American Pastor Abducted During Church Service in South Africa

A U.S. missionary pastor was kidnapped in the middle of a worship service in South Africa, sparking concern from local authorities and U.S. officials alike.

Josh Sullivan, 45, was leading an evening gathering at Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, a township in Gqeberha, when four masked men stormed in. It happened Thursday night — what started as a quiet service quickly turned into a terrifying ordeal.

“They didn’t just stumble in,” one attendee said. “They came in knowing exactly what they wanted.”

The suspects took a couple of phones from churchgoers and then forced Sullivan into his own Toyota Fortuner before driving off. The car was later found, empty and abandoned — but Sullivan was nowhere in sight.

Police Hand Over Case to Elite Investigators

The case has now been transferred to South Africa’s Hawks, a specialized unit that handles serious crimes. Lt. Colonel Avele Fumba confirmed they’re chasing every lead they can find.

Family spokesperson Jeremy Hall told TimesLive that the men seemed to know Sullivan personally. “They called him by name,” he said. “This wasn’t just a robbery.”

Sullivan’s wife and kids were reportedly inside the church when it happened. His mother, Tonya Morton Rinker, posted on Facebook that she was “heartbroken” and working with the U.S. embassy and their local congressman.

So far, no ransom note has surfaced.

U.S. Responds, But Few Details Released

The U.S. State Department confirmed they’re aware of the situation and are prioritizing Sullivan’s safety. As expected, no other details have been shared for now.

Sullivan and his family moved to South Africa in 2018. He was serving as a church planting missionary, focused on building a community among the Xhosa-speaking population in the Eastern Cape.

Rising Kidnappings Add to the Alarm

This isn’t an isolated case. Kidnappings in South Africa have skyrocketed — up 264% over the last 10 years, according to national police figures. Some are ransom-driven; others are more complex.

Just a few days before this incident, a Chinese national was reportedly kidnapped in the same city.

Tension Grows in the Local Community

Motherwell, like many South African townships, grapples with crime and limited resources. But for most residents, church is a safe place. That’s why this kidnapping hit so hard.

“If this can happen at church,” one resident said, “then where are we even safe anymore?”