Josh Sullivan, a missionary from the United States, was reportedly kidnapped by multiple armed and masked men while delivering a sermon on Thursday at his church in South Africa.

The four men broke into Fellowship Baptist Church, located in Motherwell Township in the Eastern Cape Province, stealing two cell phones and abducting the pastor in a stolen truck.

Sullivan, who arrived in South Africa seven years ago with his wife and two children to lead the church, hails from the state of Tennessee. Captain Andre Beetge, a spokesman for local police, confirmed that investigators had located a stolen Toyota Forerunner shortly after the incident.

The police believe that the crime may be motivated by finances, as there have been an increasing number of kidnappings related to ransom demands in that part of South Africa.

State Department officials said through a spokesperson that they are aware of the kidnapping and added there is no “greater priority than the safety and security” of American citizens abroad.

One social media user said he has the privilege of knowing Sullivan and called him “a faithful brother doing much to make Christ known in Africa. The user asked followers to “pray for Josh to be brought home safely and especially his family,” also adding “may Christ be magnified.”