DIVINE INTERVENTION

American Pastor Kidnapped in South Africa Rescued After Deadly Police Shootout

Tennessee missionary Josh Sullivan was rescued after a “high-intensity” shootout between police and his captors.

An American pastor who was kidnapped by masked men in South Africa was rescued following a deadly shootout with police. Pastor Josh Sullivan, 34, from Tennessee, was abducted while giving a sermon at a church in the Eastern Cape last week by a group of four armed men. Sullivan was taken by his captors to a house in KwaMagxaki, Gqeberha, and was eventually discovered after a tip-off led police to his location. Upon arrival, suspects in a car outside the premises began firing at the officers and a “high-intensity shootout” took place, which resulted in the deaths of three of Sullivan’s captors and caused the others to flee. Sullivan was found “miraculously unharmed” in the same car as his captives and is “currently in an excellent condition,” according to police. In a Wednesday morning Facebook post, Tom Hartley, pastor of the Fellowship Baptist Church in Sullivan’s hometown of Maryville, Tennessee, wrote: “Josh has been released. I just got ‘the go ahead to let it be known.’ SA media has started broadcasting. American media will follow. Thank you for your support and prayers. Please do not stop praying for The Sullivans. Praise The Lord Jesus Christ!”