Tom Doyle (2) (1955–)

One needn’t be a newshound to experience a daily bombardment of negative news from the Middle East. Suicide bombings, riots, armed rebellion; these are only some of the aspects that contribute to the seemingly interminable conflicts between Muslims and Jews. There is however a growing, untold story of hope to be found in the midst of the pain and conflict. A story that revolves around the Prince of Peace, and the work that He is accomplishing in the hearts of the adherents of two warring show more religions.

As the Middle East director for e3 Partners (a global church planting ministry, you may have seen their EvangeCubes), this unfolding story is one that author Tom Doyle is quite familiar with. Yet despite growing numbers of Muslims and Jews coming to faith in Jesus and putting aside their hatred and fear, Doyle’s seen the mainstream media remain completely quiet on the topic. Many in the western church are largely unaware of the growth of a thriving, vibrant, and often persecuted church in the Middle East.

In Breakthrough: The Return of Hope to the Middle East Doyle brings the amazing stories of the immense increase of believers in the region by focusing in on the personal testimonies of many who are now serving in ministry. The book’s main thrust highlights Muslim-background-believers, interspersing their stories with the history and tenets of Islam and comparing its beliefs with Christianity.

A single chapter is devoted to exploring the change of heart experienced by Jews who are coming to recognize Jesus as their Messiah alongside a modern introduction to the faith and culture. An abbreviated history of the church in this region, and of historical interactions between Jews, Muslims, and Christians is also touched upon to ground readers contextually and dispel common misunderstandings.

While unapologetic in his stance for Jesus and the truth, Doyle’s genuine love for the Muslim people is evident throughout his work. He writes with genuine appreciation of Middle Eastern hospitality, loyalty, passion, and dedication. He emphasizes that the vast majority of Muslims are peace-loving people who only want to raise their families in safety. They are good people who are often very open to discussing the claims of Christ.

Written conversationally, Doyle’s work is both engrossing and emotionally moving. It’s far too easy to fall into a mindset that revolves around fear, confusion, fatalism, and reliance upon military actions and diplomacy to achieve peace. Doyle quickly shifts the focus to Jesus, the only one who can bring lasting peace. This shift in focus quickly takes the real war out of the physical realm and into the spiritual. A rallying call to arms, Doyle also provides prayer points for the growing Middle Eastern church.

God is certainly busy drawing His children to Him through visions, dreams, and the personal witness of faithful members of the body. It’s high time we jump into the fray with the most effective weapon available to us as believers – prayer. Breakthrough will show you where to sign up, and which positions to take – the rest is in His hands. God speed.

Reviewed at quiverfullfamily.com show less

In Killing Christians: Living the Faith Where It's Not Safe to Believe, Tom Doyle takes his readers to Muslims-turned-Christians in Egypt, Saudi-Arabia, Iraq, the UAE, Gaza, Syria, and Lebanon. The suffering Jesus Christ promised that would be part of following Him, is experienced first-hand. And while some are martyred, others are miraculously protected in order to spread the gospel further among Muslims.
The depth and proximity of having to give up your life to Christ, physically, not show more spiritually, may be unimaginable to most Western Christians that live in countries with freedom of religion. Countless dreams in which Jesus shows Himself to Muslims, and God answering prayers are means to stir people to devote themselves to Jesus Christ and become a follower of the Way. The blood of martyrs are the seed of the Church, in the first centuries CE as well as the 21st century.
Where the recent testimonies in this book of real people in real situations can bless you as a reader, Doyle also challenges you to bless your fellow believers in Muslim countries through a daily prayer for those who, because of their faith in Christ, are in prison, persecution, or danger. show less

Reports of Muslims coming to Jesus through the initial agency of dreams and visions of angels or Jesus has been so widespread across the last few decades it is hard to be a sceptic. In fact, such reports give many Christians hope that Islamic peoples now have opportunities to hear about Christ that they have never had in all their history.

This book makes it clear that in the pattern of the New Testament, these visions send the receiver to find a faithful Christian who will explain the Jesus show more they have encountered and call them to discipleship. A small appendix gives Doyle's criteria for an authentic dream in light of the biblical material.

I was impressed with the dedication of the new converts whose stories he tells, and their willingness to boldly proclaim Christ in circumstances where suffering and death are real and imminent prospects. When Doyle at certain points asks us to pray for particular people, I felt moved to do so.

This is a very quick read for a number of reasons - it's written that way, it's predominantly stories of people, and primarily it's exciting to hear about people coming to Jesus, particularly under dramatic circumstances.

But Doyle wants us to be more than interested. He encourages Christians to pray for and reach out to Muslims, whether internationally or locally, and to set aside the fear and hatred of many centuries of Western interaction with Muslims.

With many Western Christians fearful or at least suspicious, and with many of our countries caught up in conflict in Islamic countries, this book is a timely corrective and worth reading. show less

This is an incredibly moving book about real Muslim women who have seen, yes, seen Jesus in their dreams and visions. Jesus is moving in the Muslim world in ways that in our nice, neat, orderly Western world can’t even imagine. I was touched, amazed, moved, shamed by these women’s stories. I highly recommend every Christian read this book. It will change the way you look at so many things. It will change how you pray. Truly outstanding book! 5+ Stars!

Just one quote:

“Whatever your show more situation in life is, remember this: embrace life and be faithful to Jesus. He has been and will always be faithful to you. Your life might not be what you hoped for, and it might not have turned out like you planned. Yet He wants you to be a flower that grows out of the dirt to reflect His glory. That growth, though, will never happen if you focus your thoughts on what you don’t have. Fix your eyes on Jesus! He is the Author and Perfecter of our faith (Heb. 12:2)” show less