An American pastor was violently kidnapped after armed, masked men stormed his church service in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, local authorities confirmed.
How the South Africa Church Kidnapping Unfolded
Josh Sullivan, a 45-year-old Baptist missionary from the US, was conducting an evening service at Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, a township in Gqeberha (formerly Port Elizabeth), when four armed suspects burst in.
According to police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge, the assailants stole two cellphones before forcing Sullivan into his silver Toyota Fortuner and fleeing. The vehicle was later found abandoned, but the pastor remains missing.
US State Department and South African Police Respond
The US State Department acknowledged the kidnapping of a American citizen in South Africa, stating, “There is no greater priority than the safety and security of US citizens abroad.”
Meanwhile, South Africa’s elite police unit, the Hawks—tasked with high-profile crimes—has taken over the investigation.
“We are pursuing all leads to locate Pastor Sullivan and arrest those responsible,”said Hawks spokesman Lt. Col. Avele Fumba.
Jeremy Hall, a spokesman for the Sullivan family, revealed that the pastor’s wife and children were present during the attack. “The gunmen knew his name,”Hall told TimesLive, suggesting a targeted abduction.
Sullivan’s mother, Tonya Morton Rinker, expressed devastation on Facebook, confirming that US congressional representatives and embassy officials are working to secure his release. No ransom demand has been made public, per News24.
The kidnapping has heightened the scrutiny on South Africa’s crime epidemic, particularly targeting foreign nationals. With the Hawks leading a manhunt and US authorities pressing for answers, global observers are keen on any updates on Sullivan’s fate.
Who Is Pastor Josh Sullivan?
A self-described “church-planting missionary,”Sullivan moved to South Africa in 2018 with his family to establish a congregation for Xhosa-speaking communities. His personal website details his evangelical work in the Eastern Cape, where he aimed to foster interfaith connections.
This story is developing. More updates on the search for Pastor Josh Sullivan to come later…
