GQEBERHA, SOUTH AFRICA — A harrowing incident unfolded on Thursday during a church service outside the South African city of Gqeberha, when armed men stormed a local Baptist mission and abducted an American pastor in front of his congregation, including his wife and children.
The victim, Rev. Josh Sullivan, a missionary from Maryville, Tennessee, was reportedly preaching to about 30 congregants when four to six masked gunmen interrupted the service, robbed the attendees, and forcibly took him away at gunpoint.
“They knew him by name,” said Rev. Jeremy Hall, a fellow missionary pastor in the region, confirming suspicions that the abduction was premeditated and likely aimed at extorting ransom.
The pastor’s home church in Tennessee, Fellowship Baptist, confirmed the incident in a statement, asking for prayers and revealing that Sullivan has been based in South Africa since 2018 with his wife, Meagan, as part of a long-term church-planting mission.
Sullivan’s father-in-law, David Witt, in an interview with WLVT-TV, made an emotional appeal for global prayer and assistance. “We’re in a really tense situation right now,” he said. “We’re asking everybody to pray for Josh.”
Though South African police initially reported that four armed suspects entered the church and seized two mobile phones before abducting Sullivan, eyewitnesses from the congregation maintain there were six gunmen involved.
Law enforcement officials have confirmed contact with the kidnappers, who are demanding an undisclosed ransom amount. International pressure is mounting, with U.S. Congressman Tim Burchett and others calling for swift diplomatic and intelligence action to locate and secure Sullivan’s release.
This shocking abduction has triggered widespread concern on social media, with pastors, faith-based organizations, and human rights advocates calling for intensified protection of missionaries abroad.
Rev. Sullivan’s recent updates on his website had hinted at threats, including a February post detailing confrontations with “troublemakers” who had previously threatened to burn down his church. Nevertheless, he remained committed to his calling.
This incident adds to the growing list of targeted attacks on foreign nationals and religious workers across parts of Africa, where insecurity and ransom kidnappings have become increasingly frequent.
Newspot Nigeria will continue to monitor developments on this story and provide updates as more information becomes available.
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