By Pastor Josh Sullivan, was forcibly taken from his church in South Africa by armed gunmen while he was in the midst of delivering a sermon. The shocking incident occurred at the Fellowship Baptist Church situated in Motherwell, a township located outside the coastal city of Gqeberha. Authorities and a colleague of the abducted cleric indicated on Friday that the Thursday kidnapping appears to be motivated by ransom demands.
According to an official statement released by the South African police, four masked male suspects, armed with weapons, stormed into the church premises during the sermon. The assailants reportedly robbed two mobile phones before seizing the 45-year-old pastor and subsequently fleeing the scene. Law enforcement agencies have launched an investigation into the brazen abduction and are actively pursuing leads to secure Pastor Sullivan’s safe return.
Reverend Jeremy Hall, a fellow pastor based in the same southeastern city, shared with AFP news agency his belief that the abduction was likely “financially related,” suggesting that the perpetrators are seeking a ransom for the pastor’s release. Reverend Hall recounted that Pastor Sullivan was leading a prayer meeting attended by approximately 30 individuals, including his wife and their six children, when the four kidnappers entered the church.
Adding a disturbing detail, Reverend Hall stated, “They knew him by name,” indicating a possible element of pre-planning or targeted action. Sources further revealed that the gunmen accosted the cleric at gunpoint, compelling him into his own vehicle before driving away. Tragically, Pastor Sullivan’s abandoned car was later discovered roughly 1.5 kilometers (less than a mile) away from the church, providing a crucial piece of evidence for investigators.
Pastor Sullivan, according to his personal website, had relocated to South Africa with his family from Tennessee in the United States in November 2018, dedicating himself to missionary work in the region. This incident follows another recent kidnapping in the same city, where a Chinese national was abducted on Tuesday, highlighting a concerning trend of such crimes in Gqeberha, a city situated on the Indian Ocean, approximately 920 kilometers (570 miles) southeast of Johannesburg.
Disturbingly, kidnappings carried out by criminal gangs with the intent of demanding large ransoms have reportedly witnessed a surge in South Africa in recent years. Police statistics paint a grim picture, revealing that over 17,000 kidnappings occurred in South Africa during the 2023/2024 financial year, marking a significant 11-percent increase compared to the preceding year. This escalating crisis underscores the urgent need for effective measures to combat this growing criminal activity and ensure the safety and security of all residents and visitors in the country.
