Pastor kidnapped at gunpoint whereas delivering sermon
Gunmen in South Africa have kidnapped a U.S. missionary from his church as he was delivering a sermon, police and a colleague stated Friday.
Pastor Josh Sullivan was kidnapped late Thursday on the Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell outdoors the coastal metropolis of Gqeberha in what seemed to be a kidnapping for ransom, a colleague informed AFP.
Kidnappings, together with by felony gangs that focus on folks for whom massive ransoms might be demanded, have been rising in South Africa lately.
“It’s alleged that whereas a sermon was carried out on the church, 4 armed and masked male suspects entered the church,” police informed CBS Information. “They robbed two cell telephones after which took the 45-year-old male pastor with them and fled the scene.”
A spokesperson from the U.S. State Division informed CBS Information that they had been conscious of the kidnapping of an American citizen in South Africa. The company stated it has no additional info to share presently.
Rev. Jeremy Corridor, a pastor additionally primarily based within the southeastern metropolis, informed AFP the kidnapping was in all probability “financially associated.”
Police spokesperson Captain Andre Beetge stated protocol dictated that when a ransom was demanded, the case could be handed over to the Hawks – a specialised police unit that investigates organized crime, financial crime, corruption, and different severe crimes.
“As I perceive, there was no ransom raised,” stated Beetge, urging anybody with info to come back ahead.
Sullivan was holding a prayer assembly with about 30 folks, together with his spouse and 6 kids, when the armed kidnappers entered, Corridor stated.
“They knew him by identify,” he stated. They took him at gunpoint and compelled him into his automobile and drove off. The deserted automobile was recovered a couple of mile from the church.
Sullivan arrived in South Africa together with his household from Tennessee in November 2018, in keeping with his personal website.
“We want to end language faculty quickly and plant a church to the Xhosa talking folks,” he writes on his website.
Sullivan has been on the workers at Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee, since February of 2012, in keeping with the web site.
“Please pray for Josh Sullivan, missionary to South Africa,” the church wrote on its Fb web page.
Sullivan’s spouse Megan launched a press release by way of a household spokesperson on Saturday.
“I simply wish to say thanks for the outpouring of affection and prayers,” she stated. “We beg you to proceed storming the throne room till Josh is protected at residence.”
As they await Sullivan’s protected return, supporters flocked to the pastor’s private weblog website and different social media platforms to supply their well-wishes.
“We at the moment are praying that you just delivered from these evil males,” a poster named Richard Stockton stated on the church web site. “Praying the Holy Spirit effectively work on their hearts and be saved. And launch you!!!”
One other supporter referred to as Kody Moore stated Josh was a “trustworthy brother doing a lot to make Christ recognized in Africa.”
“Please pray for Josh to be introduced residence safely and particularly his household throughout this positively horrible time. Could Christ be magnified,” he tweeted on X.
The police anti-gang unit stated a Chinese language nationwide was additionally kidnapped Tuesday within the metropolis, which is on the Indian Ocean and about 570 miles southeast of Johannesburg.
There have been greater than 17,000 kidnappings in South Africa within the 2023-2024 monetary 12 months, an 11-percent improve over the earlier 12 months, in keeping with police statistics.
South Africa has additionally been affected by escalating gun violence. Every day, 33 individuals are killed by weapons in South Africa, in accordance Gun Free South Africa, a nonprofit advocating for diminished gun violence.
The Related Press contributed to this report.
Saturday Sessions: Dawes performs “Still Strangers Sometimes”
Saturday Sessions: Dawes performs “Time Spent in Los Angeles”
Source link