American pastor Josh Sullivan issued a statement after being rescued from prisoners following a fatal shootout in South Africa’s Eastern Cape.
“I want to start by thanking God for bringing me from what was definitely the worst experience of our life,” Sullivan wrote in a press release. He said his “personal relationship with Jesus” gave him the strength he needed to survive.
Joshua Sullivan was invited by an armed man on April 10th. (Fellowship Baptist Church/Facebook)
A kided American pastor in South Africa was rescued after a fatal police shootout
“I am deeply grateful to the thousands of people who prayed for me while I was in captivity. It was because of these prayers that God had done a miracle a few nights ago.”
Sullivan also expressed his gratitude to the Directorate General of Priority Crime Investigations (Hawks), the FBI, Special Agents of the Diplomatic Security Services (DSS), and the South African Police Department. He also said he was grateful to his wife.
Josh Sullivan, an American pastor in Tennessee, has been working as a missionary in South Africa with his wife and children since 2018. (Fellowship Baptist Church Motherwell/Facebook)
The invitation of American pastors in South Africa has been fueled by the rising prices of armed robberies in recent years
Sullivan sought privacy, but said he would tell a “miraculous” story of “When Time is Right.”
The Hawks said that “he has stated that a ‘successful rescue’ of American citizens was held,” which is reportedly a local pastor who was allegedly invited and detained at the safehouse in Kwamagxaki, Gqeberha on April 15, 2025.
Josh Sullivan was safely rescued on Tuesday, South African officials said. (AP)
Click here to get the Fox News app
Sullivan was accused when four men broke into his church and dragged him out of the pulpit. Associated Pressadded that his truck was discovered several hours later. The outlet reported that Sullivan has been based in the Motherwell Township branch of Fellowship Baptist Church since 2018.
Elizabeth Prickett contributed to this report.
