US Pastor Abducted During Church Service in South Africa

In a shocking incident, an American pastor was kidnapped from his church service in South Africa, with authorities launching an urgent investigation.

An American pastor, Josh Sullivan, was kidnapped by four armed and masked men during a service at the Fellowship Baptist Church located in Motherwell, Gqeberha, on Thursday evening, according to local authorities. The police report indicates that the assailants stole two phones and fled the scene in the pastor's vehicle, a silver Toyota Fortuner. The car was later recovered abandoned, but Mr. Sullivan remains unaccounted for.

A spokesperson from the US State Department confirmed awareness of the incident, emphasizing that the safety of American citizens abroad is a top priority. The case has been escalated to the Hawks, South Africa’s specialized police unit dealing with serious organized crime and corruption. Hawks spokesman Lt. Col. Avele Fumba stated that police are pursuing all potential leads to locate the pastor and capture the culprits.

Jeremy Hall, a representative for the Sullivan family, revealed that Josh was leading a church service with his wife and children present when the kidnapping occurred. "They knew his name," Hall remarked, highlighting the targeted nature of the attack. Mr. Sullivan's mother expressed her heartbreak via social media, noting coordination efforts between their congressman and the American embassy to secure his release.

So far, no ransom demands have been reported, as indicated by local news source News24. On his website, Mr. Sullivan describes his mission work as focused on establishing a community for Xhosa-speaking individuals, having relocated to South Africa in 2018 with his family. Kidnapping rates in South Africa have surged dramatically over the past decade, with a reported increase of 264%. This incident follows closely on the heels of another high-profile abduction of a Chinese national in Gqeberha.