An American pastor and missionary who was kidnapped in South Africa last week was rescued on Tuesday after three suspects were killed in a shootout with police officials.
In a Wednesday press release, the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation announced, “A multi-disciplinary law enforcement operation led by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, has resulted in the successful rescue of the 45-year-old American citizen, reportedly a local pastor who had allegedly been kidnapped and held at a safe house in KwaMagxaki, Gqeberha, on 15 April 2025.”
The Associated Press reported that American pastor and missionary Josh Sullivan was rescued on Tuesday after being kidnapped in South Africa last Thursday. The outlet noted that Sullivan has been serving as a pastor at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell along with his wife and two children since 2018.
In a Wednesday Facebook post, Tom Hatley, the pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee, wrote, “Josh has been released. I just got ‘the go ahead to let it be known’. SA media has started broadcasting. American media will follow. Thank you for your support and prayers. Please do not stop praying for The Sullivans. Praise The Lord Jesus Christ!”
READ MORE: 70 Christians beheaded by terrorists in ‘massacre’: Report
According to The Associated Press, Sullivan was kidnapped after four men broke into his church last Thursday. The outlet noted that the four kidnappers stole two cell phones from members of the South African church before removing the missionary from the pulpit and taking him away from the church building. The Associated Press added that the pastor’s truck was found abandoned just a few hours after the kidnapping.
According to The Associated Press, multiple law enforcement agencies formed a task force, which included the Serious Organised Crime Unit, the Hawks, the Crime Intelligence, the Tactical Response Team, and the Anti-Gang Unit, to investigate last week’s kidnapping. The outlet noted that law enforcement officials “moved swiftly” on Tuesday night after identifying the pastor’s location at a safe house in KwaMagxaki.
“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 Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation said. “The officers responded with tactical precision, leading to a high-intensity shootout in which three unidentified suspects were fatally wounded.”
“The victim was found inside the same vehicle from which the suspects had launched their attack,” the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation added. “Miraculously unharmed, he was immediately assessed by medical personnel and is currently in an excellent condition.”
