Review by Thomas Scarborough

Don Fleming is perhaps best known as the author of several "basic tools" for ministry, of which his World's Bible Dictionary is my own favourite reference, for all its simplicity. Don is also well known for his work through Bridgeway Publications, which seeks to place these and other tools in the hands of the Church, particularly in the Third World.

Recently, Don sent me a complimentary copy of his latest book, "Across the Bridge: Bridgeway's work in needy countries as seen from the other side".

I confess that my first impressions were some bewilderment. Your "average book" has a sequence, a progression, a "line", a beginning and an end. This book seemed to lack cohesion. Its chapters covered children, warfare, transport, correspondence, as well as nearly thirty other themes. At first I laid the book aside on my desk. However, during the course of the next few days, I picked it up occasionally, and flipped through the pages. I began to realise that it represents a special genre, and if one can do the Fleming-mind-flip, it fast grows on one. The entries in the book -- typically a page each -- are well written, have descriptive power, and contain much useful information.

Now better acquainted with this unusual book, there are several reasons why I would warmly recommend it. It gives one an "insider" view of the Church in (Fleming's term) the non-Western world. It is deeply sympathetic to the Church in the non-Western world. It contains a wealth of experience and information about the distribution of Christian literature in these regions, from the one man who may be best placed to give it. Not least, I found myself repeatedly quoting Don Fleming. After reading this book, you might well find yourself the centre of the party with vital facts and personal accounts from Fleming.

The book endured much on its way to my post-box. The package had been ripped open and re-sealed with post office tape -- then it had been ripped open again, and had ragged bits of envelope hanging off it. Not only this, but it arrived thoroughly soaked. Water poured out as I squeezed its pages. I stood it up over a warm computer monitor to dry. However, once dry, it was quite useable and readable. Perhaps this is a special trick of Bridgeway Publications.

For more information, try http://www.bridgeway.org.au. The address is Bridgeway Publications, GPO Box 2547, Brisbane 4001, Australia.

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Thomas Scarborough is a Congregational minister in an urban, cosmopolitan Church in Cape Town. He is registered as a postgraduate student at Fuller Theological Seminary and at the South African Theological Seminary. He keeps a ministry blog at http://thomasscarborough.blogspot.com.