A great quote in an article in the September Lutheran Witness:

"Firmly rooted in Christ's mercy in Baptism, the Lord's Supper and the pulpit, the LCMS brings a wholeness to her ministry that cannot be found in the responses of other governmental or social agencies or even some churches.  People require water to quench not only the thirst of our bodies but also our spirits, bread to satisfy not only the hunger of our bellies but also our souls, a word of hope to comfort troubled minds not only today but also for eternity." (Edward Grimenstein, September, p. 11)

When the church does mercy work (diakonia) it is not just for the body, but the soul as well.