When Rev. Johann Freiedrich Buenger established the first Lutheran orphanage in a suburb of St. Louis in 1867, he began what has become a Missouri Synod tradition of caring for people in need.  Today, LCMS World Relief/Human Care provides a staff of trained professionals to serve with members in meeting many human care needs including health-related issues, prison ministry, chaplaincy, older adult ministry, housing, alcohol and substance abuse recovery, disaster response, and many more life issues that affect the lives of people at home and throughout the world.

The church's investment program help congregations build new churches and schools while its gift planning program  helps individuals make a difference in favorite ministries like Lutheran education, missions, and local congregations.

Concordia Plan Services  (Worker Benefit Plans) supports The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod’s mission of spreading the Gospel message of Jesus Christ by developing and administering programs that provide for the well-being of church workers and their families with respect to health care and in the event of disability, retirement, special needs, or death.