On Sunday, December 12, 2004, the members of Third Church endorsed the renaming of the church’s relief assistance monies the Paul Sasser Relief Fund. When asked to comment, eldest son Paul Alan Sasser said, “This is the perfect Christmas gift for Pop.” Paul Sasser was born Billy Dance on May 30, 1927. Adopted by Charles and Mary Sasser in Chicago, Illinois, Paul lived a good life with loving parents. Eventually, Paul completed a B.A. at Franklin College in Indiana and a Masters of Religious Education from Christian Theological Seminary. But Paul was most widely known for his untiring devotion of Christian mercy to the hungry and the poor on the streets of St. Louis. Paul’s six children can attest to their father’s status as a modern-day Good Samaritan. One time, Paul helped a traveling man reach his destination, but not before providing him with a hot meal, shower, and clothes from Paul’s own closet. The children say that Paul always carried a stash of dollar bills hidden in his wallet, set aside for someone who needed money for the bus or to get a bite to eat. Like Jesus, Father Paul (as he was known by many on the streets of St. Louis) never met a stranger. He never dismissed the dispossessed; he never shunned the shelter-less; he never ignored the impoverished. He was never content to merely assist, but instead insisted on truly getting to know a person. Paul went beyond the canons of benevolence, beyond superficial acts of kindness, not stopping until he hit your heart, and there he would stay, like Jesus, close to your soul. We at Third are pleased to continue the ministry of Paul Sasser in his name and for the glory of God. We hope you will continue to support the church’s ministry to those in need by regularly contributing to the Paul Sasser Relief Fund. | 
