Gqeberha, South Africa – April, 2025: An American pastor who was kidnapped last week during a sermon in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province was rescued on Tuesday after a deadly shootout with his captors, according to South African police.
Josh Sullivan, 45, from Tennessee, was abducted on Thursday when four armed and masked men stormed his church, Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, during a service. The kidnappers stole cellphones from church members before dragging Sullivan from the pulpit and forcibly removing him from the building. His vehicle was found abandoned several hours later, sparking a large-scale search.
Sullivan, who has been working as a missionary at the church since 2018 with his wife and two children, was held captive in a house in KwaMagxaki, a neighborhood in the city of Gqeberha. On Tuesday evening, a multi-agency task force, including the Anti-Gang Unit and the Serious Organised Crime Unit, located the house where Sullivan was being held.
According to police, a gun battle ensued when suspects in a car parked outside the house attempted to flee and opened fire on officials. The exchange of gunfire resulted in the deaths of three unidentified suspects. Sullivan was found inside the same vehicle from which the suspects had launched their attack, but miraculously, he was unharmed.
Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba, spokesperson for the police, confirmed that Sullivan was immediately assessed by medical personnel and is currently in excellent condition. “The victim was found inside the same vehicle from which the suspects had launched their attack,” Fumba stated.
The kidnapping of Sullivan highlights a disturbing trend in South Africa, where police data shows a staggering 264% increase in kidnappings over the past decade. Kidnapping is often linked to armed robberies and carjackings, with a notable shift away from ransom demands in many cases, according to the Institute for Security Studies.
Sullivan’s release has brought relief to his family and church community. Following the rescue, Tom Hatley, the pastor who mentored Sullivan, shared an emotional update on social media, posting a photo of Sullivan and his family together. “Josh has been released. Thank you for your support and prayers. Please do not stop praying for the Sullivans,” Hatley wrote.
Since his release, Sullivan has been reunited with his wife, Meagan, and their two children. The family expressed deep gratitude for the prayers and support they received during this harrowing ordeal.
Sullivan, who describes himself as a “church-planting missionary” on his personal website, has not yet commented publicly on his rescue, but his safe return marks a triumphant end to a week of uncertainty and fear for his loved ones and congregation.