American pastor kidnapped in South Africa rescued unharmed following fatal shootout

An American pastor kidnapped from a South African church by armed men during services last week was rescued by police following a shootout.

Josh Sullivan, 45, was seized by six armed men as he led a congregation in the city of Gqeberha, South Africa, in prayer on Thursday, according to South African newspaper The Sunday Times.

The Hawks police unit along with other units found the safe house where Mr. Sullivan was being kept following an investigation. As they approached a vehicle outside the safe house Tuesday, suspects inside it tried to flee and opened fire.

The resulting “high-intensity” shootout left three suspects in the vehicle dead but the pastor inside the vehicle “miraculously unharmed,” the South African Police Service said in a release Wednesday.

The kidnappers had previously demanded a ransom after taking Mr. Sullivan, Lt. Col Avele Fumba, an SAPS spokesperson, told the New York Times.

Tom Hatley, the pastor of Fellowship Baptist Church in Maryville, Tennessee, with which Mr. Sullivan is affiliated, wrote on Facebook that “Josh has been released. … Thank you for your support and prayers. Please do not stop praying for The Sullivans. Praise The Lord Jesus Christ!”

Mark Coffey, a fellow pastor at Mr. Sullivan’s South African church, told The Sunday Times that the church was “deeply grateful for the tireless efforts of local authorities and rescue teams … Their courage and professionalism are a testimony to God’s grace in using people from all walks of life to accomplish His purposes.”