Kidnapped pastor regains freedom

An American pastor who was abducted during a church service in South Africa last week has been rescued unharmed after a high-stakes police operation ended in a deadly shootout that left three suspects dead.

Josh Sullivan, 45, was found alive in a township in Gqeberha, Eastern Cape, on Tuesday evening, just days after he was snatched in broad daylight during a worship session last Thursday. The daring rescue mission was carried out by South Africa’s elite crime-fighting unit, the Hawks, following a tip-off that led officers to the location where Sullivan was being held.

In a statement released Wednesday morning, Hawks spokesperson Avele Fumba confirmed the operation was based on “verified intelligence” and carried out with “tactical precision.”

“As the officers approached the premises, the suspects tried to escape in a vehicle and opened fire. A high-intensity shootout ensued, resulting in the fatal wounding of three unidentified suspects,” Fumba revealed.

Sullivan’s kidnapping sparked nationwide concern, with his family and friends making emotional appeals for his safe return. Jeremy Hall, a spokesperson for the Sullivan family, said the pastor was abducted in front of his wife and children while attending church. “They knew his name,” Hall noted, suggesting the kidnapping may have been carefully planned by individuals familiar with the family’s movements.

Although no ransom demand was made initially, the kidnappers later contacted the family with a financial demand, which reportedly triggered the Hawks’ urgent intervention.

The rescue comes amid a worrying surge in kidnapping cases in South Africa. According to police data, the country has seen a staggering 264% increase in kidnappings over the past decade, many of them orchestrated by organized criminal networks targeting locals and foreigners alike.

Sullivan, who describes himself as a “church planting missionary,” moved to South Africa with his wife and children in 2018 to start a Christian ministry among Xhosa-speaking communities. His website documents his journey of establishing a faith-based movement in the region.