Abducted US pastor Josh Sullivan rescued in shootout: Silent Wednesday and my tearful cry to God
The Daily Article
The Denison Forum
4.9 • 576 Ratings
🗓️ 16 April 2025
⏱️ 8 minutes
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Summary
Last Thursday evening, American pastor Josh Sullivan was abducted at gunpoint as he was delivering a sermon during a prayer meeting at his South African church. He was apparently kidnapped for ransom, a crime that has recently been on the rise across the country. His church urged its followers to “please pray for Josh Sullivan.” This morning, we are learning that these prayers have been answered. The greater our challenges, the greater our need for our Father’s provision and grace.
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | It's Wednesday, April 16th, 2025, and this is Denison Forum's daily article podcast. |
| 0:08.4 | I'm Josh Miller, filling in as narrator for today's daily article, written by our co-founder and CEO, Dr. Jim Denison. |
| 0:31.7 | Last Thursday evening, American pastor Josh Sullivan was abducted at gunpoint as he was delivering a sermon during a prayer meeting at a South African church. |
| 0:40.4 | He was apparently kidnapped for ransom, a crime that has recently been on the rise across the country. His church urged its followers to please pray for Josh Sullivan. His wife, Megan, released a similar statement Saturday. |
| 0:47.2 | I just want to say thank you for the outpouring of love and prayers. We beg you to continue |
| 0:53.3 | storming the throne room until Josh is safe at home. |
| 0:57.3 | This morning we are learning that these prayers have been answered. According to a statement issued |
| 1:03.4 | by the South African Police Service, a specialized unit dedicated to serious crime, they led an |
| 1:10.1 | operation to rescue the 45-year-old. As they approached a |
| 1:14.4 | safe house being used by his captors, the kidnappers attempted to flee in a vehicle and |
| 1:20.4 | opened fire on the team. The officers responded, leading to a shootout in which three suspects were |
| 1:27.0 | killed. The officers then discovered |
| 1:30.0 | the pastor in the same vehicle, but he was miraculously unharmed and is currently an excellent |
| 1:36.3 | condition. This incredible story reminds me of the time King Herod imprisoned Peter, intending to execute him. But in Acts 12.5, we're told, |
| 1:47.7 | earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church. As a result, an angel liberated the apostle, |
| 1:55.3 | enabling his continued ministry and the writing of two biblical books that bear his name. You and I are not likely to |
| 2:04.0 | face abduction for ransom or execution by the king today. But as an elderly professor once told me, |
| 2:11.6 | we should be kind to everyone because everyone's having a hard time. The good news is that God redeems our greatest challenges |
| 2:20.2 | by using them to draw us into our deepest reliance on him. The more we know we need help beyond ourselves, |
| 2:29.0 | the more likely we are to seek it. Abraham Lincoln testified, |
| 2:37.4 | I have been driven many times upon my knees by the overwhelming conviction |
| 2:39.4 | that I had nowhere else to go. |
... |
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