Our History
Lutheran Family and Children's Services of Missouri (LFCS) began in 1868 as an orphan’s home for children in the wake of the Civil War. Ninety-nine years later, the orphanage was sold and the proceeds were used to create an endowment that has strengthened and sustained LFCS for the past 39 years.
Today, LFCS is a statewide organization providing counseling, adoption, crisis pregnancy assistance, foster care, child care, youth mentoring services and disaster relief services, reaching out to more than 22,000 individuals and families annually. LFCS is also a strong advocate for Missouri’s vulnerable families and works to improve the state and federal policies that effect them.
In a world of vast and rapidly changing human needs, LFCS continues to respond.
Historical Highlights
1868- Lutheran Family and Children’s Services began as an orphanage built in 1868 on 40 acres of ground. Purchased for $4,000, it was located in Des Peres, Missouri. The founding leader was the Rev. Johann Friederick Buenger, Pastor of Immanuel Lutheran Church, St. Louis.
- The Society for Homeless Children, later renamed the Lutheran Children’s Friend Society, was founded under the leadership of the Rev. F.W. Herzberger. It provided family foster care and adoption services.
- After 20 years of effort, studies, and encouragement, the Lutheran Orphanage (by then named the Lutheran Children’s Home) and the Lutheran Children’s Friend Society were merged. The new name became Lutheran Children’s Services.
- The Agency was renamed Lutheran Family & Children’s Services of Missouri with three service departments: Community and Parish Services, Child Welfare, and Counseling.
- LFCS assumed responsibility for Hilltop Child Development Center on West Florissant in North St. Louis City, providing high quality child care services.
- LFCS opened its first regional office in Cape Girardeau through the initiative of more than 15 pastors and 200 interested individuals.
- The Agency sold the Children’s Home property to the City of Des Peres.
- LFCS celebrated its 125th anniversary.
- LFCS was designated the Lutheran Disaster Response coordinating agency for Missouri during the great flood of 1993.
- LFCS opened a Mid-Missouri office in Columbia to meet the increasing demand for pregnancy counseling and adoption services throughout central, northern and western Missouri.
- LFCS opened its third regional office in Springfield, Missouri
- LFCS opened Elm Point Early Childhood Center St. Charles
- Creation of LFCS Foundation
- LFCS Headquarters relocates to the newly renovated building at 8631 Delmar Blvd. in St. Louis
- The LFCS Mentoring program was recognized as the premiere program of any Lutheran agency by Lutheran Services of America.
- LFCS took on the additional role of providing foster care case management for children in the custody of the Children’s Division.