Posted on 04/17/2025 4:52:16 PM PDT by Twotone
God 'was the one protecting him and taking care of him.'
An American pastor who was kidnapped by armed men while preaching a sermon in South Africa last week was rescued days later as part of a remarkable mission, according to law enforcement.
As Blaze News previously reported, Josh Sullivan was preaching during a Thursday evening service at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell — a township outside Gqeberha in South Africa's Eastern Cape province. Suddenly four armed men abducted Sullivan, who is from Tennessee, in front of his wife and six children.
The Hawks — a specialized police unit that investigates organized crime, economic crime, corruption, and other serious crimes — reportedly tracked down the kidnappers. On Tuesday, law enforcement engaged in a "high-intensity shoot-out" with alleged kidnappers at a safe house and rescued Sullivan.
The South African Police Service said in a statement, "As officers approached the house, they observed a vehicle on the premises. The suspects inside the vehicle, upon seeing law enforcement, allegedly attempted to flee and opened fire on the team."
"The officers responded with tactical precision, leading to a high-intensity shoot-out in which three unidentified suspects were fatally wounded," police stated.
Law enforcement officers rescued Sullivan from the vehicle, who reportedly was unharmed and in "excellent condition."
The Fellowship Baptist Church in Tennessee stated, "Praise the Lord!" Tom Hatley, the church's pastor, said that "Josh has been released. Thank you for your support and prayers. Please do not stop praying for the Sullivans."
Church secretary Heather Shirley told the Christian Post that God "was the one protecting him and taking care of him. And that's what we were praying for all along, that He would take care of him and bring him home."
Shirley added, "We want to let Josh tell the whole story as he wants to or give us something to give to our people so that they understand exactly how he felt. I don't think any of us can understand how he felt in that situation. I mean, there had to just be a hedge of protection around him, provided by God; that's the only explanation for it."
Sullivan — a self-described "church planting missionary" — arrived in South Africa in 2018 with plans to "finish language school … and plant a church to the Xhosa-speaking people."
Missionary Mark Coffey said of Sullivan, "Josh’s love for the Xhosa people is evident in everything he does. He doesn’t just serve them — he walks with them, learns from them, and pours his life into building lasting relationships rooted in the love of Christ. He often says that learning the Xhosa language wasn’t just about communication — it was about connection."
There were an average of 51 kidnappings every day in the country in 2023, according to the government.
I wonder if he and his family will see this as a sign to leave S Africa?
My late pastor often said, “If GOD has something for you to do, He’ll preserve you like a pickle.”
Apparently, the American pastor is on a Divine assignment.
I’m impressed that he’s studying the !Xhosa language. Mastering those clicks would be major obstacle for most of us.
I wonder if he’s also studying Afrikaans.
Apparently, the American pastor is on a Divine assignment.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
We all should be on a Divine assignment... even if it is in our backyard.
On another note, never underestimate the power of prayer. John 14:13-17
Casting pearls before swine. Telescopic altruism.
This missionary would interpret it as a sign that Satan is setting up major opposition to my ministry and I need to double down in prayer for protection, being bold and brave, and sticking to the course. I would take it as a sign that I’m over the enemy and taking flak.
Satan doesn’t bother with ineffective warriors.
Just speaking from 30 years on the mission field.
He’s a very lucky man that it wasn’t the fbi hrt (hostage removal terminators) that was trying to save him.
Leave the country?
Being of the same Baptist stripe as he, and one of my very best friends being a church planter in White River, I can say he is under a mission board and a “sending church”. Either his board or his home pastor could bring him back home.
That is unlikely.
Even if it were to happen from his board, he would have no problem coming home for deputation under approval from a new different board. He would be back in country within a year.
His sending church would be a much more serious problem, but it is even more unlikely they would do that. He might come back for the vote, give a message on his burden and God’s power etc. and right back to the Xhosa people he would go on a 100% vote.
What should he do? I would tell him to come home for a year and preach across this country raising funds and winning souls and recruiting more young missionaries. But nobody listens to me.
Kind Regards!
Pastor Brian
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.