Brother Onesimus G.S. Gayemen, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Christ Memorial Christian Church, Sister Marie Sherman, a lead singer and Sister Grace G. Gbardyu, were all strong  supporters and members of JCCA-Liberia. They all continued to maintain their membership with JCCA-Liberia while living in the United States. They sought a need to organize a traditional choir.

This idea was back by Rev. Roberts as they started with the Bassa Choir traveling to Chicago, IL to sing as well as singing on other occasions, especially in the New York areas in the late  1980s. As the civil war in Liberia intensified in  the early 1990s, and with the mass migration of Liberian to the United States as refugees, and with family members who have begun to seek comfort and spiritual strength, the JCCA members as well as other interested Christians, communed together that it was necessary to form a branch of the Joint Christian Choir. 

Association here in the United States. They agreed that the traditional worship be more of harmony with African culture and lifestyle; and the music that is emotionally penetrating and challenging with both spiritual and physical, whole hearted and corporate, that demonstrate the true African expression of the Christian religion was needed so that the people of the same tradition would meet and fellowship together and seek a viable means of helping other Christian organizations, churches and people in Liberia. 

In March 1994, after many months of careful  planning, JCCA-USA was finally established in Staten Island, New York. The interim leadership was led by Sister Grace Gbardyu as president until elections was held in 1995 when Rev. Philip Saywrane was elected as its first president, and Brother Onesimus G.S. Gayemen was officially declared the founder of JCCA-USA. Since that time to today’s date JCCA-USA has grown; and is growing from States to States with Branches in North Jersey, South Jersey, Philadelphia, Rhode Island, and Minnesota and  counting…..JCCA-USA is a nondenominational and nonprofit Christian organization which exists as a community of faith under the Lordship of Jesus Christ.

Its ultimate purpose is to glorify the triune God and encourage its members to witness effectively and faithfully among all peoples; provide a framework for training and uniting indigenous choirs to sing songs of praise to God in all languages as well as encouraging its members to be actively involved and participate in the services of their individual churches.

The call and response (back by one person echoing the call) from so common place in African music demonstrates the relationship between a song-leader and the congregation, who respond with their refrain even before the leader’s improvised voices have ended. The rhythmic and harmonic ramifications push the singers into a state of maximum spiritual involvement.  

With new leadership and visions, the JCCA-USA has embarked on development projects in the US and Liberia. The association has purchased land for the purpose of infrastructure development in Liberia. Its program includes education, health and opening orphanage homes in Liberia and the United States. The association is financially supported by its members. Funds are obtained through fund raising programs such as Queen Contests, Raffle Draws  and membership dues during national conventions of the association. Please help us in this worthy cause.