Josh Sullivan, American Pastor Kidnapping at the muzzle while preaching in South Africa church Authorities said it had been rescued in a gunfight Thursday night, killing three people.
According to a statement released by Hawks, a specialized police department investigating serious crimes, Sullivan, 45, was kidnapped at the Scholar Baptist Church in the town of Motherwell outside the coastal city of Gqeberha and held in a safe house in the city.
The Hawk said numerous police agencies operating on tips went to the house Tuesday and saw a car. The suspects in the vehicle tried to escape and opened fire at the officers like they did, “the officers responded with tactical accuracy, resulting in a high-intensity gunfight”, with three of the suspects killed.
Sullivan found it in “miraculously harmless” and added that he was immediately evaluated by medical staff and is currently in good condition.
Scholarship Baptist Church
Police said four armed and masked male suspects entered the church Thursday, robbed two cell phones and took Sullivan to ride with them, a Toyota Fortuner, which was found shortly after in Motherwell.
There was no initial news on Wednesday regarding the fate or whereabouts of the fourth suspect.
The local pastor Jeremy Hall told French news agency AFP Sullivan’s kidnapping could be “financially related.”
Police spokesman Andre Beetge told AFP that when a ransom is needed, AFP will hand over to the Hawks.
In recent years, the number of people kidnapped, including criminal gangs, who believe they can order large ransoms.
Hall said Sullivan was holding a prayer meeting with about 30 people, including his wife and six children, when armed kidnappers entered.
According to his personal website, Sullivan arrived in South Africa with his family from Tennessee in November 2018.
“We hope to complete the language school as soon as possible and build a church for those who Xhosa speaks,” he wrote on the website.
According to the website, Sullivan has been working at the Scholarship Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee since February 2012.
Sullivan’s wife Megan posted a statement through a family spokesperson Saturday, thanking people for their “love and prayer.”
