
Bona Fleming
1 Sermons
Bona Fleming (c. 1880s – c. 1950s) was an American preacher whose fiery sermons and evangelistic zeal left a mark on the Holiness movement in the early 20th century, particularly in the Southern United States. Born likely in the late 19th century, possibly in Tennessee or a neighboring state, he grew up in a rural setting where faith ran deep. Alongside his brother John, he experienced a dramatic conversion and subsequent sanctification—key moments detailed in Truth on Fire by John and Grace Baum—which propelled them into ministry as a preaching duo. Raised by a godly mother, their early lives shifted from waywardness to devotion after encountering revivalist preaching, possibly linked to the broader Pentecostal or Holiness revivals of the era. Fleming’s preaching career centered on delivering impassioned messages that called for holiness and a total surrender to God, as exemplified in his surviving sermon “A Red Hot Sermon,” available through Classic Holiness Sermons. Known for his intense delivery, he traveled as an itinerant evangelist, likely across Tennessee, Kentucky, and surrounding areas, drawing crowds with his bold proclamations against sin and his emphasis on the second work of grace. While specific dates of his birth, death, and personal life—such as marriage or children—remain undocumented, his ministry resonated with rural congregations seeking spiritual awakening. His legacy, though less chronicled than some contemporaries, lives on through family oral histories and the few recorded sermons that capture his fervent spirit.