Last Updated on October 8, 2026 by Bakare Sherifdeen
Introduction
Jim Cymbala is an American Christian pastor, author and Bible teacher best known as the longtime senior pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York City. His ministry has become closely associated with prayer, dependence on the Holy Spirit, spiritual renewal and the transformation of struggling churches.
Cymbala’s story is particularly notable because he did not begin his career with a conventional theological background. He grew up in Brooklyn, developed a strong interest in basketball and earned a scholarship to the University of Rhode Island, where he played college basketball and eventually became captain of the team. After graduating, he entered the business world rather than immediately pursuing pastoral ministry. He also married his childhood sweetheart, Carol.
That direction changed when Cymbala and Carol felt called into ministry. They eventually became involved with a small and struggling congregation in downtown Brooklyn. When they arrived at what became the Brooklyn Tabernacle, fewer than 20 people were meeting in a rundown building in an impoverished part of the city.
The early years were difficult enough that Cymbala came close to resigning from the ministry. Instead, he began seeking God for a breakthrough and became convinced that prayer needed to be the foundation of the church.
That conviction changed the trajectory of the congregation.
The church’s midweek prayer meeting became central to its life, and prayer became the defining emphasis of Cymbala’s ministry. Over the following decades, the Brooklyn Tabernacle grew from a tiny congregation into a large, multicultural church in the heart of Brooklyn, while its choir developed an international reputation.
Cymbala eventually became known far beyond New York through books such as Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, Fresh Faith, Fresh Power and Breakthrough Prayer. His writing has consistently encouraged Christians and churches to return to prayer, spiritual dependence and a deeper relationship with God.
More than five decades after beginning pastoral ministry, Cymbala continues to serve as senior pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle.
Key Takeaways
- Jim Cymbala is an American pastor, author and Christian teacher.
- He was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York.
- He attended the University of Rhode Island on a basketball scholarship.
- Before entering ministry, he worked in the business world.
- He married his childhood sweetheart, Carol Cymbala.
- Jim and Carol entered Christian ministry together.
- They took leadership of a struggling Brooklyn congregation with fewer than 20 people.
- Cymbala’s early pastoral years were marked by discouragement and the possibility of leaving ministry.
- He eventually became convinced that prayer should be the foundation of the church.
- The Brooklyn Tabernacle became internationally known for its prayer ministry and Grammy-winning choir.
- Cymbala has served as senior pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle for more than 50 years.
- His best-known book is Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire.
- Other notable books include Fresh Faith, Fresh Power, Breakthrough Prayer, The Life God Blesses and The Church God Blesses.
- He and Carol have three children, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, according to the Brooklyn Tabernacle’s current pastoral biography.
- Cymbala continues to preach, teach and write in 2026.
- His exact personal net worth has not been publicly verified through a reliable financial disclosure.
At a Glance
Jim Cymbala’s ministry is best understood through one word: prayer.
While many pastors become known for a particular preaching style, theological position, building project or media platform, Cymbala’s reputation has largely been built around his conviction that the local church must depend on God through prayer.
That conviction emerged from a period of personal frustration.
When he and Carol arrived in Brooklyn, they inherited a church that was small, financially challenged and meeting in poor surroundings. The ministry appeared to have little of the outward strength associated with the Brooklyn Tabernacle today.
Cymbala later described the period as one in which he became discouraged enough to consider resigning.
Instead of searching for a new strategy, he began seeking God.
He came to believe that prayer was the missing foundation.
The Tuesday night prayer meeting consequently became the most important meeting of the week.
That decision shaped the identity of the church.
Over time, the congregation grew, the ministry expanded and the Brooklyn Tabernacle became known internationally for its prayer gatherings and choir.
Cymbala’s books then carried the same message to Christians outside Brooklyn.
His ministry has therefore never been primarily about creating a celebrity personality. It has been about communicating what he believes happens when Christians make prayer, Scripture and dependence on God central to church life.
Quick Facts
| Quick Facts | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Jim Cymbala |
| Birthplace | Brooklyn, New York, United States |
| Date of Birth | May 4, 1943, according to commonly cited biographical records |
| Age | 83 years (2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Pastor, Author and Bible Teacher |
| Education | University of Rhode Island |
| Former Career | Business |
| Wife | Carol Cymbala |
| Marriage | Married his childhood sweetheart |
| Children | Three |
| Grandchildren | Seven |
| Great-Grandchildren | Eight |
| Church | Brooklyn Tabernacle |
| Ministry Base | Brooklyn, New York |
| Pastoral Ministry | More than 50 years |
| Major Ministry Theme | Prayer |
| Best-Known Book | Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire |
| Other Notable Books | Fresh Faith, Fresh Power, Breakthrough Prayer |
| Wife’s Ministry | Director of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir |
| Current Role | Senior Pastor, Brooklyn Tabernacle |
| Category | Pastors |
The May 4, 1943 birth date is reported by secondary biographical databases, while Cymbala’s current official church biography does not publish a birth date. The official biography does confirm his Brooklyn upbringing, University of Rhode Island education and current pastoral role.
Table of Contents
Growing Up in Brooklyn
Jim Cymbala was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York.
His upbringing was not without difficulty.
In a 2026 article published by the Brooklyn Tabernacle, Cymbala reflected on growing up with an alcoholic father who drank for more than two decades. He described his childhood home as deeply troubled and acknowledged that those experiences affected him emotionally and psychologically.
That personal history provides important context for the compassion and emphasis on transformation that would later appear in his ministry.
Cymbala did not grow up detached from hardship.
He experienced it inside his own family.
That background later influenced the way he spoke about God’s ability to transform lives.
Jim Cymbala and Basketball
Before becoming a pastor, Cymbala was a successful basketball player.
He played basketball during high school and later attended the University of Rhode Island on a basketball scholarship.
At Rhode Island, he became captain of the basketball team.
His athletic background gave him experience with discipline, teamwork, competition and leadership long before he became a pastor.
Although basketball ultimately became only one chapter of his life, it formed an important part of his early identity.
Education at the University of Rhode Island
Cymbala graduated from the University of Rhode Island.
Unlike many prominent American pastors, he did not follow a traditional seminary route before beginning pastoral ministry.
His official biography specifically notes that he entered the business world after graduating.
His theological and pastoral formation therefore developed largely through ministry experience, Scripture, prayer and the demands of leading a struggling congregation.
Entering the Business World
After college, Cymbala entered business rather than immediately becoming a pastor.
This period gave him experience outside the church environment.
He was building a conventional career and had married Carol, his childhood sweetheart.
At this stage, there was no obvious indication that he would eventually spend more than five decades leading one of New York City’s best-known churches.
His life changed when he and Carol felt called into ministry.
Marriage to Carol Cymbala
Jim Cymbala married Carol Cymbala, his childhood sweetheart.
Their marriage eventually became a ministry partnership.
Carol would become particularly well known as the leader of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, whose recordings would earn multiple Grammy Awards and introduce the church’s music ministry to an international audience.
The couple have remained closely connected in ministry throughout their marriage.
Their family has grown to include three children, seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren, according to the Brooklyn Tabernacle’s current biography.
The Call to Ministry
Cymbala and Carol eventually felt called into Christian ministry.
They did not enter ministry with the kind of formal theological preparation commonly associated with professional clergy.
Instead, their ministry began through service and pastoral responsibility.
The opportunity to help a struggling congregation in Brooklyn eventually became the assignment that would define Cymbala’s life.
Arriving at the Brooklyn Tabernacle
When Jim and Carol Cymbala arrived at the Brooklyn Tabernacle, they found a congregation of fewer than 20 people.
The church met in a rundown building in an impoverished part of downtown Brooklyn.
It was a far cry from the large congregation and renovated theater that would later become associated with the Brooklyn Tabernacle.
The early situation was difficult.
There were practical problems, financial challenges and discouragement.
The church did not appear to possess the ingredients normally associated with rapid growth.
Yet that small congregation became the setting in which Cymbala’s ministry philosophy was formed.
The Moment Cymbala Nearly Quit
The early years were so difficult that Cymbala came close to giving up.
He had entered ministry believing he could lead the church forward, but the reality of pastoral work proved much harder than he expected.
The congregation was not growing in the way he hoped.
He became discouraged and began searching for a breakthrough.
Rather than responding by simply introducing new programs or marketing strategies, he began seeking God.
This period eventually produced the central conviction that would define his ministry.
Discovering the Power of Prayer
Cymbala became convinced that the answer to the church’s struggles was prayer.
According to the Brooklyn Tabernacle’s account of its history, Cymbala believed God showed him that prayer was the source of the power and change the church needed.
The church consequently placed new emphasis on its prayer meeting.
The Tuesday night gathering became the most important service of the week.
That was a significant decision.
Instead of treating prayer as a supplementary activity for especially devoted Christians, Cymbala treated it as the engine of the entire church.
The Tuesday Night Prayer Meeting
The Brooklyn Tabernacle’s Tuesday night prayer meeting became one of the most recognizable features of Cymbala’s ministry.
Members gathered to pray for personal needs, families, communities and people around the world.
Over time, the prayer meeting developed a reputation far beyond the local congregation.
Its significance also influenced Cymbala’s books.
Much of what he later wrote about church renewal came from what he believed he had witnessed through prayer at Brooklyn Tabernacle.
The Growth of Brooklyn Tabernacle
The church gradually grew from its original handful of members.
The congregation eventually moved into larger facilities, and its present campus includes a renovated theater in downtown Brooklyn.
The church describes itself as a multi-ethnic, non-denominational congregation.
Its current history says approximately 6,000 people attend services each week.
The transformation from fewer than 20 people to thousands represents the central institutional story of Cymbala’s pastoral career.
But the church has consistently attributed that growth primarily to prayer and God’s faithfulness rather than to a particular growth formula.
The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir
One of the most internationally recognized parts of the Brooklyn Tabernacle is its choir.
Carol Cymbala has directed the choir for decades.
The choir’s music has reached audiences around the world and has received multiple Grammy Awards.
The choir became an important extension of the church’s ministry because it allowed the Brooklyn Tabernacle’s worship culture to reach people who had never attended a service in Brooklyn.
The music ministry also helped establish the Cymbalas as recognizable figures in contemporary Christian music.
Carol Cymbala’s Musical Influence
Carol Cymbala’s contribution to the Brooklyn Tabernacle is significant in its own right.
She has written and arranged songs for the choir and served as its director.
The choir’s success therefore cannot be separated from her leadership.
While Jim’s ministry has focused primarily on preaching and prayer, Carol’s has focused heavily on worship and music.
Together, their ministries created a distinctive combination of prayer, preaching and congregational worship.
Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire
Jim Cymbala’s most influential book is Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire.
Published in the late 1990s, the book tells the story of the Brooklyn Tabernacle’s transformation and argues for a return to prayer and spiritual dependence.
The book became widely read within evangelical Christianity.
It was also named the Christian Book of the Year in 2000, according to Cymbala’s publisher biography.
The book’s success transformed Cymbala from a respected local pastor into an internationally recognized Christian author.
Its central message remained simple: churches need the presence and power of God, and prayer must be central to that pursuit.
Fresh Faith
Fresh Faith continued many of the themes established in Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire.
The book encourages Christians to develop confidence in God and to approach difficult circumstances through faith.
Rather than presenting faith as a way of avoiding hardship, Cymbala emphasizes dependence on God in the middle of hardship.
The book reflects the pastoral lessons he had learned through decades of ministry.
Fresh Power
Fresh Power focuses on the work of the Holy Spirit.
Cymbala explores how Christians and churches can depend on the Spirit rather than relying solely on human ability.
The book fits naturally within his broader theology.
Prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit are closely connected throughout his ministry.
Breakthrough Prayer
Breakthrough Prayer is another major book associated with Cymbala.
The book focuses directly on prayer and encourages believers to approach God with persistence and faith.
The subject reflects the central practice of the Brooklyn Tabernacle.
For Cymbala, prayer is not primarily a technique.
It is an expression of dependence on God.
The Life God Blesses
In The Life God Blesses, Cymbala explores Christian character and the kind of life that honors God.
The book moves beyond prayer into practical discipleship.
Its message emphasizes qualities such as humility, obedience and dependence on God.
This demonstrates that Cymbala’s ministry is not simply about getting answers to prayer.
It is also about becoming the kind of person who lives in close relationship with God.
The Church God Blesses
The Church God Blesses focuses on the local church.
Cymbala draws on his experience leading Brooklyn Tabernacle to examine what he believes produces a spiritually healthy congregation.
Again, prayer remains central.
The book challenges churches to consider whether their programs and structures are actually helping people encounter God.
A Ministry Built Around Prayer
Prayer remains the clearest description of Cymbala’s ministry.
His official church biography says that his ministry continues to be characterized by an emphasis on prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit for God’s leading and power.
That emphasis has remained remarkably consistent.
From the small prayer meeting of the early Brooklyn Tabernacle to his international speaking ministry, Cymbala has repeatedly returned to the same conviction.
Churches need to pray.
Christians need to pray.
Leaders need to pray.
And ministry should flow from dependence on God rather than merely human ability.
Jim Cymbala’s Ministry to Pastors
Cymbala has also spent decades encouraging other pastors.
His official biography notes that he has had opportunities to encourage thousands of pastors around the United States and around the world.
This aspect of his ministry has become particularly important as he has entered his later years.
Rather than focusing exclusively on the Brooklyn Tabernacle, he has used his experience to speak to pastors facing discouragement, church challenges and spiritual dryness.
His Emphasis on the Holy Spirit
Cymbala’s theology places strong emphasis on the Holy Spirit.
He believes Christian ministry requires dependence on God’s power rather than human strength.
This emphasis is visible in both his preaching and his writing.
His books Fresh Power and Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire are particularly associated with this perspective.
He has also spoken about the danger of becoming so focused on church activity that Christians lose sight of their need to be with God.
The Importance of Personal Prayer
Cymbala’s message about prayer extends beyond corporate church meetings.
He has repeatedly emphasized the importance of spending personal time with God.
In an interview about preaching and the Holy Spirit, he reflected on his own regret that he had not spent more time simply being with God earlier in his ministry.
His point was that spiritual authority and understanding do not come simply from activity.
They develop through relationship with God.
Jim Cymbala’s Ministry in 2026
Cymbala remains active in ministry in 2026.
The Brooklyn Tabernacle continues to identify him as its senior pastor.
He continues to preach and publish teaching resources.
In January 2026, he published a message titled Born Again to New Life, reflecting on salvation, personal transformation and the difference between religious activity and genuine spiritual life.
His continued public teaching demonstrates that his ministry has not ended despite his long tenure.
Instead, his later years have provided another opportunity to communicate the themes that have defined his career.
Jim Cymbala’s Family
Jim and Carol Cymbala have three children.
Their family has grown across several generations, with seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren according to the Brooklyn Tabernacle’s current pastoral profile.
One of their daughters, Sue, has also been involved in the Brooklyn Tabernacle ministry.
Cymbala has spoken publicly about family experiences, including the adoption of a grandson from Ethiopia by Sue and her husband.
His willingness to discuss family challenges has contributed another personal dimension to his ministry.
Jim Cymbala’s Age
Jim Cymbala was born on May 4, 1943, according to commonly cited biographical records.
That makes him 83 years old in 2026.
His official Brooklyn Tabernacle biography confirms that he was born and raised in Brooklyn but does not itself publish his birth date.
Jim Cymbala’s Wife
Jim Cymbala’s wife is Carol Cymbala.
They were childhood sweethearts and married before entering full-time Christian ministry.
Carol has played a major role in the development of the Brooklyn Tabernacle through her leadership of the church’s internationally recognized choir.
Their marriage has therefore been both a family relationship and a long-running ministry partnership.
Jim Cymbala’s Children
Jim and Carol Cymbala have three children.
The family has expanded to include seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
Their children have also remained connected to the Brooklyn Tabernacle’s wider ministry.
Jim Cymbala’s Net Worth
Jim Cymbala’s personal net worth is not publicly verified.
A church’s buildings, investments and operational funds belong to the organization and cannot simply be counted as the personal assets of its pastor.
Cymbala’s income may include pastoral compensation, book royalties and speaking-related income, but the precise amounts are not publicly established.
Frequently Asked Questions – FAQs
1. Who is Jim Cymbala?
Jim Cymbala is an American Christian pastor, author and Bible teacher best known for his long-term leadership of the Brooklyn Tabernacle in New York City.
2. How old is Jim Cymbala?
Jim Cymbala was born on May 4, 1943, making him 83 years old in 2026.
3. Where was Jim Cymbala born?
Jim Cymbala was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York.
4. Who is Jim Cymbala’s wife?
His wife is Carol Cymbala, the longtime director of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.
5. How many children does Jim Cymbala have?
Jim and Carol Cymbala have three children. They also have seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren.
6. What church does Jim Cymbala pastor?
Jim Cymbala is the senior pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle in Brooklyn, New York.
7. How many people were in the Brooklyn Tabernacle when Jim Cymbala arrived?
When Cymbala and Carol arrived, the church had fewer than 20 people meeting in a rundown building in downtown Brooklyn.
8. What is Jim Cymbala best known for?
He is best known for his leadership of the Brooklyn Tabernacle and his teaching on prayer, spiritual renewal and dependence on the Holy Spirit.
9. What is Jim Cymbala’s most famous book?
His best-known book is Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, which tells the story of the Brooklyn Tabernacle and emphasizes the central role of prayer in church life.
10. What other books did Jim Cymbala write?
His other books include Fresh Faith, Fresh Power, Breakthrough Prayer, The Life God Blesses, The Church God Blesses and The Promise of God’s Power.
11. Did Jim Cymbala attend seminary?
Jim Cymbala did not follow a traditional seminary training route before beginning pastoral ministry. His ministry formation developed through Scripture, prayer and practical pastoral experience.
12. Was Jim Cymbala a basketball player?
Yes. Cymbala played basketball in high school and college and attended the University of Rhode Island on a basketball scholarship. He eventually became captain of the university’s basketball team.
13. How long has Jim Cymbala been pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle?
Cymbala has served as the pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle for more than 50 years.
14. What denomination is the Brooklyn Tabernacle?
The Brooklyn Tabernacle describes itself as a non-denominational, multi-ethnic Christian church.
15. What is the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir?
The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir is the church’s internationally recognized music ministry led by Carol Cymbala. It has received multiple Grammy Awards and has helped spread the church’s worship ministry around the world.
16. Why is prayer so important to Jim Cymbala?
During the difficult early years of his pastoral ministry, Cymbala became convinced that prayer was the foundation the church needed. The church subsequently made its midweek prayer meeting central to congregational life.
17. What is Jim Cymbala’s net worth?
Jim Cymbala’s exact personal net worth is not publicly verified. Various online estimates exist, but there is insufficient reliable financial documentation to establish a specific figure.
18. Is Jim Cymbala still preaching?
Yes. Jim Cymbala continues to serve as senior pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle and remains active in preaching, teaching and writing in 2026.
19. What happened to Jim Cymbala’s church?
The Brooklyn Tabernacle grew from fewer than 20 people when Cymbala began leading it into a large multicultural congregation in downtown Brooklyn. The church currently reports approximately 6,000 weekly attendees.
20. What is Jim Cymbala’s ministry legacy?
His greatest legacy is his emphasis on prayer and dependence on the Holy Spirit. His books, preaching, pastoral leadership and encouragement of other church leaders have helped make prayer-centered ministry a defining feature of his public influence.
Conclusion
Jim Cymbala’s life is a story of a Brooklyn basketball player who entered the business world before eventually becoming one of America’s best-known prayer-centered pastors.
His ministry did not begin with a large congregation, a sophisticated organization or a national media platform.
It began with fewer than 20 people in a struggling church.
The early years were difficult enough that Cymbala considered giving up.
Instead, he began seeking God more deeply.
The result was a conviction that would shape virtually every subsequent chapter of his ministry: prayer must be central to the life of the church.
The Tuesday night prayer meeting became a defining institution at the Brooklyn Tabernacle.
Over the following decades, the congregation grew dramatically.
Its music ministry, led by Carol Cymbala, became internationally recognized through the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.
Cymbala’s own influence expanded through books such as Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire, Fresh Faith, Fresh Power and Breakthrough Prayer.
Those books carried the message of Brooklyn Tabernacle beyond New York and encouraged pastors and Christians around the world to reconsider the place of prayer in Christian life.
His ministry has also remained closely connected to the Holy Spirit.
Cymbala has repeatedly challenged churches to avoid depending entirely on programs, personalities and human strategies.
His emphasis is simpler: seek God, pray, listen to the Holy Spirit and allow ministry to flow from that relationship.
More than five decades into pastoral ministry, Cymbala continues to serve at the Brooklyn Tabernacle.
His story is therefore not simply about the growth of a church.
It is about a pastoral philosophy that remained remarkably consistent through changing generations.
From a handful of believers in a rundown Brooklyn building to thousands gathering in a major downtown congregation, prayer has remained at the center.
That is ultimately what makes Jim Cymbala’s ministry distinctive.
His most enduring contribution may not be a building, a book or even a particular sermon.
It may be the reminder that a church’s strength cannot be measured only by its attendance, finances or public reputation.
For Cymbala, the deeper measure has always been whether God’s people are willing to seek God together.
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References
- Brooklyn Tabernacle
- Brooklyn Tabernacle pastoral biography
- Brooklyn Tabernacle church history
- Jim Cymbala author biography
- Tyndale House Publishers
- Penguin Random House
- Jim Cymbala’s published ministry materials
- Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir records
- Family ministry interviews featuring Jim Cymbala
Bakare Sherifdeen is the Founder and Publisher of BelieversBio, a Christian reference platform dedicated to publishing well-researched biographies of pastors, evangelists, Christian authors, churches, ministries, and influential Christian leaders worldwide.
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