An American pastor kidnapped by gunmen during his sermon at a South African church was saved in a violent shootout, resulting in the deaths of three suspects.

Josh Sullivan, aged 45, was rescued by the “Hawks” — the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation — during a fatal shootout in the southeastern port city of Gqeberha on Tuesday, as per the South African Police Service.

Three unidentified suspects were killed in the “high-stakes shootout.”

Sullivan was found “miraculously” unharmed in a safe house, officials said.

The Tennessee-born pastor was addressing his congregation of approximately 30 members at the Fellowship Baptist Church in Motherwell when four armed men entered, seizing him on April 10.

The self-proclaimed “church planting missionary” moved his family from the US to South Africa in November 2018 to establish a church for Xhosa-speaking people, according to his personal website.

This is a developing story check back later for updates