[.ca] Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire: What Happens When God's Spirit ... (ISBN 0310251532)

From Amazon.com:
As though blowing oxygen upon the dying embers of a fire, pastor Jim Cymbala revived a broken-down church in a rough-shod inner-city neighborhood through Christian faith. Twenty-five years ago, the Brooklyn Tabernacle could barely draw 26 people to a Sunday service. Nowadays the congregation is 6,000 strong--filled with converted prostitutes, pimps, drug addicts, and homeless people, as well as yuppies and wholesome families. Although he's quick to give God credit for this miraculous success story, Cymbala admits that there may be a few human decisions that led to this Christian triumph. Most significantly, he made sure his church community embraced everyone, from all walks of life--no matter how distasteful or foreign. "Christians often hesitate to reach out to those who are different," according to Cymbala. "They want God to clean the fish before they catch them. If someone's gold ring is attached to an unusual body part, if the person doesn't smell the best or the skin color is not the same, Christians tend to hesitate." Thus, Cymbala encouraged his congregation to adopt the very same tolerant and accepting attitude as their God does. The results? Let's just say a church thrives in Brooklyn. Accomplished cowriter Dean Merrill helps this tender true story stay satisfying and highly readable. --Gail Hudson

Skeptical:
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.

Prayer works!!! Awesome testimony!!!:
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.

Fresh wind, Fresh fire:
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.

Fresh indeed:
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.

Buy A Pack of Highlighters:
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.