Relief and Development

We are a church that rolls up our sleeves and gets to work.

One billion of our neighbors — that’s one in seven people in our world today — live in poverty. As members of the ELCA, we are called to respond. Working through Lutheran connections in the United States and around the world, we start by listening to the needs of our neighbors and getting their ideas to help break the cycle of hunger and poverty. Then we partner with them to make their dreams and hopes a reality. From health clinics to microloans, water wells to animal husbandry, food pantries to soup kitchens, we work together to support innovative solutions that get at the root causes of hunger and poverty.

The ELCA has a long history of being present in communities, working to help and serve where the needs are greatest. Participating in this work that God calls us to in the world compels us to be attentive to complex and changing situations, as well as to the importance of both immediate relief and ongoing, long-term assistance for our sisters and brothers and the communities in which they live.

Our relief and development work is pursued and accomplished through a variety of bold, active ministries and initiatives:

• ELCA World Hunger
• HIV and AIDS Ministry
• Lutheran Disaster Response
• Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

Each effort strives for justice, peace and change in the world, and draws its strength and effectiveness from working in partnership with others who share a common vision of serving and loving our neighbor and restoring and reconciling communities in Jesus Christ’s name.