A U.S. Baptist missionary, Josh Sullivan, was kidnapped at gunpoint while preaching at Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, South Africa. The incident occurred during a prayer meeting with about 30 attendees, where four masked gunmen entered the church, robbed two cell phones, and abducted the 45-year-old pastor. Sullivan, who has been a missionary in South Africa since 2018, was taken in his own vehicle, which was later found abandoned near the church.
The South African Police Service’s Anti-Gang Unit is investigating the kidnapping, and the U.S. Embassy in South Africa is monitoring the situation. While some reports suggest the kidnapping may have been financially motivated, the attackers targeted Sullivan specifically, knowing his name and vocation. The church had previously faced threats, including a warning that it would be burned down at the end of 2024.
Sullivan and his wife planted Fellowship Baptist Church in 2021, with a mission to provide a church for the Xhosa-speaking people of South Africa. The church is one of only a few that preach in the Xhosa language, serving a community of nearly 10 million people. Sullivan’s wife and children witnessed the kidnapping, and their community is now rallying around them in support.