SOUTH ST. LOUIS COUNTY (First Alert 4) - Tommy Self, an Elder at the South Side Church of God in Sappington, said a 1995 maroon 15-seat passenger Ford van was an important part of fulfilling its mission.

“Anytime we go somewhere that’s not here, it goes with us,” he said. “We have some folks we give rides to church, some folks who can’t drive, so we’ll bring them to church with that and sometimes we’ll pick up deliveries, do other ministries with that.”

He said the van was also used for the church’s youth group to get to different events, as well as transport to retreats.

That all changed when the van was stolen off the church’s parking lot in September 2024. Self said the van was locked at the time of the theft.

“We thought ‘that’s alright, we’ll do without, someone needed it more tha

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