000, the ministry of The Brooklyn Tabernacle continues to grow under the leadership of Pastor Jim Cymbala. Pastor Cymbala and his wife Carol, who directs the popular Grammy Award winning Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, have been used by the Lord not only to preach the Gospel in the inner city of New York, but also to see new churches grow out of the congregation across New York, as well as domestically and internationally. The ministry of the Church has from the outset reached out to the cross-cultural melting pot of New York City. It is comprised of men, women, and children of all ethnic and national origins. However, central to the growth and expansion of the Church has been the continual emphasis on prayer, from the Tuesday Night Prayer Meeting that is attended by thousands to the Prayer Band, members of the Church devoted to boldly “calling on the Lord” for needs from all over the globe.

Ever since 1971, when Pastor Jim and Carol Cymbala took over the leadership of the dwindling handful of believers called The Brooklyn Tabernacle, they have acknowledged their mutual lack of formal training. Yet, in obedience to the Scripture, Pastor Cymbala and Carol replaced education with steadfast prayer, dependence on the power of the Holy Spirit, and complete reliance on God's mercy.  The resulting ministry of The Brooklyn Tabernacle has been blessed by prayer, steady growth in numbers and spiritual fervor.

Beyond Pastor Cymbala's role in the local church, the Lord has opened doors of opportunity for him to encourage believers and to challenge the Church. His first book Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, which sold over a million copies, has galvanized believers and pastors all over the world. Using testimonials of the power of God, Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire is a call to believers to trust Him to transform unreachable people and unredeemable circumstances to His glory.