Tennessee pastor Josh Sullivan was kidnapped while preaching on a mission to South Africa—Newsweek has broken down what we know about him.
The Context
Sullivan, a missionary from Tennessee, was abducted while preaching to a congregation at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell Township, in South Africa’s Eastern Cape province, on Thursday, local media reported.
A group of four armed men entered the church wearing masks, stole two cellphones from members of the congregation and took the pastor away in his truck, Eastern Cape police spokesperson Brigadier Nobuntu Gantana said. The truck was later recovered in Motherwell.
Since then, a ransom has been demanded for the return of Sullivan, according to South African news outlet News24, which cited Hawks, a specialized unit that investigates organized crime, corruption, and serious offenses.
Sullivan was identified as the kidnapping victim by Tennessee church’s pastor Tom Hatley, at the request of Josh Sullivan’s wife Meagan Witt Sullivan—the South African police have not confirmed his identity.
Newsweek has contacted the South African police and U.S. embassy in the South African capital of Pretoria via email for comment. Newsweek has contacted Meagan Witt Sullivan and Hatley via direct message for comment.
What To Know About Josh Sullivan
Josh Sullivan calls himself a “church planting missionary to the country of South Africa” in his family’s blog—a term that usually refers to someone who starts a new church from the ground up.
Josh Sullivan, his wife and their two children were set to first arrive in South Africa in November 2018 to “plant a church to the Xhosa-speaking people.”
Hatley wrote about the Sullivans: “I have been privileged to be Josh and Meagan’s pastor since their childhood. Both have a love for Christ and have a tremendous desire to share the gospel with the Xhosa people of South Africa.”
He broke down the couple’s experience in ministry, including Josh Sullivan’s past responsibilities with teen ministry, bus ministry and teaching.
In Josh Sullivan’s prayer letter, posted on April 3, he wrote about his trip to Mozambique, which was a “wonderful opportunity to see another African country and grow our burden for the African people.”
He told the stories of recent baptisms he and his family had been involved in in Motherwell Township and called on Christians to “pray for the South African people.”
What People Are Saying
Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer Ndiphiwe Mhlakhuvana told the South African outlet IOL: “In response to the incident, a multidisciplinary task team consisting of various police specialized units was activated. The joint team is currently following all possible leads to locate the victim and apprehend the perpetrators. A ransom was demanded by the suspects.”
Meagan Witt Sullivan posted on Facebook last Friday: “I just want to say thank you for the outpouring of love and prayers. We beg you to continue storming the throne room until Josh is safe at home.”
What Happens Next
It is not known how much money the kidnappers have demanded for Sullivan’s return or what the next steps are.
Jordan King
www.newsweek.com
