HOW AND WHEN THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE LEAST COIN BEGAN

 

The idea for the Fellowship of the Least Coin emerged as a vision from God to Mrs Shanti Solomon of India. In September 1956,

she was part of the Pacific Mission Team of seven women from different countries that travelled in Asia after World War II with

a message of reconciliation. It was organised by Dr Margaret Shannon of the National Office of Presbyterian Women in the

USA. Shanti Solomon was refused a visa to Korea during the trip, so she travelled to the Philippines while the others went

to Korea. In the Philippines, Shanti reflected on the experiences of the war-torn countries of Asia, and the national and

economic barriers that kept women apart. 

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Shanti suggested that prayer could transcend every national boundary. She then challenged the Christian women of

Asia and of the Presbyterian Church of the USA to launch a project of Christian prayer and positive action, in which

every woman could participate, no matter her economic position. Every time a woman prayed she was to set aside

a ‘least coin’ of her currency. It was an encouragement to the women of the team to demonstrate their unity in Christian

faith, regardless of their country or economic circumstances.

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The East Asia Christian Conference (EACC), now the Christian Conference of Asia (CAA), administered the Fellowship of the Least Coin fund from 1958-1970. In 1958, the first Assembly of the Asian Church Women’s Conference (ACWC), held in Hong Kong, agreed to adopt the Fellowship of the Least Coin as their one project. At the second Assembly in Thailand, in 1962, the ACWC voted to make the promotion of the Fellowship of the Least Coin their basic outreach programme.

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In 1970, Mrs Shanti Solomon was named the Executive Secretary of the Fellowship of the Least Coin and Asian Church Women’s Conference. She was followed by Mrs Shirin Samuel of Pakistan (1987-1997). Since that time the Executive Secretary has been an Asian woman, active in Asian Church Women’s Conference.

 

The current Executive Secretary of the International Committee for the Fellowship of the Least Coin (ICFLC) is Dr Liza B Lamis, c/- Union Theological Seminary, Sampaloc 1, Palapala, Dasmarinas City, 4114 Philippines. Her email is: icflcph@gmail.com

 

 

DEDICATION OF OFFERINGS

 

Each year, the 'least coins' in Australia are received and dedicated at the annual World Community Day service which is usually held in October across Australia, and convened by Australian Church Women. Cheques (marked Fellowship of the Least Coin) may be sent to the National Treasurer of Australian Church Women if the donor is resident in Australia. For the address, please contact the National Secretary. (Contact details listed at the bottom of this page).

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LOGO

 

The idea for the FLC logo ​– the praying hands forming a lotus flower – came from the late Mrs Rayann Ma of Hong Kong, and she was assisted with the design by her commercial artist brother-in-law, James Ma. Rayann was also the Chairperson of the first Assembly of the Asian Church Women’s Conference (ACWC). 

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CIRCLE OF PRAYER

 

Feeling the need to reaffirm prayer as the vital element of the Fellowship of the Least Coin, the Asian Church Women

’s Conference asked the women of Hong Kong to prepare a booklet of prayers to be used as the 'least coin' is set

aside. Rayann Ma took responsibility for this booklet. Since then, the Circle of Prayer booklet has become an

important part of the Fellowship of the Least Coin. Twenty-four meditations and prayers are written by women

around the world and published by the International Committee for the Fellowship of the Least Coin every two years.

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FELLOWSHIP OF THE LEAST COIN GROWTH

 

The seed which was planted in Manila, quickly gained acceptance, not only among the women of Asia, to whom it was first presented, but also among women of all the world continents. In 1966, when the Fellowship of the Least Coin celebrated its tenth anniversary, women from 24 countries participated in the celebrations. By 1980, at the time of its Silver Jubilee, women from 75 countries had already joined the Fellowship of the Least Coin. In 1996, women from more than 80 countries celebrated the fortieth anniversary of the Fellowship of the Least Coin.

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THE INTERNATIONAL COMMITTEE FOR THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE LEAST COIN 

 

The Fellowship of the Least Coin (FLC) prayer movement became truly worldwide and grants were made to programmes and projects all over the world, therefore the International Committee for the Fellowship of the Least Coin (ICFLC) was formed in 1979 to administer the promotion, the interpretation of the movement and the allocation of the FLC grants. The International Committee comprises representatives of worldwide ecumenical women’s organisations and of regional ecumenical Conferences of the Churches. Year after year the ICFLC learns to trust God more and more and to work in faith. The Committee meets every year to share the miraculous works of the FLC around the world and to decide on FLC grants for the following year. Application forms for project grants are received four months prior to the meeting. The members of the Committee study the application forms, pray about them, discuss and decide on each project without knowing how much FLC funding will be available for the grants they wish to allocate for each year. The ‘least coins’ from around the world come in with prayers, quietly and gradually, to meet the needs for each year. Our gentle, loving and compassionate God never fails us. God does great works through the humble, the least, the marginalised and the poor. That is the strength, the promise, the beauty, and the surprise upholding the FLC prayer movement.

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Every year the ICFLC is invited by different regions to hold its meeting in their country.  An exposure and a visitation programme is added to the regular business meeting in order for the representatives to know more about the region and to be aware of the issues and the concerns of the people there. Every four years the committee meets immediately following the Asian Church Women's Conference Assembly.​