American Missionary Taken Hostage in South Africa, Church Pleads for Prayer
A Tennessee church is requesting prayer after one of its members was kidnapped at gunpoint in South Africa and is being held for ransom. American missionary Josh Sullivan was kidnapped at gunpoint Thursday while preaching by a group of men who then stole his truck and drove away. Sullivan's home church is Fellowship Baptist in Maryville, Tenn. He is 45.
"Brother Josh is one of us," Fellowship Baptist senior pastor Tom Hatley told church members Sunday, explaining that Sullivan has been part of the church since age four.
Sullivan has been in South Africa for seven years.
"They put everybody face down on the ground," Hatley said of the service where Sullivan was kidnapped.
"We're praying for his safety. We're praying for a safe return."
Sullivan and his wife, Megan, have two children.
"They want their daddy, and Megan wants her husband," Hatley said.
On Sunday, members of Fellowship Baptist walked to the front of the church, where they knelt in prayer for the Sullivans.
Hatley preached from Acts 12 -- the story of Peter's miraculous release from prison.
"Praying is what got Peter out of his imprisonment the prayer is what's going to get Josh," Hatley told WVLT. "It's so wonderful that people in Africa, people in other places in the world, people here in East Tennessee and all around the country and all around the world, we're coming together and we're praying to God in unison."
Hatley said he views Sullivan like a son.
"First and foremost, he is a gospel preacher, and we love him for that. We were behind him 110 percent before this happened, and we're just grieved and concerned."
South Africa law enforcement spokesman Avele Fumba said police are searching for Sullivan and his abductors.
"The police are currently following all possible leads to locate the victim and apprehend the perpetrators," Fumba said.
Photo Credit: ©Fellowship Baptist
Michael Foust has covered the intersection of faith and news for 20 years. His stories have appeared in Baptist Press, Christianity Today, The Christian Post, the Leaf-Chronicle, the Toronto Star and the Knoxville News-Sentinel.
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Originally published April 14, 2025.
