Authorities say the armed man rushed into a South African church last week and invited an American pastor in Tennessee.
Late Thursday, Rev. Josh Sullivan, 34, was preaching to about 30 people, including his wife Megan and their six children.
“We’re in a really nervous situation right now.”
Suddenly, four armed men attack the church and invite the pastor in the middle of a sermon.
“It is said that four armed masked male suspects entered the church while the sermon was being held,” police said. CBS News.
Sullivan family spokesman Jeremy Hall told local newspapers. Times Live The temptation “knowed his name.”
“The man came to church and first hugged Megan, and then he said, ‘Josh, is this your wife?’ Then they pushed her into the ground, driving Josh in the car, then driving,” Hall said.
The temptation is also allegedly stole two cell phones from the congregation people.
The armed temptation reportedly took Sullivan at the muzzle, pushed him into his car and drove him. The car was abandoned about a mile from the church.
A US State Department spokesperson said: BBC Government agencies know the invitations of American citizens in South Africa.
The spokesman said “it is a higher priority than the safety and security of American citizens overseas.”
“As I understand, there was no ransom growing,” said Captain Andre Beatge, a police spokesman.
Beetge noted that if a ransom is requested, the case will be handed over to the Hawks. This is a specialized police force investigating organized crime, economic crime, corruption and other serious crimes.
Hawks spokesman Lieut. “Police are currently chasing all possible leads to find the victim and arrest the perpetrator,” Colonel Avele Fumba said.
Since February 2012, Sullivan has been on staff at Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee.
“Pray for Josh Sullivan, the missionary to South Africa,” the church said. statement.
Sullivan and his family arrived in South Africa from Tennessee in November 2018. Personal website.
“We are looking to quickly graduate from language school and plant churches in people who speak Xhosa,” Sullivan wrote on his site.
Missionary Mark Coffey I said Sullivan said, “Josh’s love for the people of Xhosa is evident in everything he does. He does not only serve them. He will walk with them, learn from them, and put his life into building lasting relationships rooted in the love of Christ.
said David Whitt, Sullivan’s father-in-law. WVLT-TV“We all ask for praying for Josh. I came here and asked for prayer. We are in a really tense situation right now.”
Witt said, “It’s devastating in terms of children. These are my children and grandchildren. On the other hand, we serve a great God. We trust him.”
According to the anti-Gin Police Force, Chinese citizens were lured in Gqeberha last week.
Citing police statistics, CBS News reported that there were over 17,000 invitations in South Africa during the 2023-2024 fiscal year. This is an 11% increase from the previous year.
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