Overview

• Josh Sullivan, a U.S. pastor and missionary, was abducted during a sermon at Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell Township on April 10, 2025.
• Four masked, armed men stormed the church, stole cellphones, and forced Sullivan into his vehicle, which was later found abandoned nearby.
• South African police, including the elite Hawks unit, are actively investigating the case and pursuing all possible leads to locate Sullivan and apprehend the kidnappers.
• Conflicting reports have emerged regarding a ransom demand, with some sources claiming one was made, while police have stated otherwise.
• Sullivan, who has been in South Africa since 2018 to establish a church for the Xhosa-speaking community, has drawn international concern over his safety and the rise of kidnappings in the region.