BRIEF HISTORY OF FREEMAN CHRIST’S LITTLE BAND
The Reverend James Brodie Graham and Messrs. Herbert Solomon and John Manyo Plange conceived the idea of the Christ’s Little Band and formulated plans that led to its establishment in 1885.
After outlining the aims and objectives of the band in 1886 at Cape Coast by the Reverend S.R.B. Aho Ahumah, who became the Band’s first president, other ministers who became associated with the Band at its initial stage were Rev. F. Egyir Asam and William Stephen Forson who was then in charge of the Methodist Book Depot. Its origin was indigenous because it started at Cape Coast, the Mother society of Ghana Methodism. When the Rev. Aho-Ahumah was sent to England for further training in 1886, the Rev. Stephen Forson took over the Rev’s Presidency.
Rev. J.B. Grahjam became the third president and it was during his time that he encouraged women membership, as a result of which Madam Mary Quansah, the first woman became a member after thirteen years of the Band’s existence in 1899.
The inclusion of women in the Band, which initially was men organization, should caution members to refrain from any fleshly and unhealthy association between the opposite sex that may quench the spiritual vision of the Band and make it seem like any other worldly organization.
It is also worthy to note that one-time eminent educationist of the Gold Coast Dr. James Kwegyir Aggrey, became the first National Secretary of the Band in 1898.
The four sections of the Christ Little Band have been named after the early founders, namely Rev. S.R. B Aho Ahumah, Rev. Stephen Forson, rev. J.B. Graham and Madam Mary Quansah, the first woman member of the Band.
Like the small band of disciples whom Jesus commissioned to preach, to teach, to heal and cast out demons (Mark 6:7-12) the Christ Little Band as an organization in the Methodist Church Ghana, seeks to fulfill its original charge to evangelize and to make the gospel message applicable to the social needs and concerns of the people to ensure the salvation of all human kind.
The membership of the Band is called into a new life of scriptural Holiness, to get saved from all the works of the flesh (Gal 5:19-21) and exhibit the fruit of the spirit (Gal 5:22-26). This objective we need to pursue in unity as the bands slogan demands – UNITED WE STAND, DIVIDED WE FALL.
AIMS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE BAND
- To deepen the Christian faith of the members.
- To help members to witness to Christ in their daily lives.
- To undertake Evangelism.
- To help and comfort the sick and the bereaved.