U.S. Pastor Abducted During South African Sermon Amid Rising Kidnappings
Pastor Josh Sullivan, a U.S. missionary, was abducted during a sermon in South Africa by armed men. The incident, believed to be a ransom kidnapping, highlights the increasing number of such crimes in the country. Kidnappings have risen significantly, along with alarming rates of gun violence.
In South Africa, U.S. missionary Pastor Josh Sullivan was abducted during a sermon at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, near Gqeberha. The incident occurred late on a Thursday and is believed to be a kidnapping for ransom, as reported by police and a colleague of Sullivan. Kidnappings for ransom by criminal gangs targeting individuals for substantial ransoms have been on the rise in the country.
According to police statements, four armed and masked men entered the church during the sermon, stole two cell phones, and then forcibly took the 45-year-old pastor with them. Rev. Jeremy Hall noted that Sullivan was likely targeted because of financial motives, indicating that the assailants were familiar with him personally. At the time of the attack, Sullivan was leading a prayer meeting attended by approximately 30 individuals, including his wife and six children.
Sullivan, who has been serving at Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee since February 2012, moved to South Africa with his family in November 2018 to learn the language and plan a church for the Xhosa-speaking community. The pastor’s church has requested prayers for his safety on their Facebook page. Notably, there has been a concerning trend in South Africa, with over 17,000 kidnappings reported in the 2023-2024 fiscal year, reflecting an 11% increase compared to the previous year.
Moreover, the country is experiencing significant gun violence, with statistics from Gun Free South Africa indicating that 33 individuals are killed by guns daily, marking a serious public safety crisis. In the same week as Sullivan’s abduction, a Chinese national was also kidnapped in the same region, highlighting the growing issue of crime in the area.
The abduction of Pastor Josh Sullivan underscores the rising threat of kidnappings for ransom in South Africa, which have increased by 11% compared to the previous year. Amid escalating gun violence, this incident reflects broader issues of public safety in the region, with daily occurrences of armed crime. Sullivan’s case also highlights the personal risks faced by missionaries operating in vulnerable areas.
Original Source: www.cbsnews.com
