HORROR: American pastor kidnapped at gunpoint in front of wife and children during church sermon
American pastor Josh Sullivan was abducted at gunpoint during a church service in South Africa.
The 34-year-old Tennessee native was delivering a sermon at Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, Eastern Cape, when four masked gunmen stormed the sanctuary on Thursday evening.
The congregation, including Sullivan’s wife and six children, witnessed the terrifying ordeal as the assailants forcibly removed him from the pulpit.
The attackers, who appeared to have prior knowledge of Sullivan, addressed him by name before abducting him.
They also stole two cellphones from congregants and fled the scene in Sullivan’s silver Toyota Fortuner, which was later found abandoned nearby, according to TimesLive.
“The men came into the church and initially held Meagan and walked her towards the door before saying, ‘Josh, is this your wife?’ They then pushed her to the ground and took Josh before driving off in his vehicle,” the family’s spokesperson told the news outlet.
“The car was found a few kilometers away shortly afterwards.”
Sullivan, a dedicated missionary affiliated with Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee, relocated to South Africa in 2018 with his family to establish a church for Xhosa-speaking communities.
The South African Police Service’s Anti-Gang Unit is leading the investigation, with potential escalation to the Hawks, a specialized crime unit, should a ransom demand be made. As of now, no ransom has been requested.
Sullivan’s wife, Maegan, expressed her gratitude for the outpouring of support and urged continued prayers for her husband’s safe return.
“I just want to say thank you for the outpouring of love and prayers. We beg you to continue storming the throne room until Josh is safe at home,” she wrote on Facebook.
“My heart is breaking, please continue to pray for my son, daughter-in-law, grandkids and our family,” Sullivan’s mother, Tonya Morton Rinker, wrote on Facebook.
“They found his van abandoned but Joshua was kidnapped. I know he’s doing God’s work, and I also know he wouldn’t change that.”
As the search for Pastor Sullivan continues, his family and congregation remain steadfast in their faith, praying for his swift and safe return.
This article originally appeared on The Gateway Pundit.com.