SOUTH AFRICA (TNND) — An American pastor from Tennessee who was kidnapped at gunpoint in South Africa has been rescued after a "high-stakes Gqeberha shootout," according to the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (HAWKS).

Josh Sullivan was at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell on Thursday night, preaching to a congregation of around 30 people, including his wife and six children, when the masked men interruped a prayer service and forced the pastor to leave with them at gunpoint, multiple outlets reported.

A HAWKS-led operation followed intelligence information to a safe house in KwaMagxaki, Gqeberha, where they believed Sullivan was being held, officials said in a statement.

Officers said as they approached the house, suspects inside a vehicle attempted to flee and opened fire, leading to a "high-intensity shooting" in which three unidentified suspects were fatally wounded.

The pastor was found inside the same vehicle the suspects were in but was "miraculously unharmed," according to officials, adding that he was immediately assessed and determined to be in "excellent condition."

"We extend sincere appreciation to all role players that includes our law enforcement members, the public, international partners, both local and international media whose support and vigilance were instrumental in this success," HAWKS said.

According to Sullivan's website, he first arrived in South Africa with his family in November 2018 to finish a language school and plant a church for the Xhosa speaking people.

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Editor's note: The National Desk's Alexx Altman-Devilbiss contributed to this article.