Product Description

Carol Cymbala, director of The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, shares inspiring evidence that God inhabits the praises of his people. She recounts the stories of people who have been dramatically changed by the power of prayer and worship, her own story of her life and ministry , and her approach to leading music so that every believer can experience God in authentic worship.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #52868 in Books
• Published on: 2001-09-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 176 pages

From Publishers Weekly
In her debut book, Cymbala tells the awe-inspiring story of her transformation from a shy, Midwestern girl who couldn't read music to the director of the award-winning Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Despite the power of this story, her main purpose is not to tell it, or any of the stories of her choir members that appear throughout the book, but instead to support her titular message of God's faithfulness. As such, the book does not present a linear narrative of Cymbala's life, the Brooklyn Tabernacle or the 275-member choir, but instead reveals pieces here and there, just at the point when those pieces best illustrate her various points about God and Christian life. This approach creates a good deal of interest and suspense; choir member Josh Carroll's story, for example, leaves readers curious about its loose ends and then picks up again a few chapters later in the form of his girlfriend's narrative. Unlike many writers eager to display God's power in the most dramatic light possible, Cymbala combines tragic life stories with others that are much more conventional, effectively demonstrating that God can transform every kind of life, not just those that have hit rock bottom. And she refrains from over-sensationalizing even the most bizarre stories, such as one about a demonically possessed couple who attempted to take over the church many years ago. The integrity of her narrative and the way she presents it put Cymbala in a class with Christian writers who straightforwardly tell stories and leave the fireworks to God.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Cymbala's book is very like many others of its kind, presenting lessons from life her own, her family's, those of her friends and acquaintances while guiding our morals and spiritual life. Cymbala writes her lessons with verve and effectiveness, but readers will be especially interested in her book because she is the director of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, four times presented with the Grammy Award for "Best Gospel Album by a Choir or Chorus." It is fascinating to see how, and how powerfully, Christian faith informs both Cymbala's labors and the work of her choir. Strongly recommended for most collections.
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From the Back Cover
Carol Cymbala’s ministry in a tough inner-city neighborhood in New York can be summed up in one word: unlikely. She is the director and songwriter for a Grammy Award-winning choir—yet she doesn’t read music. She is the pastor’s wife in a 6,000-member congregation filled with people of color—and she is white. A shy girl who struggled to get through school, she is the last person you’d expect to stand before a packed house at Radio City Music Hall, confidently directing The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir.

But Carol’s God is the God of the unlikely. He’s Been Faithful tells the story of the way God works despite—or maybe because of—our many inadequacies. Because of how God has worked in her own life and in The Brooklyn Tabernacle and its world-famous choir, she knows how crucial it is to remember our desperate need for God.

But Carol’s faith hasn’t always come easily. There have been times of wavering and challenge, like the time a man walked down the aisle of the church pointing a gun at her husband, Jim. Or like the time she was assaulted outside the church. Or like the time she wanted to pack up her children and run away from the city for good because of what was happening to her family.

He’s Been Faithful is an honest story about the struggles we all face and the power of God to help us. It is told through Carol’s eyes as well as through the eyes of various members of The Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir who have experienced the grace of Christ in remarkable ways. Through them, we learn that our longings for God will never be satisfied by worship that is showy or performance-based. Instead, God we will meet us when we come to him simply, seeking his glory rather than ours, telling him and the world around us about the great things he has done.

Whether you are a pastor, a choir director, or someone who is seeking a deeper experience of God, He’s Been Faithful will renew your faith and increase your understanding that only Jesus can fill that deep, deep longing we all have for something more in life.

Customer Reviews

A must read for everyone in the music ministry
This book has totally turned my life around as far as my involvement in the music ministry of our church. Carol Cymbala tells us the true secrets behind the success of the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. Those include prayer and dedication to the cause of ministering to people through music. This book will shake you to realize that music in the church is not for entertainment or self-gratification, but to help draw people to Jesus as we lift Him up in praise and worship. I will never step to our platform to minister through song and think differently. We are asking all of our choir members to read and discuss this book.

Inspires and Motivates!
This book is part of a multi-media project in that it contains a music CD bearing the same title. After reading the book, the music is even more meaningful because it covers the background of the person who wrote the lyrics. Carol Cymbala, a pastor's wife who leads the Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir, describes the challenges she faced and how they were overcome through faith in God. The focus of her book is not her as hero, but on God as deliverer. In fact, the lyrics to the title song, emphasize that theme, that in spite of the wavering of the individual, "He's been faithful." It's a song and book of gratitude to God for his faithfulness. She gives the history of the early days of the congregation. She talks about how God added to the church. This is a testimony that is encouraging to other Christians in that it shows how God worked in one context, New York City, and causes one to realize what He did for others, He is willing to do for them. There are various individual stories contained in this work, i.e., different members of the choir have their testimonies featured throughout the book.

Read Fresh Wind, Fresh Fire? Now read this one!
This book was written by Carol Cymbala, wife of Jim Cymbala, pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle. Carol directs the well-known Brooklyn Tabernacle Choir. This choir itself is an amazing testimony to God's love the faithfulness.

In this book, Carol Cymbala gives examples from her life that show God's faithfulness. It is very inspiring.

Carol was/is very shy and with the Lord's help, but overcame that and was able to fulfill God's purposes for her life. A few of the stories were also told by Jim in Fresh Wind Fresh Fire, but it's interesting hearing it from another person.

Carol makes herself vulnerable and talks about her own failings and disappointments. Her honesty is refreshing and makes it easier to identify with her.

In this book, you will about what happens when the people of God fully surrender their lives to Jesus.

A 6-song audio CD is included inside the back cover of the new books - the title song "He's Been Faithful" really brings this book to life.

Read this book soon - it will most likely change you view of how God might be working in your life!

Please check out my reviews of other Christian books and music.