Gunmen have kidnapped US missionary Pastor Josh Sullivan during a sermon at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, located outside Gqeberha, South Africa. The incident occurred on Thursday when four armed and masked men entered the church, stole two mobile phones, and abducted the 45-year-old pastor.
The police report suggests that the kidnapping may be financially motivated, with Sullivan being taken at gunpoint and forced into his own car. The US missionary vehicle was later found abandoned 1.5 kilometers from the church. At the time of the abduction, Sullivan was leading a prayer meeting attended by around 30 people, including his wife and six children.
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Sullivan, originally from Tennessee, arrived in South Africa with his family in November 2018. The recent rise in kidnappings for ransom in South Africa has raised concerns, with over 17,000 reported cases in the 2023/2024 financial year, marking an 11% increase from the previous year.
