A pastor was shockingly found in ‘excellent’ health after he was kidnapped from his church and later dramatically rescued by a group of armed officers in South Africa. 

Josh Sullivan, 45, was saved in a valiant rescue mission by officers in the Eastern Cape province on Tuesday after being abducted on Thursday last week. 

Sullivan, from Tennessee, has been based in the Motherwell township branch of the Fellowship Baptist church since 2018 alongside his wife Meagan and children. 

Twenty officers of a police unit known as The Hawks ambushed his captors at their safe house in KwaMagxaki, around 20 minutes away from the church. 

When the kidnappers saw the officers with their weapons drawn a ‘high-intensity’ shootout took place with the officers killing them all.

Local police spoke out after the perplexing ordeal – specifically pointing out that the pastor was ‘miraculously’ found in ‘excellent condition,’ despite everyone fearing the worst for five days. 

What Sullivan experienced during his time in captivity – and how he seemingly came out completely unscathed – is still unclear.  

Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba said in a statement: ‘The victim was found inside the same vehicle from which the suspects had launched their attack.

Sullivan, seen here alongside his wife Meagan and their young family, was abducted while giving a sermon last Thursday

Sullivan, seen here alongside his wife Meagan and their young family, was abducted while giving a sermon last Thursday 

Sullivan, from Tennessee , has been based in the Motherwell township branch of the Fellowship Baptist church since 2018

Sullivan, from Tennessee , has been based in the Motherwell township branch of the Fellowship Baptist church since 2018

‘Miraculously unharmed, he was immediately assessed by medical personnel and is currently in an excellent condition.’ 

Sullivan was pistol-whipped by one of the gang and dragged up the aisle while others robbed members of his congregation during his abduction. 

The gang had made ransom demands for the release of Sullivan, which prompted the involvement of the Hawks. 

A police source said: ‘Meagan got the call on Friday afternoon a day after the kidnap so the gang obviously had her mobile number and told her they had Josh.

‘She was distraught and a friend who was with her took the phone and was told unless the family or church came up with what is a very large ransom it would not end well.

‘A time to raise the funds by was given and then the gang member hung up’ the source added.

Sullivan said on his website he felt a calling from God in 2013 and in 2015 went to South Africa for a six-month internship at the church as part of his studies.

In 2018 he moved full time to Port Elizabeth, now known as Gqeberha, and spent two years learning the Xhosa language so he could add the local tongue into his sermons.

His wife and family moved with him and they have also taken in two Xhosa children who live with them and has become a popular and loved community member.

He moved from Tennessee to become a ‘church planter’ which is a Baptist missionary who focuses on establishing new churches and congregations in new areas.

Sullivan said on his website he felt a calling from God in 2013 and in 2015 went to South Africa for a six-month internship at the church as part of his studies

Sullivan said on his website he felt a calling from God in 2013 and in 2015 went to South Africa for a six-month internship at the church as part of his studies 

The pastor was giving a service at the time of his kidnapping

The pastor was giving a service at the time of his kidnapping 

Tom Hatley, who Sullivan has described on his site as his childhood and training pastor, shared news of his rescue to his Facebook page.

Sharing a picture of Sullivan, he explained he had received ‘the go ahead to let it be known that Josh has been released.’

His US friend pastor Coffey said: ‘Josh’s love for the Xhosa people is evident in everything he does. He doesn’t just serve them he walks with them and learns from them’.

His mother Tonya Morton Rinket from Tennessee had been posting on her Facebook page saying her ‘heart is breaking’ after his abduction. 

On Tuesday, she said: ‘HE’S HOME, My Baby is free! Joshua was released earlier today!! 

‘He is home with Meagan and the kids. PRAISE GOD FOR HIS GRACE AND MERCY. Thank you for your support and prayers. 

‘Please continue to pray for him, Meagan and the kids and our family. Praise The Lord Jesus Christ!

Kidnappings in South Africa have increased by 260 percent in a decade with ransoms being seen as big and easy money with mainly wealthy businessman or prominent people taken.

In the year 2023/4 there were 17,061 kidnappings though many were by family members taking members of their own family not for ransom and young girls taken for trafficking.

South Africa is one of the most dangerous countries in the world with 76 murders a day and 125 rapes a day but mostly in poor townships and relate to turf wars and drug gangs.

Only 5 tourists have been killed in the last 8 years mainly due to walking alone close to townships or driving by mistake into township areas and being attacked and killed.

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