Christ Evangelical Ministries International was formally established on September 10, 1998, in obedience to a divine mandate to build a missionary church. What started as a small gathering of believers has grown, over more than two decades, into a ministry with a national reach and a heart set on the world.
CEMI exists to proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, make disciples, and prepare people for eternity through evangelism, biblical teaching, prayer, church leadership development, and compassionate community outreach — extending love and hope to the vulnerable and less privileged among us. We are, at our core, a missionary church: one that believes the Gospel must be carried beyond the walls of a building, into homes, marketplaces, chiefdoms, and the quiet corners of communities that rarely see a visitor.
That conviction shapes our calendar as much as our theology. Every year brings a rhythm of crusades, leadership trainings, prayer gatherings, and compassion outreaches — each one an opportunity to put faith into visible action. We are still, by most measures, a young ministry. But we have tried, from the very first year, to build something that outlasts any one leader or one season: a church that makes disciples who make disciples, and a compassion ministry that treats the people it serves with the dignity Scripture calls us to.
— Kombah Pessima, Admin
To proclaim the Gospel of Jesus Christ, nurture spiritual growth, and empower individuals to live out their faith with compassion and grace.
To be a global beacon of hope and renewal, uniting believers to ignite spiritual revival and lasting change across nations.
We welcome every background, culture, and life experience as a reflection of the beauty found in God's creation.
Christ → Mission → People → Transformation — the sequence that shapes everything we build.
"To serve God through business excellence and compassionate giving, impacting lives for eternity."
Born into a humble family in Komondor, Gbense Chiefdom, Kono District, Sierra Leone, Rev. Bona learned the values of hard work, integrity, and faith from an early age. After a life-changing encounter with Christ over three decades ago, he dedicated his life to honouring God in all his endeavours. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Theology from the University of Sierra Leone and an AAT certification from the Institute of Public Administration and Management (IPAM).
After twenty years of honourable service in the Sierra Leone Police Force, he founded Bona and Sons in 2000. In 1998 he established CEMI, and in 2022 the Christ Evangelical Rural Communities Development Association (CERCODA).
Married to Mrs. Edwina Bona for over thirty years and blessed with five children, his legacy reflects Colossians 3:23 — "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters." That verse is more than a motto for Rev. Bona; it is the thread connecting his years in the Police Force, the founding of Bona and Sons, and the ministry he leads today — a conviction that work, business, and worship are never separate pursuits.
Pastor Mrs. Edwina Bona has walked alongside him from the earliest days of the ministry, and her leadership among CEMI's women and families has shaped the pastoral, caring culture the church is known for. Together they have sought to build a ministry where preaching and practical love for people are never treated as competing priorities.
Alongside Rev. and Mrs. Bona, CEMI's leadership team — ministers, administrators, and the CWEG ministry group — carries the work of evangelism, training, and compassion into communities every week. Many serve as volunteers, giving evenings and weekends because they believe in what this ministry is building.
See our ministries →CEMI's leadership is deliberately broad — ministers who preach and disciple, administrators who keep the ministry accountable, and a media and logistics team who make sure every crusade and broadcast runs smoothly. Most began as members before stepping into leadership.
Lead preaching, discipleship, and pastoral care across CEMI's congregations and outreach sites.
Oversee the day-to-day running of the ministry, from finances to event planning and partner relations.
Capture and share CEMI's story through photography, video, live streaming, and the CWEG outreach campaigns.
Provide wisdom, oversight, and continuity, helping to steward the ministry's long-term direction.
Coordinate compassion outreach to widows, orphans, and vulnerable youth in partner communities.
Give their time on crusade nights, registration desks, and community visits — the hands and feet of the ministry.
Every outreach begins around a table: mapping logistics, assigning teams, and praying over the communities being visited. It's unglamorous work, but it's where much of the ministry's faithfulness is actually built.
