A Tennessee pastor kidnapped at gunpoint during his church service in South Africa was rescued after six days through what he describes as a complete miracle.
Every day, missionaries risk their lives and the safety of their families to share the gospel in dangerous places around the world.
It’s not the authorities or government that protect them in such situations, it’s the hand of God. Pastor Sullivan’s rescue shows this truth in a powerful way.
Kidnapped During Sunday Service
Joshua Sullivan, a 34-year-old pastor from Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee, was preaching at his church in Motherwell, South Africa when his life changed dramatically.
On April 10, during the evening service, four masked gunmen burst into the building just one minute into his sermon.
“We originally thought they were just going to come in and take some phones,” Sullivan said in an interview with Fox News.
South Africa has high crime rates, and the Sullivan family had experienced robberies before during their seven years serving there.
The situation quickly turned serious. “Once he hit me over the head with his gun and then grabbed my wife, I knew something was different about this,” Sullivan recalled.
The armed men forced him to comply with their demands, fearing they might kidnap his wife Meagan too.
Six Days in Captivity
The kidnappers took Sullivan into his own vehicle before transferring him to another car a quarter mile down the road. After switching vehicles again, they drove about 20 minutes to a house.
There, they put him in the back bedroom, tied his hands, and kept him captive for six days.
The kidnappers immediately revealed their plan. “I know you’re American. I know you have money, and we’re going to kidnap you, and we’re going to get 5 million Rand,” one told him. That amount equals about $260,000.
During his captivity, Sullivan was guarded by three men who initially didn’t know his identity. “Two of the men were there the entire time, and one of them was evil to me,” Sullivan said. Another captor served as “the chef,” asking what he wanted to eat or drink.
Sullivan refused food for the first two days. Despite his situation, he shared his faith with his captors. “I was able to tell them about the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ… giving them the gospel,” he said.
“They had never heard that message before. And so the one individual was very interested. He had never heard that Jesus loved him or cared for him.”
A Family’s Faith Tested
Meanwhile, Meagan Sullivan described her husband’s absence as “torture.” The mother of six—including two children adopted in South Africa—received ransom demands through WhatsApp messages.
“They said, ‘5 million ransom and you’ll get your husband back.’ And they said cash. And I said, ‘I don’t have 5 million cash. Can you work with me?’ And they said, ‘You are not in any position to be making demands,'” she recalled.
Meagan focused on praying and comforting their children. “They were sobbing. They were terrified, but we prayed together. We gave it to the Lord and told him that we trust him,” she said.
A Divine Rescue
On April 16, the sixth day of captivity, Sullivan’s situation changed dramatically. The kidnappers moved him to a vehicle with his head covered.
While being rushed to the car, Sullivan tripped twice. After they placed him in the vehicle and pulled into the driveway, something unexpected happened.
“While we’re sitting in the driveway, the guys just jumped out of the car and began firing their weapons,” Sullivan said. “For about five to seven minutes, I hear a gun battle. Nothing hits the car, nothing around the car. But I just hear guns going off, and I’m just laying back there praying.”
When the gunfire stopped, someone opened the car door and asked if he was “the American pastor.” When Sullivan confirmed, the man removed his hood, revealing a police uniform.
“He says, ‘OK, we’re the police.’ And I just lost it. I just began crying… that’s when the shock began,” Sullivan recalled.
The “Wrong Turn” Miracle
What makes this rescue truly remarkable is that the police weren’t looking for Sullivan at that location.
They had received a tip about a suspicious vehicle earlier that day and, while following that lead, took a wrong turn. They ended up in the driveway of the house where Sullivan was held captive.
When they arrived, the kidnappers opened fire, leading to a shootout that resulted in three suspects’ deaths.
“It was a sovereign hand of God. It was a miracle. It was a complete miracle,” Sullivan declared. “Whether you’re a believer or a nonbeliever, I know that doesn’t matter. What happened to us, what happened to me, it was a miracle from God.”
Lieutenant Colonel Avele Fumba confirmed that Sullivan was found “miraculously unharmed” inside the vehicle. After medical assessment, Sullivan was reunited with his family.
Faith Strengthened Through Trial
This experience strengthened both Joshua and Meagan’s commitment to their missionary work.
They believe their children received a powerful lesson through this ordeal.
“They got to experience it because they saw God work a miracle in their own lives,” Meagan said. “They prayed, and God answered their prayer.”
As believers, we have a responsibility to pray for and support the missionaries serving around the world.
We must also strive to boldly share the gospel wherever God places us.
Pastor Sullivan’s story reminds us that when we step out in faith, the same God who orchestrated that miraculous rescue stands ready to work through our lives too.
WATCH: Pastor Joshua Sullivan Shares His Powerful Testimony
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