American pastor Joshua Sullivan was rescued unharmed after being kidnapped during a sermon in South Africa; three suspects were killed in a police shootout.

South African authorities have successfully rescued an American pastor who was abducted last week during a sermon, as the country continues to grapple with a sharp rise in kidnappings over the past decade.

According to a statement from the Hawks—a specialized South African police unit focused on serious crime—three unidentified suspects were killed during a “high-intensity shootout” on Tuesday. The operation led to the safe recovery of Joshua Sullivan, a missionary from Tennessee. The incident is one of many that highlights South Africa’s ongoing struggle with violent crime.

Police statistics reveal that kidnappings in South Africa have more than tripled over the last ten years. In the year ending March 2024, authorities recorded 17,061 cases. South Africa also ranks among the world’s most unequal societies and suffers from an alarmingly high murder rate. In the same reporting period, the country recorded over 27,000 murders—marking a 50% increase compared to figures from a decade ago.

Sullivan was abducted on Thursday night while preaching at Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, a township near Gqeberha in the Eastern Cape province. He had been serving there as a missionary since 2018. During the incident, four armed men stormed the church, stealing two mobile phones from congregation members before forcibly taking Sullivan. His truck was discovered abandoned just a few hours later.

Following extensive investigation and intelligence gathering, police traced the kidnappers to a house in KwaMagxaki, located roughly 20 minutes from the church and across the Swartkops River. As law enforcement officers moved in, suspects attempted to flee in a vehicle, opening fire on the police in the process.

“The victim was found inside the same vehicle from which the suspects had launched their attack,” the Hawks stated. “Miraculously unharmed, he was immediately assessed by medical personnel and is currently in an excellent condition.”

Reacting to the news of her son’s rescue, Sullivan’s mother, Tonya Morton Rinker, expressed her relief and gratitude in a Facebook post: “My Baby is free! Joshua was rescued earlier today!! He is home with Meagan and the kids … Thank you for your support and prayers.”

In an earlier post, Rinker described her son as a “big-hearted gentle giant.” She recounted that the 34-year-old first traveled to South Africa with his wife, Meagan, for a six-month mission trip in 2015. The couple later returned as full-time “church-planting” missionaries and became fluent in Xhosa, the predominant language in the Eastern Cape. In addition to raising their four children, the couple have also taken in two Xhosa children.

A report by the Institute of Security Studies, a local thinktank, indicated that 44% of kidnappings in South Africa occur during vehicle hijackings, primarily to extract quick cash. Another 22% are related to robberies, while only 5% are attributed to ransom demands. Authorities have not yet confirmed the specific motive behind Sullivan’s abduction.