American Pastor Josh Sullivan Kidnapped During Church Service in South Africa

American pastor Josh Sullivan was kidnapped during a church service in South Africa. Four armed men reportedly stole phones and fled in his vehicle. Local police and the U.S. State Department are involved in efforts to locate him. Kidnappings have increased significantly in South Africa in recent years.

An American pastor, Josh Sullivan, was abducted by armed assailants during a church service in South Africa. This incident occurred at Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, located in the Eastern Cape, where four masked men entered and took two mobile phones before fleeing in the pastor’s silver Toyota Fortuner. According to the police, the vehicle was later located abandoned, but there has been no sign of Mr. Sullivan since the incident.

The U.S. State Department has confirmed awareness of the situation, emphasizing that the safety and security of American citizens abroad is a top priority. The case has been assigned to the Hawks, South Africa’s elite police unit tasked with investigating serious organized crime and corruption. “The police are currently pursuing all available leads to locate the victim and apprehend the assailants,” said Hawks spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba.

Jeremy Hall, a spokesperson for the Sullivan family, disclosed that he and his family were present at the church during the kidnapping and noted that the perpetrators were familiar with Mr. Sullivan. His mother, Tonya Morton Rinker, expressed her despair on Facebook, mentioning that both their congressman and the American embassy are involved in the search for him. Notably, no ransom demand has been reported, according to News24.

Mr. Sullivan identifies as “a church planting missionary” on his personal website, detailing his move to South Africa in 2018 with his family to serve the Xhosa-speaking community. Their commitment to this cause coincides with troubling statistics, as kidnappings in South Africa have surged by 264% over the last decade. Just days prior to Mr. Sullivan’s abduction, another kidnapping involving a Chinese national occurred in the same area.

The kidnapping of Pastor Josh Sullivan highlights the alarming trend of rising crime in South Africa, particularly concerning abductions. Efforts by both local authorities and the U.S. State Department are ongoing, reflecting a concerted push for Mr. Sullivan’s safe return. This incident not only impacts his family but also underscores broader safety concerns for foreign nationals in the region.

Original Source: www.bbc.co.uk