The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod began work in Haiti in 1978 when LCMS mission societies began assisting Lutherans in Haiti.
In 1987, the LCMS began supporting mercy work in Haiti with a grant that aided a children’s feeding project. Since then, grants have assisted in funding schools and children’s programs, health care and food assistance efforts, livestock and irrigation projects, literacy and job skills training, and disaster response.
From 2001-2004, the LCMS and the Haiti Lutheran Coordinating Committee sent a long-term missionary to coordinate LCMS projects in Haiti and help short-term U.S. mission teams. The LCMS continues to support the partner church with general aid for its programs and with special support for theological education projects.
In Jan. 2010, a 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti. More than 200,000 people lost their lives and damages were widespread. The LCMS, the Dominican Republic Lutheran Mission and dozens of other Lutheran organizations provided food, water, tents, medical supplies, hygiene items and spiritual support to the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti (ELCH) and Lutheran Church of Haiti (LCH).
At the LCMS Convention in 2001, delegates voted unanimously to “formalize altar and pulpit fellowship” with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Haiti (ELCH) — making it a sister/partner church.
In addition to earthquake relief, the ELCH continues its focus on evangelism, church planting, leadership training, church building, education, radio and TV ministry, health care and agriculture. It operates one seminary.
St. John's Sauers assists in the Heart-4-Haiti program established by Trinity Lutheran Church in Vallonia. We also work with Pastor Thomas Bernard at Good Shepherd Evangelical Lutheran Church in Port-au-Prince.