LSC to expand New Americans Program with two new offices

Lutheran Services Carolinas (LSC) is excited to announce it is once again expanding its New Americans Program by opening offices in Salisbury, North Carolina and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina.

“I am excited about this opportunity for LSC to expand our ministry and serve more New Americans on their journey to self-sufficiency and eventual citizenship,” LSC New Americans Executive Director Matt Hembree said. “LSC is always looking to expand our ministry to help as many folks as we can.”

LSC has provided refugee and immigrant services in Raleigh, North Carolina, and Columbia, South Carolina for many years. Recently, new service sites were established in Greenville and Charleston in South Carolina and Asheville in North Carolina.

After discussing resettlement needs across the Carolinas with Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service (LIRS), the organization decided on these locations to serve the most people.

The Salisbury office will be housed at St. John’s Lutheran Church and the Myrtle Beach office will be downtown at 1551 21st Avenue, Unit 21. Both are set to open January 1.

“We are excited to bring legal refugees to the Southern Piedmont and Myrtle Beach,” LSC President and CEO Ted Goins said. “We have so many teammates, congregations, and community groups that are ready to embrace these new Americans and help them succeed in their new home.”

LSC is holding community information events at each of the new offices in December for those who want to learn more about the program. The events will feature an informational session discussing refugee resettlement history, how communities can get involved, and program needs.

The New Americans Program Community Event in Salisbury will be held at St. John’s Lutheran Church on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 3 p.m. The church is located at 200 W Innes Street, Salisbury, NC 28144.

The Myrtle Beach event will also be held on Tuesday, Dec. 13 at 2 p.m. at St. Philip Lutheran Church, which is located at 6200 N Kings Hwy, Myrtle Beach, SC 29572.

For more information about the LSC New Americans Program, visit https://lscarolinas.net/refugee-and-immigrant-services/

Does your congregation have a group of dedicated individuals ready to learn more about and perhaps even participate in refugee resettlement? Is your congregation already working in this ministry? Visit the Bishop’s Challenge page on the synod’s website.