The Lexington Ministerial Association in November of 1979 officially named Lexington Interfaith Community Services (LICS). The foundation for this service ministry was laid by a group of ministers, lay people, and community associations who organized LICS to provide for the basic needs (food, clothing, and shelter) of families in crisis. The leadership of this small group believed a coordinated effort by numerous congregations increased the possibility of a quality service beyond the efforts of one congregation. This coordinated effort evolved into a comprehensive service delivery named Emergency Services. Throughout the next ten years, LICS grew to provide a food pantry, Clothing at No Cost, limited financial assistance, referrals, and limited supportive counseling. The limited financial assistance provided was for utilities (electric, water, heating sources, sewage, etc.), rent, prescriptions, auto gas, cooking gas, and, emergency lodging.

After twenty (20) years of emerging and evolving, LICS remains the important and relevant resource for families struggling to meet their basic needs. LICS has a Revised Constitution and by-laws (1995) and a Strategic Plan to continue to meet the concerns of the community. A volunteer Board of Directors of twelve (12) members is the governing body of LICS. The Board Members are from the AMember Churches and represent a diverse population of people. The Member Churches are the Membership Assembly. The Membership Assembly consists of one lay representative and one clergy or clergy representative. The Membership Assembly is responsible for the general oversight of LICS.

The unique aspect of LICS is a community of service built on volunteerism. Approximately, two hundred volunteers are involved in every aspect of the program on a monthly basis. Volunteers are the life and blood of LICS. The employees of LICS provide training, instruction, supervision, and care giving to enhance the daily work of the volunteers. As LICS continues meeting the needs of the families, the volunteers and staff remember our roots are to serve God. Therefore, the volunteer training program, Growing in Faith Together (GIFT) is a new training project for LICS.

The comprehensive community involvement and leadership faced numerous challenges and opportunity through the years. LICS faced two challenges called tragedies to many and one opportunity. The first challenge occurred in December 1989. The LICS Thrift Shop burned to the ground. A Member Church willingly housed LICS while efforts to raise funds, procure property, and construct a building were implemented. By November of 1990, the Thrift Shop and Service Ministry moved to its present location on 210 North Church Street. As LICS continued to serve the increase in the number of families seeking services, the need for an office and service building developed. The opportunity to procure the property on 227 North Lake Drive became a reality for this ministry. The Service Ministry moved to this address in December of 1991. The second challenge occurred on August 16, 1994.

Since the leadership of LICS response to the diverse nature of the Lexington County Community and the ever-changing national social policy, LICS is evolving to include services that intervene into the family unit. The focus on intervention changes the quality of service delivery to problem resolution. Through research and study, LICS embarks on providing a quality intervention service program in late 1997 and early 1998. These service programs are Home, Opportunities, Priorities, and Empowerment (HOPE), Touching Other People (TOP), and Outreach Centers.

The years of challenges, crisis, and opportunities arise and pass with adjustment to be made and promise of service to be kept. LICS breaths life into the meaning of to serve thy neighbor is to serve All people are called to serve and the volunteers and staff of LICS humbly accept Gods call to serve.

The Lexington Ministerial Association in November of 1979 officially named Lexington Interfaith Community Services (LICS). The foundation for this service ministry was laid by a volunteer group of ministers, lay people, and community associations. This volunteer group organized LICS to provide for the basic needs (food, clothing, and shelter) of families in crisis. The leadership believed a coordinated effort by numerous congregations increased the possibility of a quality service beyond the efforts of one congregation. Throughout the next ten (10) years, this coordinated effort evolved into a comprehensive service delivery named Emergency Services. Emergency Services provides a food pantry, clothing at no cost, limited financial assistance, referrals, and limited supportive counseling. The limited financial assistance was authorized for utilities (electric, water, heating sources, sewage, etc.), rent, prescriptions, auto gas, cooking gas, and, emergency lodging.

The loosely formed administration of volunteers focused on the development and implementation of the Emergency Services Program to all residents in Lexington County. In order to provide daily stability of the service delivery, a Thrift Shop was created to increase funding. With the addition of the Thrift Shop, funding for financial assistance, purchasing of necessary food items and clothing available for families dramatically increased. Responding to the needs of families whose homes were damaged by fire, a Aburnout closet@ developed to maintain household linens, dishes, cooking utensils, etc. in response to the needs to care for families' whose homes were damaged by fire.

The unique aspect of LICS remains the role of the volunteer on a daily basis. The individual commitment to serve God by serving a person in need became the focus of personal and spiritual growth. With the development of the Thrift Shop, the volunteer power grew to over one hundred (100) volunteers working per month. To operate and coordinate the daily services for customers and clients, the volunteers needed training, instruction, and supervision. The role of staff as trainer and supervisor of the volunteer remains critical. Since many community and church groups could not volunteer on a daily basis, short-term service projects developed to enhance the functioning of the agency. The committed and dedicated volunteers are the rivers feeding the daily life of LICS.

In the last ten years, the dedicated leadership faced two challenges and one opportunity. The first challenge occurred in December 1988 when a fire destroyed the Thrift Shop. A Member Church permitted LICS to use building space as the Board planned to raise funds, procure property, and construct a building. The decision of the Board and Member Churches to involve the at large Lexington Community in the capital campaign lead to a larger grassroots movement for LICS. LICS was no longer a vision for a few religious congregations. The addition of a greater community of believers enhanced the vision of LICS to a horizon not previously experienced.

By November of 1989, The Thrift Shop and the Service Ministry moved to the location on 210 North Church Street. As LICS served the increased number of families seeking services, the need for an additional space for interview offices, reception area, food pantry, food storage, and conference room became necessary. LICS seized the opportunity to purchase the property on 227 North Lake Drive.  Due the enormous cost of renovating the old building, the Member Churches decided to build a new building to meet the needs of the ministry.  The Service Ministry moved to this address in December of 1991. 

The Second Challenge occurred on August 16, 1994 as both buildings were struck by a tornado. The tornado destroyed the Thrift Shop and damaged the Service Ministry Building. Again, the congregations and the Lexington community rallied together to rebuild LICS. Due to the generosity of the community, LICS rebuilt the Thrift Shop and renovated the Office building without incurring any financial debt. In early 1995, the Thrift Shop returned to the original location. Throughout each challenge and opportunity, LICS continued to serve families struggling to meet basic needs.

For advancement into the third decade of life of LICS, the leadership responds to the diverse nature of the Lexington County Community and the changing national social policy by developing intervention service programs. The program designs are to enhance the functioning of the family unit. The focus on intervention changes the services to include problem resolution. LICS hopes to add quality intervention service programs to families not served by state, county, and federal programs. Through research and study, the service programs are Home, Opportunities, Priorities, and Empowerment (HOPE), Touching Other People (TOP), and Outreach Centers.

The years of challenges, opportunities, and crises arise and pass with adjustments to be made and the promises of service to be kept. LICS continues to breath life into the meaning of to serve our neighbors is to serve God. All individuals committed to LICS humbly accept Gods call to serve.