‘Slowing things down’ is ‘key’ to safe return of Tennessee pastor kidnapped in South Africa: Retired FBI agent

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'Negotiators want to buy time and slow things down' in Tenn. pastor hostage situation: retired FBI agent

Retired FBI agent and hostage negotiator Jason Pack talks to Fox News Digital about the kidnapping of a Tennessee pastor in South Africa this week.

There should be "no rush" in negotiations after a Tennessee pastor was kidnapped while preaching at a church in South Africa, a retired FBI agent and hostage negotiator from Knoxville told Fox News Digital. 

"There’s no rush into this," Jason Pack told Fox News Digital on Friday evening. "Calming things down, slowing things down and just having that dialogue and listening to see what [the hostage takers] want is really the key here."

He said he’s sure the U.S. authorities are in close contact with the South African authorities, who are leading the investigation, adding that along with the U.S. embassy there, the FBI also has a legal attaché office there that will be involved.

Pack explained, "Negotiators want to buy time and slow things down. Generally speaking, when an incident like this happens, there's a lot of adrenaline pumping, a lot risk for violence. So generally, at the time when these incidents happen, that's the highest risk for violence. So now there's time, hopefully there's an open line of communication and there's opportunity to make this end safely for everybody."

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Josh Sullivan, 34, was kidnapped by several armed, masked men who broke into his church in the Eastern Cape Province Thursday evening, took cellphones from parishioners and drove away with Sullivan in his own truck.  (Fellowship Baptist Church/Facebook)

Josh Sullivan, 34, was kidnapped by several armed, masked men who broke into his church in the Eastern Cape Province Thursday evening, took cellphones from parishioners and drove away with Sullivan in his own truck. 

Sullivan, a missionary, came to South Africa with his wife and two children in 2018.

"As a mother, you never think about something like this happening to your child, but faith carries you through the uncertainty," Sullivan's mother, Tonya Morton Rinker told Fox News. "Joshua's humor and wit are a blessing, he’s always ready with a joke, and forever seeking to make people laugh. He's an exceptional father, husband, and son, embodying kindness, strength and generosity."

Rinker also said her son has a servant's heart and a kind, compassionate spirit filled with selflessness.

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"The main goal now both from the South African government and from the U.S. government is the safe return of Pastor Sullivan to his family and his loved ones without anyone getting hurt," Pack stressed. "That's the key goal here right now." 

He added that "if there is a silver lining in any of this" it would be that "none of the other family members were hurt."

Sullivan was kidnapped from Eastern Cape Province Thursday evening.  (Paul Botes/AFP via Getty Images)

Pack said that may mean the kidnapping was for money rather than a "political statement" against Americans or missionaries. 

"So hopefully that's indicative of an open line and an open dialogue that the folks who are involved with this will want to do and so everybody can come home safely," he said. 

Pack added that Sullivan and his family are from the same part of Tennessee as him and the "community is rallying around them. They're praying for the safe return of the pastor and his family to his loved ones and for his family here in East Tennessee, there are certainly prayers."

He told Fox News Digital that "most of these things are settled with words and not force. So, the more you can have open dialogue, the more we can talk and listen, I think the more successful you can be in these type situations."

He added that while apprehending his captors is important, "Right now it's not about catching the bad guys, it's about the safety of Mr. Sullivan, and it's the safety the folks involved. So we can work on that later."

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He said he’s sure the U.S. authorities are in close contact with the South African authorities, who are leading the investigation, adding that along with the U.S. embassy there, the FBI also has a legal attaché office there that will be involved. (Getty Images/Fox News Digital)

Missionary Mark Coffey described Sullivan as "a kind, big-hearted, gentle giant."

Hailing from Maryville, Tennessee, Sullivan developed a love for sports and was a standout football player at Maryville High School, where he was part of three state championship teams.

Coffee said the same passion Sullivan had for football now fuels his heart for missions and ministry.

Sullivan and his wife went to South Africa for the first time in 2015 for a six-month internship as part of their Bible training.

"It was during this time that the Lord began to stir their hearts specifically for the Xhosa people," Coffey said. "They returned in 2018 as full-time church-planting missionaries, determined to share the Gospel and see lives changed. Josh committed himself to two years of language school and became fluent in Xhosa so he could preach, disciple, and minister more effectively."

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He also said Sullivan not only serves the Xhosa people, but he walks and learns with them while pouring his life into building relationships rooted in Christ.

"Outside of ministry, Josh still enjoys sports—rugby, baseball, basketball, and especially American football," Coffey said. "He’s a die-hard fan of the Tennessee Volunteers and rarely misses a game. But more than anything, Josh is a man who loves his God, his family, and the people he’s been called to serve. His life is a testimony of faithfulness, humility, and genuine love."