The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod began work in Myanmar briefly in the 1980s with a Theological Education by Extension program when local Lutherans contacted Synod personnel in Thailand. Teams doing leadership training were sent almost immediately, mostly from Bangkok, and two local men were identified for pastoral training. One abandoned his studies, but another was finally ordained and was supported in his ministry until 2000.

There are more than 200,000 people who live in the area outside the capital city of Yangon. In 1998, a day-care center was established on the outskirts of Yangon with the help of the LCMS and Lutheran congregations in Myanmar. This ministry provides for help, care and evangelism to impoverished children whose parents must work to survive and who would otherwise be left unattended all day. The LCMS later supported a medical clinic, and it currently provides disaster relief following Cyclone Nargis and Cyclone Giri.

The emerging Lutheran church body in Myanmar is very young. It currently has two congregations and four preaching stations with a total average worship attendance of 100.