US missionary abducted in South Africa during church service

An American missionary was reportedly abducted on the evening of Thursday, April 10, during a church service in Eastern Cape Province, South Africa. According to multiple news outlets, armed, masked assailants stormed the Fellowship Baptist Church and kidnapped Josh Sullivan, a missionary affiliated with a Tennessee-based church.

Eyewitnesses, including police interviewees, reported that the gunmen interrupted the midweek service, which was attended by around 30 congregants, including Sullivan’s wife and children. The attackers specifically called out the pastor by name before fleeing with Sullivan in his vehicle.

The South African Police Service confirmed to ABC News that the elite Hawks Unit is leading the investigation into the kidnapping.

Sullivan and his family have been serving as missionaries in South Africa since 2018, sent by their home church to plant a ministry among the Xhosa-speaking communities in the Eastern Cape.

In response to the abduction, Fellowship Baptist Church took to Facebook, requesting prayers for Sullivan. “He was kidnapped at gunpoint by six men during their church service this evening,” the church posted.

Addressing public scrutiny over the need for missionary work, the church responded, “This is the question we’ve heard most in the past few days. Some have asked maliciously, while others seem genuinely curious.” Citing John 3:16 and Acts 1:8, they emphasized that sharing the Gospel is a divine mandate.

“Missionaries are sacrificial people who bring God’s love to even the most forgotten and difficult places,” the church stated, adding, “We are thankful for our missionaries and are praying for them.”

The incident occurs amid strained U.S.–South Africa relations, following the Trump administration’s aid cuts over the land expropriation law and the resulting expulsion of South Africa’s ambassador.