A U.S. pastor who was allegedly kidnapped by multiple armed men during a service at his church in South Africa has been rescued, according to local police.
Missionary Josh Sullivan, 45, was found in a vehicle at a safe house in the city of Gqeberha on Tuesday, April 15. PEOPLE previously reported he was believed to have been abducted on the evening of April 10 at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell, outside of Gqeberha.
In a statement released on April 16, the South African Police Service (SAPS) said the pastor was rescued following a “high-intensity shoot-out” that left “three unidentified suspects” dead.
Authorities said officers approached the safe house where Sullivan was allegedly being held and spotted a vehicle on the premises, per the statement.
“The suspects inside the vehicle, upon seeing law enforcement, allegedly attempted to flee and opened fire on the team,” the SAPS said. “The officers responded with tactical precision, leading to a high-intensity shootout in which three unidentified suspects were fatally wounded.”
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After being found “miraculously unharmed” in the vehicle, Sullivan was “immediately assessed by medical personnel” and is currently in “excellent condition.”
“As investigations continue, we respectfully request privacy for the victim and his family as they navigate this period of recovery,” the statement added.
The BBC and AFP (via CBS News), citing local police in South Africa, reported that the alleged kidnapping took place when “four armed and masked male suspects entered” the church during a sermon.
Police spokesman Captain Andre Beetge told the BBC that the men allegedly stole two phones before fleeing the scene in Sullivan’s silver Toyota Fortuner. Police later found the vehicle abandoned with no trace of Sullivan.
Rev. Jeremy Hall, a pastor in the same city, told AFP (via CBS News) that the alleged kidnapping was likely “financially” motivated. He claimed it took place during a prayer meeting attended by about 30 people, including Sullivan’s wife and six kids.
“They knew him by name,” Hall said of the men who allegedly kidnapped Sullivan.
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On April 10, Tennessee-based Fellowship Baptist Church shared a Facebook post asking for prayers for Sullivan.
“Please pray for Josh Sullivan, missionary to South Africa,” the church wrote in a statement. “He was kidnapped at gunpoint by six men during their church service this evening.”
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This was followed by a post in the early hours of April 16 commenting on Sullivan’s rescue.
“Praise the Lord!” the church wrote as they reshared a post from Tom Hatley, a pastor at Fellowship Baptist Church in Tennessee.
“Josh has been released,” Hatley wrote. “Thank you for your support and prayers. Please do not stop praying for the Sullivans.”
PEOPLE previously reported Sullivan has been on staff at the Fellowship Baptist Church since February 2012, training under Hatley. The following year, he “accepted the call to go the mission field in South Africa,” before arriving in November 2018, the church said in a social media post.