Authorities are investigating the alarming increase in kidnappings in South Africa, a nation grappling with rising crime rates.
**US Pastor Abducted During Church Service in South Africa**
**US Pastor Abducted During Church Service in South Africa**
An American missionary was kidnapped by armed assailants during worship.
In a shocking incident that underscores rising crime in South Africa, American pastor Josh Sullivan was kidnapped during a church service at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, Gqeberha. Authorities report that four armed and masked men stormed the church on Thursday evening while Sullivan was leading worship. According to police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge, the suspects made off with two phones before escaping in Sullivan's silver Toyota Fortuner. The vehicle was later found abandoned, but there has been no sign of the pastor since the incident.
The U.S. State Department confirmed their awareness of the kidnapping, noting that the safety and security of American citizens abroad is their highest priority. "We are closely monitoring the situation," an official said. The case has now been handed over to South Africa's elite police unit known as the Hawks, which specializes in serious organized crime and high-level corruption. Lt Col Avele Fumba, a spokesperson for the Hawks, stated that every possible lead is being pursued to locate Sullivan and apprehend his captors.
Jeremy Hall, speaking for Sullivan's family, revealed that the pastor’s wife and children were present during the tumultuous event. "They knew his name," Hall said, indicating that this was a targeted abduction. Sullivan's mother, Tonya Morton Rinker, expressed her heartbreak on social media, stating that efforts are underway involving their congressman and the American embassy to secure his release.
Sources from News24 have reported that no ransom demand has been made as of yet. Describing himself on his personal website, Sullivan, 45, has been focused on church planting and has been living in South Africa since 2018, aiming to establish a church for Xhosa-speaking communities. The country has seen a staggering 264% increase in kidnappings over the past decade, a troubling statistic that adds urgency to the investigation—especially following the recent kidnapping of a Chinese national in the same region.
The U.S. State Department confirmed their awareness of the kidnapping, noting that the safety and security of American citizens abroad is their highest priority. "We are closely monitoring the situation," an official said. The case has now been handed over to South Africa's elite police unit known as the Hawks, which specializes in serious organized crime and high-level corruption. Lt Col Avele Fumba, a spokesperson for the Hawks, stated that every possible lead is being pursued to locate Sullivan and apprehend his captors.
Jeremy Hall, speaking for Sullivan's family, revealed that the pastor’s wife and children were present during the tumultuous event. "They knew his name," Hall said, indicating that this was a targeted abduction. Sullivan's mother, Tonya Morton Rinker, expressed her heartbreak on social media, stating that efforts are underway involving their congressman and the American embassy to secure his release.
Sources from News24 have reported that no ransom demand has been made as of yet. Describing himself on his personal website, Sullivan, 45, has been focused on church planting and has been living in South Africa since 2018, aiming to establish a church for Xhosa-speaking communities. The country has seen a staggering 264% increase in kidnappings over the past decade, a troubling statistic that adds urgency to the investigation—especially following the recent kidnapping of a Chinese national in the same region.
