On Tuesday, an American pastor was rescued from kidnappers who took him at gunpoint in South Africa. The pastor was taken by masked gunmen while giving a sermon in the Eastern Cape province to around 30 people, which included his wife and children. On Wednesday, officials said that three of the abductors exchanged gunfire with authorities. The pastor, his wife, and two children had been part of the Motherwell Township branch of the Fellowship Baptist Church since 2018.
U.S. Pastor Was Kidnapped Thursday
Josh Sullivan, 45, an American citizen from Tennessee, was abducted on Thursday. Four men broke into the church, robbed two of the congregation members of their cell phones, and seized Sullivan, dragging him from the building and putting him in his pickup truck.
The truck was located just a few hours later, abandoned. The investigation was led by a multi-agency task force, which included the Serious Organized Crime unit and the Anti-Gang Unit. Late on Tuesday, authorities approached the area that they believed Sullivan American was being held. The location was a house in KwaMagxaki in the heart of Gqeberha. The location was just twenty minutes from where Sullivan was kidnapped.
Police Located Kidnappers
Police in South Africa say a shootout took place after the suspects inside a car parked outside the house attempted to escape and began to shoot at authorities. All three suspects were killed. They have not been identified.
“As officers approached the house, they observed a vehicle on the premises. The suspects inside the vehicle, upon seeing law enforcement, allegedly attempted to flee and opened fire on the team,” the statement from authorities read.
“The victim was found inside the same vehicle from which the suspects had launched their attack,” Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba said in a statement. “Miraculously unharmed, he was immediately assessed by medical personnel and is currently in an excellent condition.”
Kidnappings On Rise
Police data shows that kidnappings in South Africa have risen by a staggering 264% over the past decade. The Institute of Security Studies says that kidnapping has become a key tactic in both carjackings and robberies. In its latest data on South Africa, it shows that less than 5% of kidnappings involve ransom demands in South Africa.
U.S. Pastor Reunited With Family
Sullivan, who describes himself as a “church planting missionary,” has been reunited with his wife and children. His family has been part of the South African church since 2018.
“It was during this time that the Lord began to stir their hearts specifically for the Xhosa people,” fellow Missionary Mark Coffey said. “They returned in 2018 as full-time church-planting missionaries, determined to share the Gospel and see lives changed. Josh committed himself to two years of language school and became fluent in Xhosa so he could preach, disciple, and minister more effectively.”
Best Friend Shares News
His best friend, who also trained him as a Pastor, Tom Hatley, shared a photo of Sullivan with his wife and children on Facebook with the caption “Josh has been released.”.“Thank you for your support and prayers. Please do not stop praying for the Sullivans,” his post read.
