By USA Daily Now 
The kidnapping of JOSH SULLIVAN, a 34-year-old pastor and missionary from Tennessee, has highlighted the alarming rise in kidnappings in South Africa over the past decade. Sullivan, who serves as a pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, Eastern Cape Province, was abducted on the evening of April 10 by several armed, masked men who broke into his church, confiscated parishioners’ cellphones, and fled in Sullivan’s own truck.
According to a December 2024 report by the Institute for Security Studies (ISS) Africa, kidnappings in South Africa have surged by 264% over the past decade, rising from 4,692 cases in 2014/15 to 17,061 in 2023/24. The most recent quarterly crime statistics, released on November 25, 2024, confirm this upward trend. The ISS Africa report notes that the majority of kidnappings in 2023-2024 occurred during aggravated robberies, such as car hijackings, home invasions, or armed robberies in public spaces.
Eastern Cape Hawks spokesperson Warrant Officer NDIPHIWE MHLIKHUVANA confirmed to South African news outlet IOL that the suspects who kidnapped Sullivan demanded a ransom. A multidisciplinary task team consisting of specialized police units has been activated to locate Sullivan and apprehend the perpetrators. The South African Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation, known as the Hawks, has urged anyone with information to come forward, assuring confidentiality.
MARSHALL BLACKBURN, Republican Senator from Tennessee, expressed her concern in a statement to Fox News Digital, saying she has been in contact with the State Department and the U.S. Embassy in South Africa to expedite Sullivan’s rescue. “My prayers are with Pastor Sullivan’s family and those working tirelessly to rescue him from these vicious criminal gangs,” Blackburn said.
BOBBY MCDONALD, a criminal justice lecturer at the University of New Haven, highlighted the risks faced by missionaries in regions with high gang activity. “Missionaries often walk into situations heavily influenced by gang-related activities or the desire to harm foreigners trying to make a difference,” he said. McDonald also emphasized the stark socio-economic disparities in South Africa, where moving from affluent neighborhoods to underdeveloped areas can pose significant risks.
TOM HATLEY, pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church, recounted the harrowing incident, stating that Sullivan was taken at gunpoint during a prayer meeting. “It was something we all knew could happen there, but we always hoped and prayed that it would not,” Hatley said. He described Sullivan as remaining “cool and calm” despite the circumstances.
In a live discussion posted by Fellowship Baptist Church four months ago, Sullivan and his wife shared their experiences of being robbed in South Africa, where they have served as missionaries for six years. “Robbing is a very common occurrence,” Sullivan said in the video, while his wife recounted being robbed of a new iPhone. She emphasized that crime in the area is driven by economic hardship rather than gang activity.
Sullivan’s mother, TONYA MORTON RINKER, described her son as a devoted father, husband, and servant of God. “He has a servant’s heart, a kind compassionate spirit, and is filled with selflessness,” she said. Missionary MARK COFFEY praised Sullivan as a “gentle giant” deeply committed to the Xhosa people. Sullivan and his wife, Meagan, have been instrumental in planting Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell and have taken in two Xhosa children alongside their own.
The ISS Africa report notes that less than 5% of kidnappings in South Africa involve ransom demands, making Sullivan’s case particularly concerning. As authorities continue their search, the global community watches anxiously for his safe return.
**Sources:**
[ISS Africa Report](https://issafrica.org)
[IOL News](https://www.iol.co.za)
[Fox News Digital](https://www.foxnews.com)