The look for an American missionary continued Sunday in South Africa after his Tennessee church stated he was supposedly abducted at gunpoint throughout a solution recently.
Josh Sullivan of Tennessee was supposedly abducted by armed guys that rupture right into a church in Motherwell, a municipality near the port city of Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape district of South Africa, the Fellowship Baptist Church in Mossy Grove, Tennessee stated on its Facebook page.
Lt. Gen. Avele Fumba southern African Authorities Solution validated to ABC Information on Saturday that the firm’s elite Hawks device is examining a supposed kidnapping of “a male thought to be the priest of a neighborhood church” in the Gqeberha location.
American missionary Josh Sullivan, seen in this undated picture, was supposedly abducted, April 10, 2025, throughout a worship in Motherwell, South Africa, according to participants of his Tennessee church. (handout Fellowship Baptist Church)
Thanks To Fellowship Baptist Church
The case unravelled at concerning 7 p.m. regional time on Thursday when the priest of the church “was presumably challenged by a minimum of 4 unidentified armed suspects throughout a worship,” Fumba informed ABC Information in a declaration.
Witnesses informed private investigators that the suspects compelled the preacher right into his very own automobile and took off, Fumba stated. South African Authorities Solution agent Capt. Andre Beetge validated in a declaration to The Associated Press that the taken vehicle, a silver Toyota 4Runner, was discovered deserted in Motherwell a brief time after the kidnapping.
” In feedback to the case, a multidisciplinary job group containing different specialized cops systems was turned on,” Fumba stated. “The group is presently complying with all feasible cause find the sufferer and capture the criminals.”
Fumba decreased to launch the name or race of the abducted priest, yet Fellowship Baptist Church in Mossy Grove, Tennessee, determined him on its Facebook page as Josh Sullivan and asked individuals to wish his secure return.
ABC Information has actually connected to the church for more remark.
Sullivan’s mom, Tonya Rinker of Maryville, Tennessee, additionally validated that her boy is the priest that was abducted.
” As a mom, you never ever think of something such as this occurring to your youngster yet confidence lugs you via the unpredictability,” Rinker informed ABC Information in a declaration. “Joshua’s wit and wit are a true blessing, he’s constantly prepared with a joke, and for life looking for to make individuals laugh.”
Rinker included, “He’s a phenomenal papa, other half, and boy, symbolizing generosity, toughness and kindness. He has a slave’s heart, a kind thoughtful spirit and is loaded with altruism. He has a problem for shed spirits and has actually committed his life to offering God in South Africa. I wish his secure return, loaded with confidence and guarantee.”
A united state State Division agent stated they know records of a united state resident being abducted in South Africa.
According to a bio on what shows up to Sullivan’s website, he defines himself as a “church-planting missionary to the nation of South Africa,” that got here there in November 2018 with his better half, Meagan, and their youngsters to run Fellowship Baptist’s Motherwell church there.
Sullivan has actually gotten on the personnel at Fellowship Baptist Church in Mossy Grove because 2012, according to his internet site.
