In the quiet township of Motherwell, Eastern Cape, a Thursday evening prayer meeting turned into a nightmare for the congregation of Fellowship Baptist Church. Pastor Josh Sullivan, a 45-year-old American missionary from Tennessee, was delivering a sermon to about 30 worshippers, including his wife, Meagan, and their six children, when four armed and masked men burst through the doors. The intruders, their faces concealed, moved with chilling precision. They demanded two cell phones from the stunned congregation before zeroing in on Sullivan. In a moment that left the church frozen in fear, one of the gunmen grabbed Meagan, asking, “Josh, is this your wife?” before shoving her to the ground. They then forced Sullivan out of the sanctuary and into his own silver Toyota Fortuner, speeding off into the night. Hours later, the vehicle was found abandoned less than a mile away, but Sullivan remains missing, leaving his family, church, and community in anguish.
The brazen abduction has sent shockwaves through Motherwell, a working-class area outside the coastal city of Gqeberha, where Sullivan had become a familiar and beloved figure. Originally from Maryville, Tennessee, he arrived in South Africa with his family in November 2018, driven by a calling to establish a church among the Xhosa-speaking community. Over nearly seven years, he and Meagan built Fellowship Baptist Church into a cornerstone of hope, offering spiritual guidance and practical support to families in need. Sullivan described himself as a “church-planting missionary,” a role that saw him not only preaching but also fostering community ties in a region marked by economic hardship and rising crime. His dedication made the targeted nature of the attack all the more jarring. According to a fellow pastor, Jeremy Hall, who spoke on behalf of the family, the kidnappers knew Sullivan by name, suggesting the assault was no random act of violence.
South African authorities have launched a full-scale investigation, with the case now in the hands of the Hawks, an elite police unit specializing in organized crime and high-profile cases. Initial reports indicate the abduction may be financially motivated, part of a disturbing trend of kidnappings for ransom that has surged across the country. In the 2023-2024 financial year, South Africa recorded over 17,000 kidnappings, an 11 percent increase from the previous year. Just days before Sullivan’s abduction, a Chinese national was kidnapped in Gqeberha, underscoring the growing audacity of criminal networks in the region. Despite the lack of a ransom demand so far, investigators are treating the case with urgency, combing through leads and appealing to the public for information. The U.S. State Department has confirmed it is aware of the situation, emphasizing that the safety of American citizens abroad is a top priority, while Sullivan’s mother, Tonya Rinker, shared her heartbreak on social media, noting that the American embassy and congressional representatives are working to secure her son’s release.
For those who knew Sullivan, the wait for news is agonizing. His church, a modest sanctuary on Mambalaza Street, has become a gathering place for supporters holding vigils and offering prayers. Hall, who was present during the attack, described the pastor as a man of unwavering faith, someone who saw his work in Motherwell as a lifelong mission. The congregation, though shaken, has rallied around Meagan and the children, who witnessed the terrifying ordeal. Beyond South Africa, messages of support have poured in from Tennessee and across the globe, with many praising Sullivan’s commitment to spreading hope in a challenging environment.
The incident has cast a spotlight on South Africa’s escalating crime crisis, particularly in areas like Motherwell, where poverty and unemployment fuel desperation. Gun violence, too, remains a persistent scourge, with an average of 33 deaths daily attributed to firearms. Yet, amidst the fear, stories of Sullivan’s impact endure—tales of a man who left the comforts of home to build bridges in a foreign land. As the search for him intensifies, his congregation clings to the same faith he preached, praying for a miracle that will bring their pastor home.