Beijing detains Zion Church pastor Ezra Jin; case could weigh on U.S.–China talks
Beijing authorities detained Ezra Jin (Jin Mingri), a pastor of the underground Zion Church, at his home in Beihai and have accused him of "illegal dissemination of religious information" though formal charges had not been confirmed; Jin, who had been harassed and barred from travel previously, has U.S.-citizen family members including a daughter who works on the Senate staff. Nearly 30 other Zion pastors or workers were detained or went missing across multiple cities in what advocates call the most extensive crackdown in decades on Chinese Christianity — a sweep involving a church founded in 2007 with operations in some 40 cities and large online audiences that observers warn could complicate U.S.–China diplomatic talks.
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📌 Key Facts
- Pastor Jin Mingri (56) was detained at his home in Beihai, Guangxi, on Friday.
- Authorities are accusing him of "illegal dissemination of religious information"; as of Sunday officials had not publicly confirmed formal charges, though Zion Church associates expect that charge and fear a lengthy sentence.
- Nearly 30 other Zion Church pastors or workers were detained or went missing in multiple cities including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen; some detainees were released after initial detentions.
- Zion Church, founded in 2007 and operating in about 40 cities, had a pre‑crackdown in‑person congregation of more than 1,000 and pandemic-era online audiences and prayer groups that sometimes reached around 10,000 via Zoom, YouTube and WeChat.
- China issued new September regulations limiting online religious activity to officially registered channels, tightening restrictions on unregistered online worship.
- Jin had a history of government surveillance and harassment: he was forced to leave Beijing, barred from travel abroad, and was refused permission by state security to retire and rejoin his family.
- U.S. reactions included calls for Jin’s release from former Vice President Mike Pence and condemnation from groups such as the Luke Alliance and ChinaAid’s Bob Fu, who described the sweep as among the largest recent crackdowns on Chinese Christianity; the U.S. Embassy in Beijing offered no immediate comment.
- Reporters and analysts say the detention could be used as a bargaining chip ahead of a possible Trump–Xi meeting, with fresh trade tensions further imperiling a summit.
📰 Sources (3)
Beijing Detains Prominent Underground Pastor, Complicating U.S.-China Ties
New information:
- WSJ identifies daughter Grace Jin Drexel as a U.S. Senate staffer living near Washington; wife named as Chunli Liu, with two U.S.-born children and Grace naturalized through marriage.
- Zion Church’s scope detailed: founded in 2007, operates in 40 cities; online prayer groups sometimes reached 10,000 participants.
- As of Sunday, authorities had not confirmed formal charges; a Zion pastor in the U.S. (Sean Long) says the church expects 'illegally disseminating religious information' charges and fears a lengthy sentence.
- Bob Fu (ChinaAid) calls the sweep the 'most extensive and coordinated wave of persecution' against similar churches in 40+ years.
- Report frames detention as a potential bargaining chip ahead of a possible Trump–Xi meeting, noting fresh trade tensions may imperil the summit.
- U.S. Embassy in Beijing offered no immediate comment.
China Detains Dozens of Members of Underground Church
New information:
- Pastor Jin Mingri (56) was detained at his home in Beihai, Guangxi, on Friday.
- Authorities accuse him of 'illegal dissemination of religious information'; some detainees were released after initial detentions.
- Nearly 30 other Zion Church pastors or workers were detained or went missing in multiple cities, including Beijing, Shanghai and Shenzhen.
- Zion’s pre‑crackdown size (1,000+ attending) and pandemic online audiences reaching around 10,000 via Zoom, YouTube and WeChat.
- China issued new regulations in September limiting online religious activity to officially registered channels.
- Context on Jin’s prior surveillance/harassment: forced to leave Beijing, barred from travel abroad; he floated retiring to rejoin family but was refused by state security.
- U.S. reaction: Former Vice President Mike Pence publicly called for Jin’s release; U.S.‑based Luke Alliance called this the biggest crackdown on Chinese Christianity since 2018.